DENVER (DU/ Summit League)- Coming off a successful 2016 season that saw the University of Denver women's volleyball team claim the regular-season and tournament titles, marking their third-straight Summit League sweep, the Pioneers were picked as the favorites to win the Summit League, as announced by the league Thursday. This is the fourth year in a row that DU was picked as the league favorites.

Denver received five out of the eight first-place votes, earning 47 total points.

Closely behind Denver was South Dakota, who finished runner-up in the 2016 Summit League Tournament and shared the regular-season title with the Pioneers with a 13-3 conference record. The Coyotes collected the final three first-place votes and 45 total points. Oral Roberts came in third with 35 points, Fort Wayne fourth at 33 points, and Omaha and North Dakota State tied for fifth with 22 points. Rounding out the preseason poll were South Dakota State and Western Illinois.

In addition, junior outside hitter Becca Latham was named to the "Players to Watch", as selected by the head coaches. Latham appeared in all 116 sets for Denver in 2016, tallying 210 kills at a mark of 1.81 per set and a hitting percentage of .206. Last season, the Austin, Texas, native had career highs in kills (11, vs. North Dakota State), attacks (31, vs. North Dakota State), hitting percentage (.400, at IUPUI), assists (1, three times), blocks (6, vs. Utah State), and both solo (1, four times) and assisted blocks (5, vs. Utah State). She was also named to the Summit League All-Freshmen Team in 2015.

#SummitVB Preseason Notes

• Denver recorded a .264 hitting percentage in 2016, which is the seventh-best single-season mark in Summit League history.
• The Pioneers-who have won 13 league games each of the last three seasons-ranked No. 1 in total blocks last year (283) and welcome back 2016 league leader Emma Willis (131). Also returning to the Denver lineup is senior outside hitter Kayla Principato (two-time All-Summit Team) and senior libero/defensive specialist Cassidy Rooke (2016 All-Tournament Team).
• The two-time defending Setter of the Year and 2016 league leader in assists (1,206) and assists/set (11.06) Brittany Jessen leads the Coyotes into the 2017 campaign targeting the all-time league assists record (1,250 assists away).
• Under reigning Coach of the Year Leanne Williamson, South Dakota looks to build off a 2016 campaign in which it won its first Summit League regular season title and set program records in total victories (25) and league wins (13) since transitioning to the Division I level.
• Last year, Oral Roberts advanced to the semi-finals of the league tournament for the first time since 2011. The Golden Eagles have won the most regular season titles (7) and tournament championships (7) in Summit League history, with both last coming in 2006.
• Senior Laura Milos-who currently ranks No. 4 on the all-time kills list with 1,716-set the single-season league record in kills (631) and kills/set (5.79) in 2016, while also leading the NCAA in service aces (81) and service aces/set (0.74).
• Fort Wayne led the league in kills last season (1,603) and the team's top threat, junior Nicole Rightnowar, is back for another season. Rightnowar, an All-Summit first teamer in 2016 and the 2015 Freshman of the Year, tallied 396 kills a year ago-good enough for third-best league wide.
• A year removed from The Summit League championship game, Omaha looks to recapture the magic of two seasons ago behind 2015 Coach of the Year Rose Shires and senior setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy (3,188 career assists - third most among active league setters).
• North Dakota State returns the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Mikaela Purnell (4.30 digs/set career average - No. 10 all-time) and a member of last year's All-Freshman Team Alex Erickson.
• Makenzie Hennen of South Dakota State (2016 All-Freshman Team) is back for her sophomore campaign. Hennen ranked second on the team last season in kills (228).
• Western Illinois comes into 2017 with its top three kill leaders still on the roster: Shalyn Greenhaw (291), Melanie Patenaude (195) and Lexi Kolschefski (118).

