Following a 2006 season when the Missouri State volleyball team finished 27-9 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Bears have been picked to finish fourth in the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference race by the league’s coaches in the preseason poll released today. Senior setter Katelyn Panzau is one of eight preseason all-conference choices and is the only Bear on that list.

Defending champion UNI is the favorite to repeat, garnering 97 of a possible 100 points, while Wichita State earned 85 points and Creighton received 81 points.

The Bears received 71 points in fourth and are followed by Illinois State (65) and Southern Illinois (39) to round out the six teams expected to make the league tournament held in Springfield Nov. 23-24.

Panzau, a first team all-league pick is 2006, was chosen to repeat on that list in 2007. As a junior, she totaled 1,502 assists and led all MVC setters with 1.08 blocks per game.

Missouri State, which has finished fourth or better in the league standings in each of the last eight seasons, opens the 2007 season at home by hosting the T.J. Sales/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Aug. 24-25.