ST. LOUIS, Mo.- The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team has been selected as the overwhelming favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference in the 2012 season, according to the preseason poll released by the league office.
The Panthers received all 10 first place votes cast by the Valley's coaches. UNI heads into this season looking for its fourth straight MVC title. Last season was the third consecutive year that the Panthers finished 18-0 in the conference, and they had a 33-2 record overall. They are returning four talented starters in seniors Krista DeGeest, Amy Braun and Megan Lehman as well as junior Shelby Kintzel.
Braun and DeGeest were both named to the Pre-Season All Conference Team. Braun earned a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season. She also earned first-team MVC scholar status. DeGeest was named to the first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference for a second straight season. She also earned honorable mention AVCA All-America honors. DeGeest will start out the 2012 season with a .320 career hitting percentage which puts her second on the all-time list at UNI.
The 2012 season opener for the Panthers will be Fri., Aug. 24, when they take on Purdue in the first round of the Mortar Board Premier in West Lafayette, Ind.
2012 PRESEASON POLL
Rank Team (1st-place votes) Points
1. UNI (10) ..............................................100
2. Missouri State ......................................86
3. Wichita State ........................................84
4. Creighton ..............................................68
5. Illinois State .........................................57
6. Southern Illinois ...................................41
7. Bradley .................................................35
8. Indiana State........................................34
9. Evansville .............................................27
10. Drake ....................................................18
2012 MVC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Player, Team Pos. Cl. Ht. Hometown (High School)
Emily Adney, Wichita State OH Sr. 6-2 Golden, Colo. (D'Evelyn)
Ashley Andrade, Wichita State MB Jr. 6-2 Glendale, Ariz. (Northwest Christian)
Megan Bober, Creighton S Sr. 6-0 Murdock, Neb. (Elmwood-Murdock)
Amy Braun, UNI OH Sr. 5-10 Lakeville, Minn. (North)
Krista DeGeest, UNI MB Sr. 6-2 Spencer, Iowa (Spencer)
Carly Thomas, Missouri State S Jr. 5-11 Swansea, Ill. (Althoff Catholic)
