BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State has been picked to finish second in the Mountain East Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll that was released on Monday afternoon by the league office. Wheeling Jesuit has been picked by the league's coaches to win the MEC volleyball title for the fifth-straight season.

Fairmont State is coming off a 21-14 overall record in 2016, which included an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. The Falcons return eight juniors and seniors in 2017, including All-American right-side hitter Mackenzie Harrison, All-MEC setter Jessica Furda and outside hitter Julia Shemaitis as the team's trio of seniors. All-MEC libero Megan Clerico and MEC All-Freshman team middle hitter Rebecca Feeney also return for the Falcons in a veteran lineup in 2017.

The Cardinals finished atop the poll with 121 points and a maximum of 11 first-place votes. The Cardinals will have to replace a host of seniors that helped the program to four-straight regular season and tournament championships, but still return Lauran Graves, a second team All-MEC performer last year, and Bre Kramer, the 2016 MEC Freshman of the Year.

Fairmont State was picked second in the poll with 107 points and one first-place vote. The University of Charleston was close behind FSU in third with 103 points.

West Liberty was slotted fourth with 88 points, with Urbana being picked fifth with 84 points. Notre Dame was tabbed sixth (61 points), followed by Concord (58), UVa-Wise (45), Shepherd (44), West Virginia Wesleyan (39), West Virginia State (31) and Glenville State (11).

2017 MEC Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Wheeling Jesuit (11) 121
2. Fairmont State (1) 107
3. Charleston 103
4. West Liberty 88
5. Urbana 84
6. Notre Dame 61
7. Concord 58
8. UVa-Wise 45
9. Shepherd 44
10. West Virginia Wesleyan 39
11. West Virginia State 31
12. Glenville State 11
() Indicates first place votes
* Coaches not able to vote for own team