Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
ST. LOUIS -- The Indiana State volleyball program, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Traci Dahl, has been picked seventh in the annual Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll of league head coaches.
The Sycamores welcome back three starters, plus the libero, from a Sycamore squad which has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the just the second time in program history (1981 & 1982) as it collected 17 wins one year ago.
The Indiana State attack will be powered by three hitters that amassed over 250 kills each in 2015. Senior Kynedi Nalls earned Second Team All-MVC honors and led the Sycamores with 340 kills and 89 blocks last season. Senior outside hitter Bree Spangler (272 kills, 294 digs, 34 aces) and senior middle blocker Melody Burdette (270 kills, 40 blocks) will also add to the offensive power at the net this fall.
Junior defensive specialist Stephanie Bindernagel returns for the Sycamores after tallying a team-high 483 digs with 20 service aces a year ago.
Defending champion Wichita State has been picked to win the league again in 2016. The Shockers amassed 97 votes while Missouri State is tabbed second with 85 points. Southern Illinois is picked third with 82 points while Northern Iowa is fourth with 72. Illinois State is tabbed for fifth (57) while Loyola is sixth at 50 points. The Sycamores came in seventh in the balloting with 41 points while Drake (33), Bradley (18) and Evansville (15) round out the results.
Indiana State will be in action on Saturday, August 20 when they hold the annual Blue/White Scrimmage at 1 p.m. (ET) inside the ISU Arena. Admission is free and open to the public. The scrimmage begins a full afternoon of activity with the Sycamore Athletics Kickoff Party slated to be held from 3-5 p.m. (ET) at the ISU Annex which is the indoor training facility adjacent to the Gibson Track & Field Complex.
