EDMONTON – While four teams received first-place ballots from Canada West men's volleyball schools, the Alberta Golden Bears came out ahead of the competition in a conference preseason coaches' poll.
 
The Brandon Bobcats, Trinity Western Spartans and defending CIS champion Calgary Dinos finished second through fourth, with all receiving at least one first-place vote in a poll where coaches cannot vote for their own team.
 
Here are the complete Men's Volleyball voting results, based on a 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system (first-place votes in parentheses):
 
1. Alberta (6)               83
2. Brandon (2)             71
3. Trinity Western (1)  68
4. Calgary (1)              64
5. Manitoba                 47
6. Thompson Rivers    38
7. Saskatchewan         27
8. Winnipeg                 27
9. UBC                        26
10. Regina                     9
 
 
Year after year it seems almost a given that the Alberta Golden Bears will be ranked #1, as they are in both Canada West and CIS entering the 2010-11 season. The 2010 Canada West champion Bears saw key players Mike DeRocco, Jason DeRocco and Thomas Jarmoc move on, while CIS Tournament All-Star Spencer Leiske, conference block leader Simon Lidster and Christopher Womack return.
 
CIS MVP Paul Sanderson is back to lead the #2-ranked Brandon Bobcats, which met with playoff disappointment after a 12-6 record last season under Canada West Coach of the Year Russ Paddock. One of the top all-time conference men's volleyball players, Sanderson is joined by fellow fifth-years Kevin Miller at left side and setter Kyle Dellezay
 
All-Star Josh Doornenbal and a host of experienced student-athletes return to the #3 Trinity Western Spartans. With Ben Ball, second in CW assists per set last season, 2008-09 conference hitting leader Rudy Verhoeff, Marc Howatson and Jarrod Offereins all in the mix, the 2010-11 season could see the Spartans equal or better their CIS silver medal of last season.
 
At #4, the Calgary Dinos are coming off their first CIAS men's v'ball title since 1993. While falling to TWU in a classic match at the 2010 CW Final Four, they avenged defeat by downing the Spartans at the CIS final hosted by Thompson Rivers in mid-March. CIS Tournament MVP graham Vigrass, fellow Tournament All-Star Jay Blankenau, along with All-Star Ciaran McGovern are back to help defend the title.
 
Placing fifth in the conference preseason poll are the Manitoba Bisons, which narrowly made the 2010 post-season at 9-9 and were quickly eliminated. Ryan Munt was second in digs last year, Dane Pischke led the team in kills and 6-7 middle Joseph Brooks was second in Canada West blocks per set. Add 2009 CIS All-Rookie Chris Voth and the Bisons have a solid core group of veteran talent capable of producing a title.
 
As Host of the 2010 CIS championship, the #6 Thompson Rivers WolfPack placed sixth. A changing of the guard means perennial All-Star Gord Perrin is gone, while 2010 CIS Rookie of the Year and Tournament All-Star Kevin Tillie emerges as a leader. Fellow sophomores Colin Carson and Spencer Reed, together with fourth-year middle Mike Hammond, creates an interesting combination of talent for the Pack.
 
The Saskatchewan Huskies, #7 in the coaches' poll, welcome the return of CIS All-Rookie Matthew Busse, along with hitting leader Geoffrey Zerr, who had a .412 percentage last season. Second-year left side Bryan Fraser and 6-9 blocker Braden McLean help form a solid lineup as the Huskies look to make the post-season after improving their win total by four matches last year.
 
Sitting #8 in the poll, the Winnipeg Wesmen have back defensive specialist Dan Lother and CIS All-Rookie Matthew Schriemer, but another round of graduations at Winnipeg saw All-Canadian Justin Duff and Andrew Town depart a team that won CIS silver in 2008. Fourth-year Marc Ross and second-year Matthew Stubler are key outside hitters expected to make an impact during the 2010-11 season.
 
Paced by two-time CIS Libero of the Year, the ninth-ranked UBC Thunderbirds and head coach Richard Schick are also fuelled by power hitter Demijan Savija and 2008 CIS All-Rookie middle Joe Cordonier. Senior Ryan Zwarich and highly touted 6-2 outside hitter Ben Chow give the T-Birds a balance of talent as they look to improve from a 4-14 record in 2009-10.
 
At 0-18 last season, the #10 Regina Cougars look to returning fifth-year libero Lindsey Isaak, along with middle blocker Drew Smith, left side Brody Waddell and left side Jamie Wilkins, in their fourth year of eligibility, for leadership. The Cougars are looking for their first season of four or more wins since 2005-06.