SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference released its annual beach volleyball preseason all-conference list and, for the second consecutive year, Anna Dalla Vecchia was named to the Preseason All-WCC Beach Volleyball Team.  The Dons were picked to finish fifth this year in the annual poll voted on by the head coaches in the conference and released by the WCC on Wenesday morning.
 
Dalla Vecchia, the native of Vicenza, Italy, earned second team honors in 2019 after playing in the Dons top pair.  She returns to her familiar spot in USF's rotation this year and is off to a 1-3 start with partner Laurie McGrath.  The duo swept the top pair of No. 20 Arizona State last Saturday, winning 21-14, 21-15 in the final day of the Cactus Classic.
 
For the second consecutive season, Dalla Vecchia is the only player on the preseason list not from the top-three teams in the WCC Preseason coaches' Poll. 
 
The Dons earned 16 points in the poll and were picked to finish fifth, ahead of Pacific (sixth, 11 points) and Portland (seventh, eight points). Preseason American Volleyball Coaches' Association No. 8 LMU was picked to defend their conference title with 36 points and six first place votes. No. 6 Pepperdine was picked to finish second with 36 points and the remaining first place vote. Saint Mary's was picked to finish third with 24 points, followed by Santa Clara with 21 points.  
 
The Dons (0-4) will return to the sand on Friday when they travel to the south bay to take on San Jose State at Spartans Beach Courts. The Dons and Spartans are set to play at noon on Friday.