University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI volleyball tabbed 6th in MVC preseason poll
8/17/2022 10:15:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
ST. LOUIS --- The UNI volleyball team was selected 6th in the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) annual preseason poll, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. UNI received 94 total points with one first place vote coming off a 12-19 campaign last season and a 7-11 mark in conference play.
Reigning MVC Tournament champion Illinois State was selected as the favorite to win the league's regular season title in 2022 with 134 points and five 1st place votes. Evansville was tabbed second (121 points, two 1st place votes), followed by UIC in third (108 points, three 1st place votes). Bradley (99 points) was selected fourth with Valparaiso in fifth (95 points, one 1st place vote) and UNI in sixth (94 points, one 1st place vote).
Missouri State (80 points) and Indiana State (71 points) were voted seventh and eighth respectively in the poll, while Drake (49 points), Murray State (43 points), Belmont (26 points) and Southern Illinois (16 points) rounded out the field.
The league returns 50 starters and nine liberos from the 2021 season, making up 70-percent of starters from a year ago. This includes six of the 13 first team all-conference selections from last season, as well as two players who earned second-team honors.
The 2022 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team is comprised of Haley Bush (Drake), Karagan Coggin (Bradley), Melanie Feliciano (Evansville), Sarah Kushner (Illinois State), Alondra Vazquez (Evansville) and Katy Weimerskirch (Illinois State).
UNI returns five starters, plus the libero from a year ago, including MVC Second Team setter Carly Spies and MVC Honorable Mention and Freshman Team honoree Kira Fallert. The Panthers' kills leader in Emily Holterhaus also returns for her fourth season, as does setter Tayler Alden, who led UNI in assists (697) and service aces (35) last season.
UNI will open the 2022 regular season on Friday, Aug. 26 in Tempe, Ariz. as the Panthers face Toledo (11 a.m. CT) and Arizona State (9:30 p.m. CT) at the Webb-Burbridge Classic.
2022 MVC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Reigning MVC Tournament champion Illinois State was selected as the favorite to win the league's regular season title in 2022 with 134 points and five 1st place votes. Evansville was tabbed second (121 points, two 1st place votes), followed by UIC in third (108 points, three 1st place votes). Bradley (99 points) was selected fourth with Valparaiso in fifth (95 points, one 1st place vote) and UNI in sixth (94 points, one 1st place vote).
Missouri State (80 points) and Indiana State (71 points) were voted seventh and eighth respectively in the poll, while Drake (49 points), Murray State (43 points), Belmont (26 points) and Southern Illinois (16 points) rounded out the field.
The league returns 50 starters and nine liberos from the 2021 season, making up 70-percent of starters from a year ago. This includes six of the 13 first team all-conference selections from last season, as well as two players who earned second-team honors.
The 2022 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team is comprised of Haley Bush (Drake), Karagan Coggin (Bradley), Melanie Feliciano (Evansville), Sarah Kushner (Illinois State), Alondra Vazquez (Evansville) and Katy Weimerskirch (Illinois State).
UNI returns five starters, plus the libero from a year ago, including MVC Second Team setter Carly Spies and MVC Honorable Mention and Freshman Team honoree Kira Fallert. The Panthers' kills leader in Emily Holterhaus also returns for her fourth season, as does setter Tayler Alden, who led UNI in assists (697) and service aces (35) last season.
UNI will open the 2022 regular season on Friday, Aug. 26 in Tempe, Ariz. as the Panthers face Toledo (11 a.m. CT) and Arizona State (9:30 p.m. CT) at the Webb-Burbridge Classic.
2022 MVC Volleyball Preseason Poll
| TEAM | POINTS (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2021 RECORD / CONFERENCE RECORD | 2021 POSTSEASON |
| Illinois State | 134 (5) | 19-14 / 14-4 | NCAA First Round |
| Evansville | 121 (2) | 21-12 / 9-9 | NIVC Quarterfinals |
| UIC | 108 (3) | 20-12 / 13-3 (Horizon) | NCAA First Round |
| Bradley | 99 | 17-15 / 12-6 | NIVC Second Round |
| Valparaiso | 95 (1) | 26-10 / 12-6 | NIVC Runner-Up |
| UNI | 94 (1) | 12-19 / 7-11 | --- |
| Missouri State | 80 | 17-13 / 8-10 | --- |
| Indiana State | 71 | 18-13 / 9-9 | NIVC First Round |
| Drake | 49 | 11-15 / 6-12 | --- |
| Murray State | 43 | 18-12 / 11-7 (OVC) | --- |
| Belmont | 26 | 9-20 / 7-11 (OVC) | --- |
| Southern Illinois | 16 | 5-26 / 0-18 | --- |
Players Mentioned
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