BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri volleyball was picked to finish ninth in the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll. Last year, the Redhawks finished eighth and fell to Murray State in the OVC Tournament. Taylor Masterson was also named to the Preseason All-OVC Volleyball team.
 
Taylor Masterson is named to the Preseason All-OVC Volleyball team for the second time. As a junior in 2014, Masterson tallied 118 blocks (48 solo) and averaged the third-highest blocks per set (1.03) in the OVC.  She led Southeast Missouri in points (368), was second on the team in kills (285), and averaged 2.48 kills per set. Masterson started all 31 matches and played in 115 sets.
 
Fellow senior and defensive specialist, Haley Roberts, will join Masterson in their final season at Southeast. Other notable returners include junior libero Jade Mortimer, setter Katarina Rotta , right side hitter Madalyn Werths and sophomore middle blocker Nzingha Clarke. As a freshman, Clarke was named to the All-Newcomer team. The Redhawks will open their schedule on August 28 at home versus Arkansas State at 12 p.m. and Saint Louis at 7 p.m.
 
Murray State was selected to be the preseason favorite capturing 20 of the 24 first-place votes. Belmont received the remaining four first-place votes and claimed second on the predicted order of finish.
 
2015 Preseason All-OVC Volleyball Team
(as Selected by OVC Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
Arianna Person, Belmont *#
Marah Bradbury, Eastern Illinois *
Abby Saalfrank, Eastern Illinois *
Scottie Ingram, Murray State *
Taylor Olden, Murray State *
Taylor Masterson, Southeast Missouri *
Kristen Torre, SIUE *
Cody Dodd, Tennessee Tech *
Kristen Besselsen, Murray State
Rachel Vick, Eastern Kentucky
Hannah Sigala, Morehead State
Aubrey Marasellis, Austin Peay
Chelsea Lee, Eastern Illinois
 
* - All-OVC in 2014
# - All-Newcomer in 2014
 
 
2015 OVC Volleyball Predicted Team Order of Finish
(as Selected by OVC Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
1. Murray State (20 first-place votes) – 240 pts
2. Belmont (Four first-place votes) – 216
3. Eastern Illinois – 173
4. Eastern Kentucky – 169
5. Tennessee Tech – 147
6. Jacksonville State – 139
7. Morehead State – 128
8. Austin Peay – 126
9. Southeast Missouri – 89
10. SIUE – 88
11. Tennessee State – 38
12. UT Martin - 31