Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
BVB | Cowell Chosen to Preseason All-WCC Beach Team
2/17/2021 3:36:00 PM | Women's Beach Volleyball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Saint Mary's might be actively competing in the makeshift 2021 spring indoor season, but there will be beach volleyball, and many Gaels will be double-dipping. The West Coast Conference has announced its preseason All-WCC team, and Chandler Cowell has been selected as the lone Gael on the list.
Cowell was paired up with Elena Baka last season and the duo proved to be tough to beat in the abbreviated 2020 season. Cowell went 5-3 last year teaming up with Baka, including four wins in their last four matches. Saint Mary's was only able to compete in one conference beach match last year, which Cowell and Baka swept against Santa Clara. Adding in the numbers from her freshman season on the sand, Cowell owns a 25-12 record for the Gaels.
The top of the Coaches Poll is a logjam, with LMU and Pepperdine separated by just five points for first and second place overall. The Gaels check in at third place, just six points behind Pepperdine for second. When it comes to the rest of the preseason All-WCC team, the other ten members aside from Cowell are comprised of LMU and Pepperdine student-athletes, with each program adding five members to the squad.
The complete Coaches Poll and preseason All-WCC team can be found below.
*Due to a tie for the final spot on the preseason team, there are 11 preseason honorees instead of the normal 10.
Cowell was paired up with Elena Baka last season and the duo proved to be tough to beat in the abbreviated 2020 season. Cowell went 5-3 last year teaming up with Baka, including four wins in their last four matches. Saint Mary's was only able to compete in one conference beach match last year, which Cowell and Baka swept against Santa Clara. Adding in the numbers from her freshman season on the sand, Cowell owns a 25-12 record for the Gaels.
The top of the Coaches Poll is a logjam, with LMU and Pepperdine separated by just five points for first and second place overall. The Gaels check in at third place, just six points behind Pepperdine for second. When it comes to the rest of the preseason All-WCC team, the other ten members aside from Cowell are comprised of LMU and Pepperdine student-athletes, with each program adding five members to the squad.
The complete Coaches Poll and preseason All-WCC team can be found below.
| 2021 WCC Beach Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll | |
| Team (First Place Votes) | Score |
| Loyola Marymount (6) | 36 |
| Pepperdine (1) | 31 |
| Saint Mary's | 25 |
| Santa Clara | 21 |
| San Francisco | 13 |
| Pacific | 12 |
| Portland | 9 |
| 2021 All-WCC Preseason Beach Volleyball Team | ||
| Name | Institution | Yr. |
| Brook Bauer | Pepperdine | Sr. |
| Chandler Cowell | Saint Mary's | Jr. |
| Emma Doud | Loyola Marymount | Gr. |
| Alexis Fillipone | Pepperdine | Sr. |
| Selina Marolf | Loyola Marymount | Jr. |
| Reka Orsi Toth | Loyola Marymount | Jr. |
| Melanie Paul | Pepperdine | Jr. |
| Jessie Prichard | Loyola Marymount | Gr. |
| Simone Priebe | Pepperdine | Jr. |
| Megan Rice | Loyola Marymount | Jr. |
| Carly Skjodt | Pepperdine | Gr. |
*Due to a tie for the final spot on the preseason team, there are 11 preseason honorees instead of the normal 10.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser, 10-13-25
Monday, October 13
VB | Highlights vs. Santa Clara, 10-11-25
Saturday, October 11
VB | Tyler Hildebrand Presser Post Santa Clara, 10-11-25
Saturday, October 11
VB | Highlights at Pacific, 10-9-25
Thursday, October 09
