BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference league offices released their annual preseason poll for volleyball on Wednesday afternoon, with West Virginia State picked to finish atop the South Division for the fourth time in the last five years after garnering 56 points and six first-place votes. The poll is voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Yellow Jackets were selected to finish second in the South Division last season following three straight polls of being picked to finish first. WVSU nearly ran the conference table during the regular season, however, giving them the right to host the tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. Following a historic comeback against West Liberty in the tournament semi-finals where State found themselves down two sets to none, WVSU fell in the MEC Championship game to Wheeling. The Cardinals have won every MEC Championship in Volleyball since the conference's inception.

Avery Moore was announced as West Virginia State's new head volleyball coach in April following the departure of Hillary Hurley after one season. Moore spent a year as the assistant coach at Charleston under Tyler Kanelos just as her predecessor did.

WVSU graduated seven seniors last season, but the return of team captain and primary setter Kiersten Eggleton for her graduate season will bring a foundation that State will look to build off of. Eggleton was awarded second-team all-conference honors last season after leading the Yellow Jackets in assists with 873. She was ranked fifth in assists per set in the conference and only Karly Niesen from Wheeling and Dakoda Keni from West Liberty had more total assists, both of whom return to their respective teams this season.

On the offensive side, Baby Moleni and Valencia Wilder both return to the Yellow Jacket roster. Moleni averaged 2.55 points per set with 152 kills and 34 blocks. Wilder averaged 1.88 points per set with 128 kills and 86 blocks.

Defensively, senior Ashlynne Davis returns to the libero position following her team-leading 302 dig performance last season. She averaged 2.96 digs per set and had a .938 reception average.

State and Charleston are the clear front-runners in the South Division with Charleston selected to come in second in the division, gathering the final five first place votes and 55 points. Concord was picked to finish third, accruing 41 points. Glenville State, West Virginia Wesleyan and Davis & Elkins round out the South Division poll.

Wheeling was once again selected to win the North Division, garnering every first place vote in the conference, except for their own. Fairmont State and West Liberty were voted to finish in a tie for second in the North Division.

West Virginia State's journey in the 2024 campaign begins in Texas against Texas A&M International on Thursday, Sept. 5. That match is scheduled for a 3:00 pm EDT first serve.

The complete 2024 MEC Volleyball Preseason Poll is as follows:
 

2024 MEC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
NORTH DIVISION
1.	Wheeling (10)	50
T2.	Fairmont State (1)	36
T2.	West Liberty	36
4.	Frostburg State	23
5.	Point Park	15
SOUTH DIVISION
1.	West Virginia St. (6)	56
2.	Charleston (5)	55
3.	Concord	41
4.	Glenville State	30
5.	West Va. Wesleyan	27
6.	Davis & Elkins	16

( ) - 1st-place votes
* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team