GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com---The Green Bay volleyball team finished top of the table for the 2019 Horizon League Preseason Poll, with the Phoenix receiving five first-place votes out of a possible nine to earn the top spot in voting done by the League's head coaches.

It is to no surprise that the defending champions achieved the number one spot in the preseason polls after capturing their first regular-season title and winning the conference tournament for the first time since 2003.  The Phoenix returns Tournament MVP and League/Offensive Player of the Year Taylor Wolf, as well as Setter of the Year Maddie Yoss.

Northern Kentucky attained second place in the polls, receiving two first place votes, after finishing tied for second in the regular season in 2018 before falling to the Phoenix in the championship match. The Norse bring back All-League First Team member Ashton Terrill, All-League Honorable Mention Bailey Western, and two All-Freshman Team selections, Anna Brinkman and Miranda Wucherer.

Coming in third place, just behind NKU with one first place vote, is UIC. The Flames finished fourth in the regular season last year and return Freshman of the Year and All-League First Team selection Kiera James along with First Team member Paola Santiago in 2019.

Oakland also picked up a first place vote in the poll, placing fourth. The Golden Grizzlies were 6-10 in League play in 2018 and return All-League First Team selection Jamie Wallilng.

Cleveland State and Wright State each qualified for the tournament last season. The Vikings finished the regular season 11-5 in League play last season earning the number two seed, while the Raiders earned the number six seed at 7-9. Rounding out the 2019 Preseason Poll are Milwaukee, IUPUI, and Youngstown State.

The regular season begins on Friday, August 30 and the 2019 Horizon League Volleyball Championships will take place on November 22-24 at the highest seed who meets the facility criteria, with the top six teams in the standings competing for the title.

2019 Horizon League Volleyball Preseason Poll
Pl.   Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.    Green Bay – 75 (5)
2.    Northern Kentucky – 67 (2)
3.    UIC – 66 (1)
4.    Oakland – 49 (1)
5.    Cleveland State – 47
6.    Wright State – 37
7.    Milwaukee – 32
8.    IUPUI – 21
9.    Youngstown State – 11

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