ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Southern Illinois Salukis’ Women’s Volleyball team was picked fifth in the annual coaches’ Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, the conference announced Wednesday. UNI led the poll once again with 141 points and 10 of the 12 first-place votes. UIC (129), Drake (110), Illinois State (98) and SIU (85) rounded out the top five.

The Salukis finished 20-12 (11-7 MVC) in 2023, where they finished fourth in the MVC and made their second-ever postseason appearance, earning a bid to the 2023 NIVC.

The Salukis return eight players from 2023: three outside hitters, two setters, and three middle hitters. Among the returners is Ema Stermenska, who was selected to the MVC All-Freshman team in 2023. Stermenska was 11th in the MVC in assists (673) and was fourth in service aces (48).

Southern will play at Saint Louis in an exhibition Saturday, August 24, at 1 p.m.