Jocelynn Birks named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

The Big Ten Conference announced their women's volleyball Preseason All-Big Ten Team on Thursday and Illinois' Jocelynn Birks was a unanimous selection. As a junior, Birks earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors after leading the conference in kills, kills per set, points, points per set and double-doubles. The senior outside hitter is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and this is the third preseason honor of her career.

Defending National Champion and preseason No. 1 Penn State had a conference-leading four players named to the team. Nebraska and Wisconsin followed suit with two selections each.

The Big Ten also announced the 2015 preseason poll, which was voted on by the head coaches of each team. The Illini are predicted to finish third behind Penn State and Nebraska. Here are the full results:

2015 Big Ten Preseason Poll

1. Penn State

2. Nebraska

3. Illinois

4. Wisconsin

5. Minnesota

6. Michigan State

7. Purdue

8. Ohio State

9. Michigan

10. Northwestern

11. Iowa

12. Indiana

13. Maryland

14. Rutgers

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