Lincoln – The Big Ten Conference released its preseason volleyball poll on Thursday afternoon and Nebraska’s 2014 squad was picked second by the league’s coaches. Senior Mary Pollmiller and sophomore Kadie Rolfzen were named to the 15-member preseason All-Big Ten team, with Rolfzen an unanimous selection.

The 2014 season marks Nebraska’s fourth season as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Huskers have finished no lower than second in each of their first three years, including a conference title in 2011.

Two-time defending Big Ten champion Penn State was picked to finish first in the conference, while the top five was rounded out by No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Illinois and No. 5 Purdue.

Nebraska finished the 2013 season second in the Big Ten with a 16-4 league record, while then senior Kelsey Robinson was named player of the year. Pollmiller and Rolfzen each earned All-Big honors last season and the Huskers also return honorable-mention All-American Meghan Haggerty.

Rolfzen was one of six players in the conference to earn unanimous preseason honors, she was joined by Illinois’ Jocelynn Birks, Michigan State’s Kori Moster, Penn State’s Micha Hancock, Purdue’s Val Nichol and Wisconsin’s Lauren Carlini.

2014 Big Ten Preseason Poll

1.       Penn State

2.       Nebraska

3.       Wisconsin

4.       Illinois

5.       Purdue

6.       Michigan State

7.       Minnesota

8.       Michigan

9.       Ohio State

10.   Northwestern

11.   Iowa

12.   Indiana

13.   Maryland

14.   Rutgers