JONESBORO, Ark. (8/22/16) – The Arkansas State volleyball team was selected to win the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference unanimously by league coaches, while Carlisa May was named Preseason Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Markie Schaedig was chosen as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and Mallory Warrington earned Preseason Setter of the Year the SBC office announced Monday.

The Red Wolves were picked to win the West Division with all 12 first-place votes and 72 total points, while Texas State registered 58 points to place second among the Preseason Poll. UT Arlington (45 points), Little Rock (39 points), Louisiana-Lafayette (24 points), and ULM (14 points) rounded out the rest of the division.

May, who earned First-Team All-Conference and Freshman of the Year recognition a season ago, was selected Preseason All-Conference and Co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Leah Hardeman of Coastal Carolina. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native led the team in kills with 365 (3.58 per set) a season ago and was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American.

A native of Little Rock, Ark., Schaedig picked up her second straight Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award and Preseason All-Conference accolade after earning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and 2015. The senior libero led the team in digs a season ago with 537 (5.42 per set) and earned AVCA All-Southwest Region honors for the second consecutive year.

Warrington, who hails from Lake St. Louis, Mo., was chosen by the SBC's coaches as the Preseason Setter of the Year and Preseason All-Conference after the 2015 campaign saw her win the league's Setter of the Year award. The senior handed out 1,214 assists (11.45 per set), which ranks as 10th most in school history, and claimed AVCA All-Southwest Region recognition.

Conference newcomer Coastal Carolina was selected to win the East Division with 70 points and 10 first-place votes, while Appalachian State was second with 57 points and two first-place tallies. South Alabama (40 points), Georgia Southern (31 points), Troy (30 points), and Georgia State (24 points) finished out the rest of the projected finish of the division.

The 2015 season was a monumental success that saw A-State register a 28-2 record, a perfect 16-0 mark in SBC play, a conference tournament championship, and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1999 and fifth overall in program history.

The 2016 season gets underway for A-State Aug. 26 at the TCU Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas with a 3 p.m. match against Northwestern State. Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@stAteVolleyball) and Instagram (astatevolleyball) along with liking the Arkansas State University Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.

2016 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball All-Conference Team

* Ashton Gregory (Appalachian State, Senior, MB)

* Edina Selimovic (Little Rock, Senior, MB)

* Carlisa May (Arkansas State, Sophomore, OH)

* Markie Schaedig (Arkansas State, Senior, L/DS)

* Mallory Warrington (Arkansas State, Senior, S)

Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Junior, OH)

** Mechell Daniel (South Alabama, Senior, OH)

** Jordan Kohl (Texas State, Junior, RS)

* - denotes 2015 First-Team All-Conference | ** denotes 2015 Second-Team All-Conference

2016 Sun Belt Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year

Carlisa May (Arkansas State, Sophomore, OH)

Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Junior, OH)

2016 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Markie Schaedig (Arkansas State, Senior, L/DS)

2016 Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year

Mallory Warrington (Arkansas State, Senior, S)

2016 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)

East Division

1. Coastal Carolina (10) - 70 pts

2. Appalachian State (2) - 57 pts

3. South Alabama - 40 pts

4. Georgia Southern - 31 pts

5. Troy - 30 pts

6. Georgia State - 24 pts

West Division

1. Arkansas State (12) - 72 pts

2. Texas State - 58 pts

3. UT Arlington - 45 pts

4. Little Rock - 39 pts

5. UL Lafayette - 24 pts

6. UL Monroe - 14 pts