By Ashley Birchmeier

Ohio Northern was picked to finish second in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason volleyball poll conducted by the league's 10 coaches.

Northern finished the 2013 season 19-9 overall and finished third in the OAC with a 7-2 record.

ONU received 75 points in the poll.

Mount Union was once again picked first with 81 points and nine first place votes, Heidelberg was picked third with 65 points and one first place vote, and John Carroll was picked fourth with 54 points.

The Polar Bears, under head coach Kate Witte, return nine letter winners from last year's squad.

ONU will open its 2014 campaign with the 36th annual ONU Invitational Aug. 29-30 at the ONU Sports Center.

Coaches Poll
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points
1 Mount Union (9) 81
2 Ohio Northern 75
3 Heidelberg (1) 65
4 John Carroll 54
5 Otterbein 50
6 Capital 38
7 Baldwin Wallace 27
7 Muskingum 27
9 Marietta 24
10 Wilmington 9