PORTLAND, Ore. - The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team has been picked third in the 2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, released Tuesday.

The league's 10 coaches voted UAA - the 2011 GNAC runner-up - narrowly behind Western Washington and Western Oregon, while defending champion Seattle Pacific placed fourth in the balloting.

Coming off an 18-9 record and three straight NCAA berths, the Seawolves return four letterwinners from last year's club, including 2011 GNAC Newcomer of the Year and 2nd-team all-conference setter Kimya Jafroudi, and fellow starters Nikkie Viotto (Eagle River HS) and Siobhan Johansen (Palmer/Colony HS).

The Seawolves premiere Saturday, Aug. 25, with the Green & Gold exhibition match at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. In association with the annual Campus Kick-Off festivities, start time is set for 9 p.m., with free admission.

2012 Great Northwest Coaches Poll  2011  Records         Pts
 1. Western Washington (3)         16-6 (14-4, 2nd-T)     72
 2. Western Oregon  (4)            14-8 (13-5, 4th)       71
 3. Alaska Anchorage  (2)          18-9 (14-4, 2nd-T)     70
 4. Seattle Pacific                21-7 (15-3, 1st)       61
 5. Northwest Nazarene             17-8 (12-6, 5th)       47
 6. Central Washington             15-11 (9-9, 6th )      42
 7. Montana State Billings         11-16 (5-13, 7th-T)    34
 8. Saint Martin's                 7-18 (5-13, 7th-T)     24
 9. Alaska Fairbanks               2-24 (2-16, 9th)       20
10. Simon Fraser                   1-21 (1-17, 10th)       9