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The Truman volleyball team was picked fifth in the 2012 MIAA preseason poll, voted on by league coaches and released Wednesday by the league office.

The Bulldogs earned 102 points, landing six points back of Emporia (Kan.) State for fourth.
 
Defending MIAA co-champion Washburn (Kan.) was selected by the coaches to win the league, as the Lady Blues picked up 137 points and seven first-place votes.

The league’s other defending co-champion, Central Missouri, received four first-place votes and was picked second with 131 points, while MIAA-newcomer Nebraska-Kearney landed third with 129 points and the remaining two first-place votes.
 
ESU (108 points) and Truman – last season’s third and fourth-place finishers – took home fourth and fifth in this season’s preseason predictions, before a massive drop to sixth-place Pittsburg (Kan.) State (76). Northwest Missouri (66), Fort Hays (Kan.) State (63), Missouri Western (62) and first-year MIAA-member Lindenwood (Mo.) (59) rounded out the top ten.
 
The bottom three slots were separated by just one point each, as Southwest Baptist (Mo.) came in 11th with 28 points, MIAA-newcomer Central Oklahoma earned 27 points for 12th, and Missouri Southern rounded out the poll in last with 26 points.
 
The Bulldogs return five starters, including three-time AVCA all-American Megan Sharpe (Edwardsville, Ill., Edwardsville) and all-MIAA players Abby Moser (Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette) and Allie Brak (The Colony, Texas, The Colony), for the 2012 season.

Truman posted a 20-14 record in 2011, marking the 22nd straight season the program reached the 20-win mark.
 
Truman opens the 2012 season by hosting the Days Inn Bulldog Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs debut at 11:00 a.m. on Friday the 31st against McKendree (Ill.).

Courtesy Truman State University