LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug.26) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team was picked to finish seventh in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll, which was announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. 
 
The league will revert to a Western and Eastern Division format this fall after previously playing a four-division structure from 2016-19. The conference will conduct double round-robin play within each division and the West will play two extra league games by virtue of an unbalanced 17-team league.

In the 2019 campaign, the Vulcans finished with a 12-15 overall record and a 7-12 mark in league play under head coach Peter Letourneau. Cal U returns eight players from the 2019 season and feature 15 newcomers who looking to make their debut with the program this fall. 
 
Gannon was selected as the overwhelming preseason favorite in the PSAC West with eight-first place votes after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Clarion ranked second in the poll while earning the final first-place vote and Seton Hill was tabbed third after qualifying for the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament in 2019. Mercyhurst was slotted fourth, while IUP, Edinboro, Cal U, Slippery Rock and Pitt-Johnstown rounded out the poll. 
 
Shepherd was chosen as the preseason favorite in the PSAC East with four first-place votes after advancing to NCAA Tournament in both 2018 and 2019. Millersville was picked second and received two first-place votes after making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 24 years. Shippensburg was selected third and received the final two first-place votes after reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. East Stroudsburg ranked fourth after capturing its first PSAC Championship since 1987. West Chester was selected fifth with Bloomsburg, Kutztown and Lock Haven completing the poll. 
 
The Vulcans will open the season with four matches in a tournament hosted by Fairmont State on Sept. 3-4.