NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College volleyball team was picked fourth in the UMAC Preseason Coaches Poll releaseed by the conference Wednesday.

MLC finished the poll with 42 total points, trailing only the top three of Northwestern (unanimous number one with 64 total points and eight first place votes), Minnesota Morris (56 points and one first place vote) and St. Scholastica (50 points).

The Knights finished fourth in the final conference standings last season with a 5-3 UMAC record to go with an overall record of 11-22. MLC won its first round match-up in the UMAC Postseason Tournament in five games against Bethany Lutheran before falling to top-seeded Northwestern in the semifinal round. 

MLC returns seven seniors this season, led by returning All-UMAC performers Kira Grev (three-time First Team All-UMAC), Jade St. Germaine (First Team All-UMAC in 2016) and Rylee Weisensel (Honorable Mention All-UMAC in 2016). Classmates Taylor Weber, Grace Schultz, Jenna Miller and Heidi Moldenhauer join them to give the team a lot of experience heading into the season.

Also returning this season are junior Moriah Hackbarth, as well as sophomores Emily Byhardt, Ruth Buchholz and Faith Otte.

You can see the full preseason release from the conference if you click here.