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The defending MPSF regular season champions are projected to repeat in 2023.
UCLA received all but two first-place votes to finish in first place in the MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll that was released Thursday.
The Bruins return three All-American starters after winning the conference regular season title and reaching the NCAA Tournament semifinals last season. Among the returners includes setter Miles Partain who guided the offense to a nation-best .374 attack percentage and was named the 2022 MPSF Player of the Year.
Pepperdine finished the preseason poll in second place garnering one first-place vote and 28 points – seven fewer points than UCLA. The Waves last season won the MPSF Tournament finals and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season.
Stanford was the only other school to receive a first-place vote as it finished in third place with 24 points.
The MPSF season will begin in February and conclude with the seven-team MPSF Tournament in April at Stanford. The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
2023 MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UCLA – 33 (5) points
2. Pepperdine – 28 (1) points
3. Stanford – 24 (1) points
T-4. Grand Canyon – 19 points
T-4. USC – 19 points
6. BYU – 18 points
7. Concordia-Irvine – 6 points