With three preseason all-conference players returning from a squad that posted a perfect PacWest record last year, Brigham Young-Hawai'i was the overwhelming choice among coaches to repeat as conference champion this season.

The Seasiders received six of the seven first-place votes cast. Chaminade, ranked No. 2, received the other vote.

BYUH junior setter LeeAnn Mapu, a second-team all-conference selection last year, was tabbed as the preseason PacWest Player of the Year.

Mapu joined teammates Noelle Filimoeatu, a senior outside hitter, and Faylynn Merrick, a junior middle blocker, on the preseason all-conference team. Chaminade senior blocker Evelyn Bluthenthal and junior outside hitter Trina Kauliakamoa, Grand Canyon sophomore outside hitter Dana Edington, and Notre Dame de Namur junior libero Shauna Folan rounded out the team.

BYUH, which finished last season 15-0 in the PacWest and 20-1 overall, is ranked No. 19 in this year's NCAA Division II national preseason poll. Head coach Wilfred Navalta, no stranger to high expectations, said the national ranking was likely based on the assumption that all six starters from last year's team would be back, and that four well-regarded recruits would all be eligible.

However, senior Tuli Peters and junior Christine Bobik elected not to return to the team for personal reasons, and junior Roseanne Vea is taking 18 months off to serve a mission in Portugal.

Also, academic problems sidelined three of the Seasiders' four expected recruits. The one recruit who did qualify, 5-foot-11 blocker Tanza Buroker, will be expected to provide help as a middle blocker and outside hitter.

"We were probably overrated," Navalta said. "We didn't expect that we'd lose 50 percent of our starters and three of our recruits. But I'm pretty sure the other coaches are feeling sorry for us."

Indeed, while Navalta spent his offseason weathering unexpected losses, rival coaches made significant headway in closing the competitive gap.

Chaminade, which finished last season 17-6 overall, returns starters Bluthenthal, Kauliakamoa and sophomore Vanja Radanovic, and welcomes setter Tanya Alvino and four hitters 5-10 or taller.

Hawai'i-Hilo is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2006 season with a new coach — BYUH alum Bruce Atkinson — and a heralded recruiting class that will join five returning starters.

Hawai'i Pacific also welcomes a noteworthy corps of newcomers, including 5-11 outside hitter Rayna Richardson from San Diego Mesa College and setter Jackie Tomas, a first-team NAACC selection for Pierce Community College last year.

"I don't think any team is going to go 15-0 this year," Navalta said. "The talent is much closer between teams this year. We're going to see some very competitive matches, and that will be exciting to watch.

"Last year, we beat a few teams 3-1 or 3-0," he said. "This year, with the parity we have, we could very well be on the receiving end of 3-1 or 3-0 if we don't get our act together."

Yet, until one of the other teams proves itself better than BYUH, the path to the PacWest championship will still have to pass through La'ie.

"I like my team right now," Navalta said. "We have enough talent. I hope they'll be able to step up and be competitive."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.