LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The final preseason polls for the fall season were released by the Pacific West Conference today, with cross country closing out the docket.  On the men's side, Vanguard was voted to finish fourth in the league, while the women's team was tagged to place third in the conference.  Both sides received their best preseason ranking in program history in their brief PacWest tenure.
 
The men's lineup got 40 points in the poll and landed between Westmont (50 points) in third and Dominican (32 points) in fifth.  CUI got 54 points to take the preseason silver medal, but Biola was voted to be untouchable, as the Eagles got all eight first-place votes to nab 64 points. 
 
It was the same story on the women's side at the top, though with two extra first-place votes, there was a closer battle for pole position.  BU again got eight first-place votes to snag the top step with 98 points, but PLNU had 88 points and the other two first-place nods to end second and put pressure on the defending champs.  VU had 79 points, four ahead of CUI in fourth. 

Both teams open the season this weekend at Cal State Fullerton's race at Green River Golf Course Saturday morning.