WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita State volleyball team is picked first in the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.  The Shockers earned nine first-place votes and received 99 points in the poll.

The Shockers return 10 letterwinners and six starters to a team that won a school-record 30 matches in 2008 and won their fourth MVC title in five years with an 18-0 mark.

Three Shockers were also named to the Preseason All-Valley Team.  Senior outside hitter Emily Stockman, junior middle blocker Sarah McGee and sophomore setter Mary Elizabeth Hooper were all named to the team.  Stockman earned MVC Player-of-the-Year honors in 2008, while Hooper was named MVC Freshman-of-the-Year.  McGee was on the 2008 all-MVC first team.

2009 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
1.    Wichita State (9)    99
2.    Missouri State (1)    87
3.    UNI            83
4.    Creighton        67
5.    Southern Illinois        49
6.    Evansville        47
7.    Illinois State        42
8.    Drake            33
9.    Bradley           24
10.    Indiana State        19

Preseason All-Conference Team
Jessica Houts, Creighton
Peggy Riessen, Illinois Sstate
Cara Hackmann, Missouri State
Calli Norman, Missouri State
Shannon Aschoff, UNI
Mary Elizabeth Hooper, Wichita State
Sarah McGee, Wichita State
Emily Stockman, Wichita State