UCLA tops Pac-12 women’s gymnastics preseason poll

SAN FRANCISCO - In a poll taken by the Conference’s eight women’s gymnastics head coaches, UCLA was voted the preseason favorite to win the 2018 Pac-12 title for the second-consecutive year, the Conference announced today.

UCLA received 47 points and five first-place votes in the Pac-12 coaches’ poll. The Bruins edged UTAH in the polling by three points. The Utes received the three remaining first-place votes. Both teams have battled for the Conference crown the last few years, the Utes winning the league crown last year for the third time in four years. UCLA won in 2016.

CALIFORNIA finished third in the poll with 30 points, just ahead of WASHINGTON, which collected 28 points. Tied for fifth with 27 points were STANFORD and OREGON STATE. ARIZONA and ARIZONA STATE rounded out the poll in seventh and eighth place, respectively, with 12 and nine points.

The National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women (NACGC/W) also released its national preseason poll and six of the Pac-12 teams appear in the top 25. The Utes and the Bruins are again neck-and-neck, Utah collecting 1,544 points to come in fifth place. UCLA had 1,477 points for sixth place in the poll.

Cal and OSU were 11th and 12th in the poll, respectively, the Golden Bears picking up 1,201 points and the Beavs with 1,141. UW was 15th with 1,114 points and Stanford was 18th (903 points). The Wildcats and Sun Devils appear just out of the top 25 at No. 26 and No. 31, respectively.

The 2018 season is set to begin on Friday, Jan. 5. Pac-12 gymnastics will be featured on Pac-12 Networks throughout the season, including the 2018 Pac-12 Championship to take place on March 24, 2018 at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., hosted by Arizona. Visit www.pac-12.com for a full schedule of Pac-12 gymnastics meets.