ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Drake volleyball team will enter the 2023 will lofty external ambitions as the Bulldogs were picked as the preseason runner-up in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake, led by 2022 MVC Player of the Year Haley Bush, received three first place votes in the preseason poll and amassed 133 total points.
 
The Bulldogs will look to outdo themselves and improve upon a historic 2022 season. Drake finished last season with a pair of tournament runner-up finishes in the MVC and NIVC brackets. They also notched a program record 30 wins.
 
Defending regular season and tournament champion UNI narrowly edged Drake in the preseason poll voting with 135 points and seven first place votes.
 
Bush also earned individual honors with her selection to the 2023 MVC Preseason All-Conference team.
 
Drake will begin their 2023 regular season next weekend when they travel to the Dayton Invitational in Dayton, Ohio from Friday, Aug. 25 to Saturday, Aug. 26.
 
FIRST TEAM
S - Tayler Alden, UNI, Jr.
S - Sohila Wafeek, UIC, Sr.
RS - Giulia Cardona, Evansville, Jr.
OH - Haley Bush, Drake, 5th
OH - Martina Delucchi, UIC, Sr.
OH - Nataly Garcia, Southern Illinois, Sr.

PRESEASON POLL
1. UNI (7)                               135 pts.
2. Drake (3)                           133 pts.
3. UIC (1)                               122 pts.
4. Southern Illinois                 103 pts.
5. Evansville                            99 pts.
6. Valparaiso                           73 pts.
7. Illinois State (1)                   71 pts.
8. Bradley                                56 pts.
9. Missouri State                     52 pts.
10. Murray State                     47 pts.
11. Belmont                             31 pts.
12. Indiana State                    14 pts.