BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Wheeling University and West Virginia State University have been picked as the divisional champions in Mountain East Conference Volleyball following a vote by the league’s 11 head coaches.

Wheeling, who won the MEC Tournament Championship last season, received 10 first-place votes and 50 points to top the north division poll. The Cardinals went 25-8 last season and 12-2 in league play and earned an NCAA Tournament bid. The Cardinals return an experienced lineup in 2024, including MEC Player of the Year from last season and first-teamer Karly Niesen.

Fairmont State (36) and West Liberty (36) tied for the No. 2 spot in the north division poll. The Fighting Falcons also received a first-place vote. Fairmont State is coming off an 18-15 overall record from a year ago and went 8-6 in MEC play. West Liberty went 23-10 in 2023 and finished 10-4 in league play and earned an NCAA Tournament bid.

Frostburg State (23) and Point Park (15) rounded out the north division poll.

West Virginia State topped the south division poll with 56 points and six-first place votes. The Yellow Jackets won the south division championship in 2023 and was the overall top seed in the MEC Tournament, as well as earning an NCAA Tournament bid, after going 26-6 and 14-1 last season. All-MEC second teamer in 2023, Kiersten Eggleton returns along with Valencia Wilder who was a standout freshman for WVSU last season.

Charleston was voted second in the south division poll with 55 points and five-first place votes. The Golden Eagles went 24-10 last year while going 11-4 in league play. UC is led by a pair of All-MEC second teamers from a year ago in Pia Selke and Emma Shepherd.

Concord was third in the preseason voting with 41 points, followed by Glenville State (30), West Virginia Wesleyan (27) and Davis & Elkins (16).

The volleyball season gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 5 with non-conference action. Conference play begins on Thursday, Sept. 26.

* Coaches not permitted to vote for own team