The Big Sky conference released its Preseason Coaches' Poll today (August 19) and Eastern Washington is predicted to tie for seventh in the 2022 standings.

Eastern and Montana each received 25 points to create the seventh-place tie, ahead of ninth-place Idaho by four points. Northern Arizona and Sacramento State received 50 points each to tie for fifth in the poll.

Northern Colorado was selected to defend their conference championship with six first place votes and 78 points. Weber State received two first place votes and 70 points for second in the poll. Portland State and Montana State both received one first place vote, with the Vikings earning 66 points for third and the Bobcats are fourth with 52 points.

In the 2021 season, Eastern finished seventh in the Big Sky with a 7-9 conference record and 11-14 overall. The Eagles qualified for their second straight conference tournament last season as the seven seed, falling to eventual champion, UNC.

The team benefits from 15 returning players from the '21 team, while adding three freshman to bolster its roster.

The Eagles returned to the court on Wednesday against Central Washington in an exhibition match, dropping the match, 0-3. Sage Brustad led the team with 13 kills and hit .273, while Lindsey Russell led the team with 17 assists and Renata Lopez Morales recorded three block assists.

Brustad is the team's returning top scorer, averaging 2.13 kills per set a season ago. Russell led the team in assists last season with 7.17 per and returns for her senior year. She earned one Big Sky Player of the Week honor last season. Eastern also returns its starting libero in Makenna Collins, who led the team with 3.06 digs per set.

Eastern Washington begins its regular season on the road in Memphis, Tenn. They will compete in a three-team tournament, playing Central Michigan on Friday, August 26^th at 7 a.m. Pacific Time and Southern University at 2 p.m. that same day. The road trip concludes on Saturday, August 27^th against the host school Memphis at 10 a.m.
 
2022 Big Sky Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1: Northern Colorado (6) – 78
2: Weber State (2) – 70
3: Portland State (1) – 66
4: Montana State (1) – 52
T5: Northern Arizona – 50
T5: Sacramento State – 50
T7: Eastern Washington – 25
T7: Montana – 25
9: Idaho – 21
10: Idaho State – 13