LOUISVILLE, Ky., --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's cross country team has been picked to finish third in the MSC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Rio Grande received 64 points in the voting. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The RedStorm were the MSC runner-up last season. 

Rio Grande returns nearly everybody from last year's squad. "Everybody ran well over the summer, so they've got good mileage behind them, we're excited for the ladies," Rio Grande head coach Bob Willey said. "Obviously when you're picked third, you'd like to win it and we're going to do the best we can to try to mix it up and try to finish as high as we possibly can in the conference."

"Hopefully it will be higher than third," Willey added. "We're looking for a good year."

The University of the Cumberlands is the team to beat in Mid-South Conference women's cross country in 2010. The Patriots -- the defending MSC champions -- received 74 points from the conference coaches, including five first-place votes.

MSC newcomer Shawnee State is projected to finish second with 72 points, including the remaining five first-place votes.

Campbellsville is slated to finish behind Rio Grande in fourth position with 59 points.

Lindsey Wilson College (53 points), Georgetown College (43), Pikeville College (29), UVA-Wise (22), St. Catharine (18) and WVU Tech (16) complete the preseason poll.

Rio Grande opens the season on Saturday at the Flyer 5 K in Dayton. 

The Mid-South Conference Championships are scheduled for Nov. 6 in Portsmouth, Ohio.