The Drake University volleyball team has been picked sixth in the annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches poll, the MVC announced Wednesday, Aug. 16. The Bulldogs' projected finish in the poll is the program's highest preseason projection since the 2011 season.
Missouri State, the defending regular-season MVC Champions, were the unanimous favorite to repeat as champions, followed by UNI in second and Illinois State in third. Loyola and SIU were tabbed third and fourth, respectively. Drake was voted ahead of MVC newcomer Valparaiso, Bradley, Indiana State and Evansville.
The Valley will look to continue to build off the success of another tremendous season in 2016 that saw three teams make the NCAA Tournament.