After tourney runner-up finish, Redhawks selected for sixth

Southeast Missouri State was tabbed for the middle of the pack -- sixth out of 11 -- in the preseason poll of Ohio Valley Conference women's volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

Southeast finished 8-8 in the conference last year and 16-18 overall in its second season under coach Renata Nowacki. The team won 16 games the previous year as well with a 11-5 OVC mark.

But the Redhawks finished well, reaching the OVC tournament championship game before bowing in straight sets to Jacksonville State.

The Gamecocks, 24-5 last year and 16-0 in the OVC, topped the poll with 18 of 22 first-place votes and 197 total points. Jacksonville State had two preseason all-conference first-team picks in Abby Breit and Brittney Whitten as well as a second-team choice.

Morehead State was second with three first-place votes and 160 points.

Southeast Missouri State compiled 125 points to finish behind Murray State and ahead of Tennessee Tech.

Senior middle blocker Brenna Schlader of Southeast was named to the preseason second team.

The 6-foot-3 senior led the team in blocks last year with 113 for an average of 0.94 per game.

The Redhawks open the season Aug. 24 and 25 at the Nike/Active Ankle Invitational in Muncie, Ind.

OVC predictedorder of finish

Team (First-place votes) Points

Jacksonville State (18) 197

Morehead State (3) 160

Eastern Kentucky 136

Tennessee State 134

Murray State (1) 133

Southeast 125

Tennessee Tech 103

Tennessee-Martin 96

Eastern Illinois 63

Samford 33

Austin Peay 30