LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 24) – The California University of Pennsylvania volleyball team was picked to finish second in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Southwest Division poll, which the league announced on Thursday afternoon.

Last year, three teams from the Southwest Division qualified for the 2016 PSAC Tournament as the league adopted a four-division format. The preseason poll reflects the balance of teams in the Southwest Division, as all four teams received multiple first-place votes.

Clarion was the preseason favorite for a consecutive year with seven first-place votes despite being the only team in the division to not advance to the league tournament in 2016. Cal U, which earned the automatic qualifier from the division to the PSAC Tournament last season, was slotted second with four first-place votes. IUP received three first-place votes after advancing to the semifinals of the league tournament, while Seton Hill earned two first-place votes and ranked fourth in the rankings.

In the PSAC Northwest, defending-PSAC Champion Gannon was the preseason favorite with 13 first-place votes. Edinboro finished second in the division and earned three first-place votes after advancing to the NCAA regional championship for the first time since 2007. Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock rounded out the division in the poll.

Pitt-Johnstown was picked to repeat in the PSAC Central with 13 first-place votes. Shippensburg received the final three first-place votes and ranked second with Millersville and Lock Haven completing the rankings.

In the PSAC Southwest, West Chester was the unanimous preseason favorite with 16 first-place votes. Kutztown ranked second, while East Stroudsburg and Cheyney closed out the preseason poll.

The Vulcans start the year next weekend at the Queens Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Sept. 1-2.