MSU Volleyball Preview Video | MVC Preseason Release | MSU Volleyball Tickets

St. LOUIS -- The Missouri State volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference this season according to a vote of the league's coaches. Four teams received at least one first-place vote in the poll released Wednesday (Aug. 19), while sophomore outside hitter Lily Johnson also represents the Bears on the six-player all-conference team.

The Bears totaled 87 points and one first-place vote in the poll. Wichita State is the favorite with seven first-place votes and 97 points, followed by UNI (76) and Southern Illinois (72) each earning a first-place nod.

Defending champion Illinois State sits in fifth with 63 points, while Indiana State grabbed 50 points to round out the six teams expected to make the league tournament held in Springfield on Nov. 26-28. Loyola (43), Drake (25), Evansville (22), and Bradley (15)complete the poll.

Johnson was an AVCA All-America honorable mention selection and the MVC Freshman of the Year in 2014, leading the MVC in total kills (495), kills per set (3.99), points per set (4.50) and aces per set (0.31). Her kill total and average established MSU freshman records, while her performances of 26 kills on Sept. 12 against Ball State and 23 kills at Kansas State on Sept. 8 represented the Nos. 1 and 3 single-match kill totals for a freshman in school history.

The Bears make their 2015 debut this weekend at Hammons Student Center, playing the annual Maroon and White Scrimmage at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21 and hosting the Alumni Match at 7 p.m. Saturday. Both events are free and open to the public. The regular season begins Aug. 28 against Furman in Milwaukee.

In addition to Johnson, the Bears return four players who started at least 19 matches last season, including senior Kinsey (McCarter) Batten, juniors Tatum Marshall and Simone House, and sophomore Lynsey Wright. MSU went 20-12 in 2014, recording its 16th consecutive winning campaign.

The 2015 season will be the 20th under head coach Melissa Stokes. Stokes has guided the Bears to a 414-202 mark since taking over in 1996, and the team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in seven of the last 12 seasons while reaching the 20-win mark 15 times in the last 16 years.

Fans interested in purchasing or inquiring about season tickets to see the Bears this fall should call Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899 or visit the ticket page at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets.

2015 MVC Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Wichita State - 97 (7)
2. Missouri State - 87 (1)
3. UNI - 76 (1)
4. Southern Illinois - 72 (1)
5. Illinois State - 63
6. Indiana State - 50
7. Loyola - 43
8. Drake - 25
9. Evansville - 22
10. Bradley - 15

2015 MVC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Kayla Haneline (UNI)
Lily Johnson (MSU)
Jaelyn Keene (ILS)
Abby Lehman (WSU)
Taylor Pippen (SIU)
Ashley Rosch (ILS)