LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Rio Grande RedStorm volleyball team is predicted to finish second in the Mid-South Conference East Division, according to the MSC Coaches' Pre-season poll. Rio Grande received 13 voting points and one first-place vote. Mid-South Conference newcomer and arch-rival Shawnee State is picked to win the East.

Shawnee State received 14 voting points, including three first-place votes from the East Division coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Rio Grande finished third in the MSC last season with a 9-5 record.

Rio Grande head coach Billina Donaldson and the RedStorm are extremely optimistic about the 2010 season and can't wait to get underway. "We are bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced," Donaldson said. "We cannot wait to turn heads this season."

"The key to our success this year will be the ability to show up for the big games," Donaldson added. "We have so much talent this year; we just have to have confidence when we walk onto the court."

Georgetown College is the consensus pick to finish at the top of the West Division. This season marks the first time Mid-South Conference volleyball has moved to divisional play. The conference expanded to 10 full-time members in July.

The rest of the projections for the East Division are as follows: Pikeville College is third in the preseason ranking with 11 voting points, including the final first-place vote. MSC newcomer UVA-Wise received eight voting points, while WVU Tech received four voting points to complete the East Division.

In the West, Georgetown received 16 voting points, including four first-place votes in the West Division preseason poll.

Campbellsville University is projected second in the West with 13 voting points and the final first-place vote.

Lindsey Wilson College received 10 voting points to finish third in the balloting, while University of the Cumberlands (seven) and St. Catharine College (four) round out the West Division.

Rio Grande begins the season, August 26 versus Point Park inside the Newt Oliver Arena at 6 p.m.

The 2010 MSC volleyball season begins later this month and concludes with the conference tournament Nov. 7-9 in Frankfort, Ky.