#SummitVB Schedule Notes

• The 2017 season gets underway on Friday, August 25, with all eight teams in action.
• The Summit League will face 14 teams from Power-Five conferences during the non-league schedule from August 25 to September 21.
• One of the most exciting days of the non-league season will be Thursday, September 7, when Denver takes on No. 4 Minnesota at 9 a.m. CT and then battles No. 1 Texas at 6 p.m. CT at the American Campus Classic in Austin.
• In total, The Summit League will play seven matches against current top-25 teams, per the AVCA Preseason Poll.
• Omaha hosts 2015 NCAA National Champion Nebraska on Saturday, September 16. Oral Roberts will face the same Huskers team on Friday, September 1, in Lincoln.
• League play will begin Friday, September 22, with three matches scheduled.
• Both the Pioneers and Coyotes went undefeated at home during league play in 2016. In fact, over the past four seasons, Denver holds a 53-8 (.869) record while South Dakota has logged a 38-9 (.809) mark on their respective home courts.
• A rematch of the 2016 championship game will take place in Denver, Colo., on Sunday, October 15, and again on Friday, November 10, in Vermillion, S.D.
• Fort Wayne was the only team in the league to beat Denver and South Dakota last season, both of which were three set sweeps. On their home court, the Mastodons will face off against the Yotes on Friday, September 29, and the Pioneers on Saturday, October 21.
• The 2017 Summit League Tournament is scheduled to start Friday, November 17, with two quarterfinal matches. Semifinal bouts will continue on Saturday and the weekend will wrap up on Sunday with the championship game. The top-six regular season finishers will head to Denver for the tournament.

#SummitVB Players to Watch List

Claire Grove | Outside Hitter | Western Illinois

• Played in all 31 matches in 2016, starting 20
• Logged 291 kills and 2.97/set
• Recorded double-doubles against Oakland and South Dakota State

Brittany Jessen | Setter | South Dakota

• Defending two-time Summit League Setter of the Year
• Three-time All-Summit First Team
• Led league in assists (1,206) and assists/set (11.06) in 2016

Becca Latham | Outside Hitter | Denver

• Appeared in all 32 matches and 116 sets in 2016
• Ranked fourth on team in kills (210) and blocks (56)
• 2015 All-Freshman Team

Elizabeth Loschen | Outside Hitter | South Dakota

• 2016 Summit League Freshman of the Year
• Led all league freshman with 252 kills in 2016
• Recorded double-digit kills in eight of 18 league matches

Laura Milos | Outside Hitter | Oral Roberts

• 2016 NCAA DI leader in service aces (81) and service aces/set (0.74)
• Summit League single-season record holder in kills (631 - 2016)
• Ranked No. 1 in Summit League history with 5.06 kills/set

Sydney O'Shaughnessy | Setter | Omaha

• Led team and ranked second in the league with 1,087 assists in 2016
• 2015 All-Summit First Team
• Led Summit League in assists in 2015 (1,271)

Mikaela Purnell | Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist | North Dakota State

• 2016 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
• Three-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Week in 2016
• Led Summit League with 5.70 digs/set in 2016

Nicole Rightnowar | Outside Hitter | Fort Wayne

• 2016 All-Summit First Team
• Led team and ranked third in the league with 396 kills in 2016
• 2015 Summit League Freshman of the Year

Ashlynn Smith | Outside Hitter | South Dakota State

• 2016 All-Freshman Team
• Second on the team in hitting percentage in 2016 (.224)
• Started all 28 matches

Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE

Through 35 years of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), Oral Roberts University, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University with the University of North Dakota becoming an official member on July 1, 2018. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced nine NCAA Champions along with over 90 Academic All-Americans, nearly 100 All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league, visit www.thesummitleague.org website, follow The Summit League on Twitter @thesummitleague.

UP NEXT: The Pioneers will hold their annual Crimson and Gold intrasquad scrimmage this Saturday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. (MT) in the Hamilton Gymnasium, before the season begins on Aug. 25 at the College of Charleston Tournament in Charleston, S.C. The following weekend, Sept. 1 and 2, DU hosts the Pioneer Classic, with the home opener scheduled for 6 p.m. against UC Davis.

The 2017 Summit League conference schedule begins Sept. 24 with a home match against Fort Wayne at 1 p.m. The Coyotes come to town for a conference preseason 1 vs. 2 match-up at Hamilton Gymnasium on Oct. 15, also at 1 p.m., and will be televised on Altitude.

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for the 2017 Denver volleyball season are on sale now and can be PURCHASED HERE. Tickets for Denver's 13 home matches can be purchased for only $48.

Fans interested in making a donation to the volleyball program can do so by CLICKING HERE. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.

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