The Grand View University volleyball team earned the top spot in the NAIA pre-season conference ratings announced Tuesday. The pre-season poll is voted on by the Midwest Collegiate Conference coaches.

Head coach Tina Carter, who led the Vikings to a second place 2009 conference finish in only her second season, returns two all-conference players from last year's 24-14 team. The Vikings compiled a 7-1 conference mark and finished with six straight victories heading into last year's conference tournament. Last season, the Vikings were picked to finish seventh in the conference pre-season rankings.

Sophomore Devon Jensen returns after a spectacular freshman season, where she was named the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player , MCC Newcomer of the Year, AVCA All-Region, and both an AVCA and NAIA All-American. Jensen led the conference and the nation in kills with over four per game and will be an integral part to the success of the 2010 Vikings.

Joining Jensen on last year's all-conference team was libero Amber Boevers. The junior Boevers led the MCC in digs with an average of 5.35 digs per game.

Following the Vikings in the pre-season poll was Saint Ambrose, last season's regular season conference champions. The coaches voted Viterbo University third in the pre-season rankings, followed by Ashford University and William Penn University.

Grand View will begin the season on August 20^th when the take on Valley City State University in Forest City, Iowa. The following weekend, August 27^th and 28^th, the Vikings will host the Grand View Tournament where they will play four matches at the Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center.