Left to right, junior outside hitter Chloe Reinig, sophomore middle back Alyssa Garvelink, sophomore setter Rachel Minarick, sophomore libero Abby Monson and sophomore outside hitter Holly Toliver celebrate the final play during the volleyball game against Ohio State on Oct. 21, 2015 at Jenison Field House. The Spartans defeated Ohio State, 3-0.
The MSU volleyball team held it's annual media day press conference Monday and shortly after the Big Ten released a poll which ranked the Spartans seventh in its first preseason conference poll, according to a press release.
Last season, the Spartans finished seventh in the Big Ten last year with a 10-10 conference record, tying with Illinois. With a 19-15 overall record, the team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling to No. 1 overall, Washington.
The team also received votes in the AVCA pre-season national polls, being one of nine Big Ten teams to do so.
Among individual accolades, senior Chloe Reinig enters her final season snatching up her second straight pre-season All-Big Ten honors. Reinig has also garnered national attention in the past, being named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-America selection in 2014.
With a total roster of 17 players, the Spartans return all their starters along with a pair of transfers. The two transfers, Autumn Bailey and Maddie Haggerty, come from Marquette and Central Florida, respectively. Bailey figures to be a part of the opposing team’s scouting report after being named the 2014 Big East Player of the Year.
Nebraska received the most votes as the top seed in the Big Ten. MSU fell short to No. 6 OSU and were ranked above No. 8 Michigan.
2016 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. NEBRASKA
2. Minnesota
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Illinois
6. Ohio State
7.Michigan State
8. Michigan
9. Purdue
10. Northwestern
11. Maryland
12. Iowa
13. Indiana
14. Rutgers
The Spartans will open their season at the San Diego State Aztec Invitational from Aug. 26 to 27. They will play Denver, San Diego State, then Marist. Fans will get their first look at this year’s team at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational starting Sept. 3.
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