SportsScope : Coaches Heavily Favor Pepperdine in WCAC Women’s Volleyball Race

Pepperdine is the pick to win the women’s volleyball title in a poll of West Coast Athletic Conference coaches, followed by Loyola Marymount. Pepperdine received seven of eight first-place votes, with defending champion Loyola getting the other. Loyola plays Friday and Saturday in the 16-team Titan-Mizuno Volleyball Preview at Cal State Fullerton, then is at home Tuesday to play Fullerton. The Titan invitational field includes UC Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Long Beach State, Washington State, Idaho and Boise State as well as several Eastern and Southwestern teams.

Mira Costa and Bishop Montgomery are rated fourth and seventh in the CIF volleyball coaches 5-A preseason poll. Mira Costa, the defending champion, is rated behind Newport Harbor, Mater Dei and Santa Barbara because the Mustangs are thought to be in a rebuilding year, having graduated four all-CIF players. The only other South Bay team to receive ranking was Chadwick, rated fourth in the Small Schools Division.

The unbeaten UCLA men’s soccer team, rated ninth in the country, will compete in the UNLV/Adidas Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas. The Bruins, 2-0, are unbeaten in 42 of their last 43 games after defeating Nevada-Las Vegas, 2-0, over the weekend. Goalie Anton Nistl recorded his 12th career shutout. In the tournament, UCLA will play fifth-ranked Southrern Methodist University on Friday and the Air Force Academy on Saturday. Both games begin at 9 p.m.