Techsters Tabbed First in Preseason WAC Polls

SALT LAKE CITY - Five-time defending Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech is once again favored to claim the league crown according to both the coaches and the media. Head coach Chris Long`s Lady Techsters were picked No. 1 in both the Coaches Poll and Media Poll which was released Wednesday in conjunction with WAC Basketball Media Day. Tech was the unanimous No. 1 in the Media Poll, receiving all 11 first place votes, while they garnered seven of the nine first place votes in the Coaches Poll. Fresno State was tabbed second in both polls. "It`s always difficult to defend a title and that`s obviously our goal for this season," Long said. "We will get started Saturday. We will have to work very hard to win the title because there are four or five teams that could beat us on any given night. "I think the biggest thing that stands out about the conference is that it has gotten more athletic since we joined. Listening to the other coaches in this league, it is a result of Louisiana Tech being in the conference. Look at Nevada, Fresno State, and Boise State . those teams have clearly gotten more athletic in the five years we`ve been in the league." After Louisiana Tech and Fresno State, the league coaches voted Nevada, Hawaii, Boise State, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho and Utah State with Fresno State and Nevada each receiving one first place vote. The media chose Tech, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, Boise State, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho and Utah State. Tech senior guard Shan Moore was dubbed the Preseason Player of the Year by the league coaches while senior forward Ty Moore earned first team all-WAC honors and senior forward Tamika Kursh earned second team honors. Ty Moore was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year by the media. "I think both of those kids are very deserving," Long said. "Ty had a great year this past season, almost averaging a double double. I want her to get better and do it every single night. "Shan is a talented athletic player who has had some really big games at Louisiana Tech. For her, it`s about being consistent. We need her to deliver every night, and she is very capable of that." Louisiana Tech opens its fall practice this Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center and the Lady Techsters exhibition game is Nov. 6 against the Houston Jaguars at 6 p.m. Coaches Poll 1. Louisiana Tech (7) 63 2. Fresno State (1) 56 3. Nevada (1) 48 4. Hawaii 41 5. Boise State 40 6. San Jose State 27 7. New Mexico State 24 8. Idaho 13 9. Utah State 12 Preseason All-WAC Teams First Team Brandi Fitzgerald, Nevada Brittany Grice, Hawaii Chantella Perera, Fresno State Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech Ty Moore, Louisiana Tech Second Team Tamika Kursh, Louisiana Tech Jasmine Marshall, Fresno State Sherrell Neal, New Mexico State Janevia Taylor, Hawaii Tierre Wilson, Fresno State POY: Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech Media Poll 1. Louisiana Tech (11) 99 2. Fresno State 90 3. Hawaii 64 4. Nevada 60 5. Boise State 54 6. San Jose State 53 7. New Mexico State 32 8. Idaho 29 9. Utah State 22 POY: Ty Moore, Louisiana Tech