BigTen.org, August 23, 2016

Defending NCAA Champion Nebraska was unanimously chosen as the Big Ten Conference favorite for the 2016 volleyball season, as voted on by the conference?s 14 head coaches, it was announced on Tuesday.

After claiming their fourth national title last season, the Cornhuskers top the preseason poll for the first time since 2012.

NCAA semifinalist and defending Big Ten Champion Minnesota was picked to finish second, while Wisconsin was tabbed third. Penn State was voted to finish fourth, while Illinois rounded out the top five of the preseason poll in fifth place.

View the full preseason poll and All-Big Ten Team below.

2016 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

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

***

2016 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Name School Yr. Position Hometown
Jordyn Poulter Illinois So. Setter Aurora, Colo.
ABBY COLE Michigan Sr. Middle Blocker Grand Haven, Mich.
Chloe Reinig Michigan State Sr. Outside Hitter South Lyon, Mich.
Hannah Tapp Minnesota Sr. Opposite Hitter/Middle Blocker Stewartville, Minn.
Paige Tapp Minnesota Sr. Middle Blocker Stewartville, Minn.
Samantha Seliger-Swenson Minnesota So. Setter Minnetonka, Minn.
Amber Rolfzen Nebraska Sr. Middle Blocker Papillion, Neb.
KADIE ROLFZEN Nebraska Sr. Outside Hitter Papillion, Neb.
Justine Wong-Orantes Nebraska Sr. Libero Cypress, Calif.
Taylor Sandbothe Ohio State Sr. Middle Blocker Lee?s Summit, Mo.
Ali Frantti Penn State Jr. Outside Hitter Spring Grove, Ill.
HALEIGH WASHINGTON Penn State Jr. Middle Blocker Colorado Springs, Colo.
LAUREN CARLINI Wisconsin Sr. Setter Aurora, Ill.
Haleigh Nelson Wisconsin Sr. Middle Blocker Cary, N.C.

UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS