Coming off of one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Valpo volleyball program has been chosen to finish in fifth place in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022, as the MVC released its preseason poll on Wednesday morning.

The Beacons garnered 95 points in the polling, including one first-place vote, to rank fifth in a tight bunch in the middle of the pack. Valpo was just four points behind Bradley in fourth position, but on the other side, was just one point ahead of UNI in sixth place. Notably, Valpo has outperformed its preseason projection in each of its first five seasons in the Valley.

Illinois State received five first-place votes and totaled 134 points to lead the poll ahead of Evansville (121 points, two first-place votes). UIC (3) and UNI (1) also picked up at least one first-place nod.

Valpo posted a 26-10 record last season and went 12-6 in MVC play, finishing the regular season in a tie for third place — its best finish since joining the Valley. The Beacons earned a bid to the postseason NIVC and picked up four sweeps in a row to advance to the championship match of the tournament.

Valpo returns 10 letterwinners and two redshirt freshmen from last year’s squad, while adding a pair of transfers and three true freshmen to the team. The Beacons did lose a quartet of players who combined for eight All-MVC honors during their careers, making this year’s team the program’s first since 2006 to have no returning First or Second Team All-Conference honorees on the roster.

Valpo continues its preseason on Friday morning at 11 a.m. at the ARC with an exhibition match against Western Michigan. The regular season kicks off Friday, Aug. 26 at Youngstown State with a match against Delaware State.