AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific was picked to defend its 2018 PacWest Championship, as the Cougars received 10 of 12 possible first place votes in the preseason poll voted on by the head coaches of each PacWest member. The coaches also recognized senior middle blocker Julianne Miller as the preseason Player of the Year, and senior middle blocker Sara Wagenveld has been named to the preseason All-PacWest team.
 
Azusa Pacific went 24-7 last season, enroute to the PacWest championship its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars return 12 players from last season's team, including Miller, Wagenveld and senior opposite Aliyah Morrison who was named Third-Team All-PacWest last season.
 
As a junior last year, Miller was named First-Team All-PacWest and AVCA All-West Region, as she started all 31 matches that the Cougars played. She finished the season with 297 kills while recording a hitting percentage of .410. Miller enters her senior season as the PacWest's all-time leader in hitting percentage at .395 (minimum 1500 attempts).
 
Wagenveld was a Third-Team All-PacWest selection as a junior, as she started all 31 matches, recording 241 kills and 104 blocks, including 23 solo blocks.
 
Azusa Pacific will kick-off the 2019 season with eight straight road matches, with four at the Cougar Classic hosted by Cal State San Marcos (Sept. 6 & 7), and four more at the West Region Showcase, hosted by Cal State Los Angeles (Sept. 13 & 14). The Cougars will make their 2019 home and PacWest debut on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3:00 p.m., when they welcome Point Loma to the Felix Event Center.