Southeast soccer team picked second, volleyball ninth in OVC preseason polls

The Ohio Valley Conference preseason polls for volleyball and soccer were announced Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The Redhawks soccer team was picked second in the poll, which is voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. They had 184 point and received seven first-place votes.

SIU Edwardsville, which shared the regular-season title with Southeast and claimed the conference tournament title last year, was predicted to repeat as champions and received 187 points and 10 first-place votes.

UT Martin received four first-place votes for the third spot. Jacksonville State was fourth and received the final first-place vote.

Murray State, Morehead State and Belmont were fifth through seventh, respectively. Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois rounded out the 11-team poll.

The Redhawks head to Rolla, Missouri, for their season opener on Aug. 21. Their game against Division II Missouri S&T kicks off at 6 p.m.

Southeast's first home game is at noon Aug. 23 against Northern Iowa.

OVC soccer predicted order of finish

1) SIUE (10 first-place votes)

2) Southeast Missouri State (seven first-place votes)

3) UT Martin (four first-place votes)

4) Jacksonville State (one first-place vote)

5) Murray State

6) Morehead State

7) Belmont

8) Austin Peay

9) Eastern Kentucky

10) Tennessee Tech

11) Eastern Illinois

The Southeast volleyball team was predicted to finish ninth out of 12 teams and senior outsider hitter Taylor Masterson was named to the preseason all-OVC team.

The Redhawks finished eighth in the conference standings last year.

Defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Murray State was predicted to repeat, receiving 240 points and 20 first-place votes.

Belmont was second with four first-place and 216 points. Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky were picked third and fourth with Tennessee Tech, Jacksonville State and Morehead State taking fifth through seventh, respectively. Austin Peay was eighth.

SIUE, Tennessee State and UT Martin were picked behind Southeast.

The Redhawks volleyball team begins its season on Aug. 28 with games against Arkansas State and Saint Louis in the Drury Hotels Redhawks Invitational at Houck Field House.

OVC volleyball predicted order of finish

1. Murray State (20 first-place votes) - 240 pts

2. Belmont (Four first-place votes) - 216

3. Eastern Illinois - 173

4. Eastern Kentucky - 169

5. Tennessee Tech - 147

6. Jacksonville State - 139

7. Morehead State - 128

8. Austin Peay - 126

9. Southeast Missouri State - 89

10. SIUE - 88

11. Tennessee State - 38

12. UT Martin - 31

Preseason All-OVC volleyball team

Arianna Person, Belmont *#

Marah Bradbury, Eastern Illinois *

Abby Saalfrank, Eastern Illinois *

Scottie Ingram, Murray State *

Taylor Olden, Murray State *

Taylor Masterson, Southeast Missouri State *

Kristen Torre, SIUE *

Cody Dodd, Tennessee Tech *

Kristen Besselsen, Murray State

Rachel vick, Eastern Kentucky

Hannah Sigala, Morehead State

Aubrey Marasellis, Austin Peay

Chelsea Lee, Eastern Illinois

* - All-OVC in 2014

# - All-Newcomer in 2014