BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The volleyball coaches in the Mountain East Conference have made their preseason predictions for the upcoming season. West Liberty University has been picked to finish second in the MEC North Division.

The Hilltoppers received 51 votes in the preseason poll and picked up two of the 12 first place votes in the north.

Wheeling, 65 votes, was selected as the preseason favorites in the north after winning their ninth MEC regular season and tournament championships last season. West Virginia State, 63 votes, took the honors in the south. WLU was the lone team other than Wheeling (10) in the north to garner first place votes.

It is the first time in Hilltopper volleyball history that West Liberty has earned first place votes in the MEC preseason coaches poll. The second place prediction is tied for the second highest in program history, as members of the MEC, along with the 2019 and 2020-21 teams.

West Liberty will make a trip to St. Petersburg, Fla. to begin its 2022 season at the Eckerd College Invitational with four games over the weekend of August 26-27. The home opener is scheduled for September 6 against Pitt-Johnstown and the Atlantic Region Crossover will be inside the ASRC the following Friday (9/9) and Saturday (9/10).

Follow the Hilltoppers all season online at HilltopperSports.com as well as on Twitter (@WLU_Volleyball | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_volleyball | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.
 
2022 MEC Volleyball Preseason Poll

MEC North Division
1. Wheeling - 65 (10)
2. West Liberty - 51 (2)
3. Fairmont State - 50
4. Frostburg State - 33
5. Notre Dame College - 31
6. Alderson Broaddus - 16

MEC South Division
1. West Virginia State -- 63 (8)
2. Charleston - 55 (3)
3. Davis & Elkins - 50 (1)
4. Concord - 28
5. Glenville State - 27
6. W.Va. Wesleyan - 23

( ) - First-place Votes