OMAHA, Neb. -- For the fourth straight fall, the Creighton Volleyball team has been picked to win the BIG EAST Conference in a preseason vote of league coaches. In addition, Jess Bird, Lauren Smith and Jaali Winters were each named to the BIG EAST's Preseason All-Conference team, with Winters taking home Preseason Player of the Year honors.
The two-time defending league champs, Creighton was the unanimous selection to take the title as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or their own student-athletes. The Bluejays return four starters and 11 letterwinners from a 27-9 team that won the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles last fall while reaching a fourth straight NCAA Tournament.