Oct. 22, 2009

San Bruno, Calif.,The West Coast Conference has announced its 2009-10 Olympic and Women's Sports package to compliment its national television contract. The deal allows for a number of "Olympic" or non-men's basketball games to be broadcasted on national television through partnerships with ESPNU, CBS College Sports, and the Fox Sports Network.

"With so many nationally competitive WCC programs, it makes sense for us to support a broad-based national television package to highlight these success stories," said Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "Our national television partners serve as a great platform to showcase all of our sports."

This year, the WCC will get exposures for women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, and women's basketball. Additionally, other games (with dates and times to be announced) will air later in the year.

In women's volleyball, defending conference champion, San Diego, is ranked 22nd nationally, while Pepperdine is receiving votes. Both are also currently tied for first place in the conference standings and will square off on October 28 on ESPNU.

In men's soccer, defending conference champion San Francisco was tabbed as the preseason favorite to take home the conference title, while Santa Clara was picked to finish second. The two will face each other on November 6 on Fox Soccer Channel.

In women's soccer, Portland, San Diego, and Santa Clara have all been ranked nationally with the Pilots ranked as high as No. 2, the Toreros No. 12, and the Broncos No. 15. Portland will take on Santa Clara on November 1 on Fox Soccer Channel and San Diego on November 6 on ESPNU.

Women's basketball will feature matchups between Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga and San Diego and Pepperdine on CBS College Sports, while the WCC Tournament Championship game will air on ESPNU on March 8. Gonzaga, picked as the preseason favorite, returns 2009 WCC Player of the Year Courtney Vandersloot and 2008 WCC Player of the Year Heather Bowman. Both have already been placed on this year's Wooden Award Watch list, making Gonzaga one of only four schools in the country (Connecticut, Ohio St., Stanford) to have two players on the list. Loyola Marymount returns preseason all-conference team member Renahy Young and Alex Cowling, while Pepperdine brings back two-time all-conference first team member, Miranda Ayim. San Diego returns preseason all-conference selection Dominique Conners, who helped lead the team all the way to the WCC Championship Game last season.

About the West Coast Conference

The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics, with 13 conference-sponsored sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's crew, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball. The WCC is characterized by the stability of its membership - only two conferences have been together longer - and its unique emphasis on combining excellence in athletics with excellence in academics.

Upcoming WCC games on ESPNU/CBS College Sports/Fox Sports Network

Wednesday, October 28
Women's Volleyball, Pepperdine at San Diego, 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Sunday, November 1
Women's Soccer, Portland at Santa Clara, 2:00 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)

Friday, November 6
Men's Soccer, San Francisco at Santa Clara, 8:00 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)

Women's Soccer, San Diego at Portland, 8:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Thursday, February 18
Women's Basketball, Loyola Marymount at Gonzaga, 8:00 p.m. (CBS College Sports)

Saturday, February 27
Women's Basketball, San Diego at Pepperdine, 7:00 p.m. (CBS College Sports)

Monday, March 8
Women's Basketball, WCC Tournament Championship Game, 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU)