BRIEFLY: OTAHKIAN VOLLEYBALL SQUAD PICKED TO WIN OVC

The Southeast Missouri State University volleyball team was picked to win its sixth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference crown as it topped the pre-season poll released Friday.

Southeast received six first-place votes and 78 points overall while last year's OVC tournament champion Tennessee Tech collected the other four first-place votes and 72 points to finish second in the poll.

The remainder of the conference: 3. Murray State (57), 4. Morehead State (55), 5. Austin Peay (54), 6. Eastern Illinois (47), 7. Middle Tennessee (31), 8. Eastern Kentucky (26), 9. Tennessee-Martin (20), 10. Tennessee State (10).

"We realize we will have some challenges this year like getting used to a new setter and people accepting their leadership roles," said Southeast coach Cindy Gannon. "It is nice to be picked first but I think the league is a toss-up this year."

Southeast junior outside hitter Jackie Derwort and junior middle blocker Angie Aschoff were named to the preseason All-OVC first team. Sophomore outside hitter Krista Haukap was named to the second team.