WICHITA, Kan. ? The Wichita State volleyball team is picked atop the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Shockers earned four first-place votes and received 91 points in the poll.

The Shockers return 11 letterwinners and four starters to a team that won 27 matches in 2007 and won their third MVC title in four years with a 17-1 mark.

Two Shockers were also named to the Preseason All-Valley Team. Junior outside-hitter Emily Stockman and junior middle-blocker Stephanie Tokarz were both named to the team, and were first team all-Valley selections in 2007.

Stockman started all 33 matches for the Shockers and led the team with 460 kills, averaging 4.22 kills per game while hitting .221. Tokarz averaged 2.85 kills and 1.04 blocks per game. Her .356 hitting percentage and 103 blocks led the team.

2008 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Wichita State (4) 91
2. UNI (2) 84
3. Creighton (3) 81
4. Missouri State (1) 73
5. Illinois State 67
6. Southern Illinois 52
7. Evansville 34
8. Drake 31
9. Bradley 25
10. Indiana State 12

Preseason All-Conference Team
Shannon Aschoff, UNI
Korie Lebeda, Creighton
Erin Lindsey, Illinois State
M.C. Richmond, Illinois State
Sara Staubach, Missouri State
Ashten Stelken, UNI
Emily Stockman, Wichita State
Stephanie Tokarz, Wichita State