Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, August 13, 2015

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Defending NCAA Champion Penn State was chosen as the conference favorite for the 2015 volleyball season as voted on by the Big Ten coaches, it was announced on Thursday.

After claiming their seventh national title last season, the Nittany Lions top the preseason poll for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.

NCAA quarterfinalist Nebraska was picked to finish second, while Illinois was tabbed third. Wisconsin, which claimed the Big Ten Championship last season, was voted to finish fourth, while Minnesota rounded out the top five of the preseason poll in fifth place.

The preseason poll and All-Big Ten Team can be found below.

2015 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

  1. Penn State
  2. Nebraska
  3. Illinois
  4. Wisconsin
  5. Minnesota
  6. Michigan State
  7. Purdue
  8. Ohio State
  9. Michigan
  10. Northwestern
  11. Iowa
  12. Indiana
  13. Maryland
  14. Rutgers

2015 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Name School Yr. Position             Hometown
JOCELYNN BIRKS (3) Illinois Sr. Outside Hitter Willow Springs, Ill.
ABBY COLE Michigan Jr. Middle Blocker Grand Haven, Mich.
Chloe Reinig Michigan State Jr. Outside Hitter South Lyon, Mich.
Paige Tapp Minnesota Jr. Middle Blocker Stewartville, Minn.
Kelsey Fien Nebraska Sr. Outside Hitter Bakersfield, Calif.
Kadie Rolfzen (2) Nebraska Jr. Outside Hitter Papillion, Neb.
Taylor Sandbothe Ohio State Jr. Middle Blocker Lee?s Summit, Mo.
Megan Courtney (3) Penn State Sr. Outside Hitter Dayton, Ohio
Ali Frantti Penn State So. Outside Hitter Spring Grove, Ill.
HALEIGH WASHINGTON Penn State So. Middle Blocker Colorado Springs, Colo.
Aiyana Whitney Penn State Sr. Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker Norwood, N.J.
Annie Drews Purdue Sr. Outside Hitter Elkhart, Ind.
LAUREN CARLINI (2) Wisconsin Jr. Setter Aurora, Ill.
Taylor Morey Wisconsin Sr. Libero Muncie, Ind.

UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS

(2)  Two-time selection

(3)  Three-time selection