DENVER – New Mexico State volleyball was picked to win the Western Athletic Conference according to this year's coaches' poll, the league announced on Wednesday. The Aggies also placed five players on the Preseason All-WAC team.

"Our team improved quite a bit this past spring. Hopefully we will stay healthy and have a great season," head coach Mike Jordan said. "We have talent and experience, obviously that's a great position to be in. Our non-conference schedule will challenge us quite a bit and will give us a chance to figure out our weaknesses heading into WAC play."

With six first-place votes and 48 total points, NM State took the top spot in the coaches' poll. UT Rio Grande Valley placed second with 39 voted followed by Utah Valley, who received a pair of first-place votes, giving the Wolverines a total of 37 points. UMKC was fourth with 31 points, while CSU Bakersfield and Seattle U tied for fifth place with 24 points. Grand Canyon and Chicago State rounded out the poll with 14 and seven points, respectively.

The Aggies placed the most players on the Preseason All-WAC team with Jordan Abalos, Briana Ainsworth, Tatyana Battle, Ariadnne Sierra and Sasha-Lee Thomas being named to the team. Of those selected, Sierra was named the league's Libero of the Year in 2016. Abalos and Battle earned First Team All-WAC honors while Sierra and Thomas were named to the second team.

New Mexico State volleyball hosts the annual Crimson and White Scrimmage at 4 p.m. (MT) on Saturday, Aug. 19., at the Pan American Center. Admission is free for all those in attendance. NM State officially begins the season in South Bend, Ind., where the Aggies take on Rhode Island on Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. (MT) to open the Golden Dome Invitational.

2017 Preseason Coaches' Poll

2017 Preseason All-WAC Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Bojana Mitrovic, UT Rio Grande Valley