Saluki volleyball was picked to finish fourth out of 10 teams in conference by the Missouri Valley Conference pollsters.

The team has two newcomers and 13 returning players, including lone senior Taylor Pippen, who was selected to the All-Conference preseason team for the second year in a row.

Pippen, a middle hitter, led the conference in hitting efficiency last season and broke the Saluki record.

Southern Illinois finished last season with the fifth best record and was eliminated by Missouri State in the first round of the conference tournament.

The Salukis open their season at the UCF/Holiday Inn Express Invitational Aug. 28-29 in Orlando, Fla.

Aaron Graff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Aarongraff_DE