ST. LOUIS – Seniors Jacqueline Baetz, Anna Durnin, Isabel Burke and Kennady Orlick all collected Missouri Valley Conference preseason honors, the league announced Tuesday.  
 
Baetz was the lone MSU representative on the first team. The St. Louis, Mo., product led the Bears in scoring last season by tallying six points on two goals and two assists. Durnin, Burke and Orlick all landed on the honorable mention squad. 
 
The Bears four selections tied Loyola for the most representatives on the All-MVC teams. 

"It is great to see our student-athletes recognized as worthy of these honors," Head Coach Rob Brewer said. "They are good hard working players that put the team first. I am confident that they will help us have a great season."
 
Brewer's squad returns 16 letterwinners and brings in an impressive freshman class for his 26^th season at the helm. The senior trio of Baetz, Durnin and Burke highlight the MSU returnees as each garnered All-MVC laurels the previous season.
 
Missouri State is coming off a COVID-altered campaign in 2020-21, which saw the Bears finish 2-4-1 in MVC play and 4-7-2 overall. 
 
MSU garnered the No. 5 spot in the preseason coaches' poll, tying Northern Iowa with 38 votes apiece.
 
Loyola (80 points) garnered eight first-place votes to capture the top spot for the fourth-straight year, while Illinois State followed in second with 70 points. Rounding out the top-three was Indiana State (59).
 
Valparaiso landed in fourth with 51 points. Missouri State and Northern Iowa were both picked fifth, while the bottom third of the poll featured Drake (31), Evansville (21) and Southern Illinois.  
 
The Bears kick off the 2021 season on Thursday against Murray State in Murray, Ky., at 3:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.


MVC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Loyola (8) (80)
2. Illinois State (70)
3. Indiana State (59)
4. Valparaiso (1) (51)
5. Missouri State (38)
6. Northern Iowa (38)
7. Drake (31)
8. Evansville (21)
9. Southern Illinois (12)