Jackets Picked Atop HLC Volleyball Poll (8/14/06)
Click here for audio of Coach Matavao commenting on
the Heartland Conference preseason poll

BILLINGS, MT – The Montana State-Billings volleyball team has been picked to win the 2006 Heartland Conference championship in a preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.  The Yellowjackets finished second in the conference tournament last year, losing 3-1 to Western New Mexico in the title match.  Western New Mexico has moved to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, leaving the Jackets as the league favorite.

MSU Billings posted a school-best 20-8 overall record last season.  It was the second consecutive winning season for a program that had not posted a season mark above .500 in its history.  The Yellowjackets will return all eight players from last year’s HLC runner-up team.

The Yellowjackets were picked ahead of Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s and St. Edward’s.  Incarnate Word and St. Mary’s each were conference playoff qualifiers last year.  St. Edward’s was the conference champion two years ago.  The top four teams in the regular season standings qualify for the conference tournament.  Rounding out the poll were Dallas Baptist and Oklahoma Panhandle State.

The Yellowjackets will open the season on August 25 at the Mountain Lion Invitational in Colorado Springs.  All of their matches during the first four weeks of the season will be on the road.  MSU Billings opens the home schedule on September 22 against Dallas Baptist.  By virtue of their runner-up finish at last year’s conference tourney, the Yellowjackets will host the 2006 Heartland Conference Championship Tournament on November 3 and 4 at Alterowitz Gymnasium.  The winner of the conference tourney receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

2006 Heartland Conference Preseason Poll
1. Montana State University-Billings
2. University of the Incarnate Word
3. St. Mary’s University
4. St. Edward’s University
5. Dallas Baptist University
6. Oklahoma Panhandle State University