For the fifth consecutive season, Mountain West coaches have made Colorado State the team to beat in the preseason poll.
The Rams, ranked No. 25 in the preseason AVCA poll, received 10 of the 11 first-place votes from conference coaches for 100 points, with Wyoming receiving the other vote to finish with 91. Boise State and San Diego State tied for third, each with 75 points.
CSU also dominated the preseason all-Mountain West team with four of the seven selections, led by returning player of the year Katie Oleksak at setter. Breana Runnels, the newcomer of the year in 2017, was on the list, as were all-conference middles Kirstie Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen.