NEW YORK – In a close vote among the BIG EAST’s volleyball head coaches, Marquette was chosen as the preseason favorite with 78 points, six first-place votes. Golden Eagle junior outside hitter Allie Barber was chosen as the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year.
Creighton was chosen second with 76 points and the remaining first-place votes. Chosen third was Butler with 60 points, followed by Villanova with 57. These top four teams made up 2017 BIG EAST Tournament bracket.
Seton Hall was picked fifth (52 points), with St. John’s and Xavier tied at sixth with 33 points.