Big Ten Release
Rosemont, Ill. – Illinois senior outside hitter Jocelynn Birks was unanimously named Preseason All-Big Ten on Thursday, as voted on by the Big Ten coaches. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Birks claims her third-straight preseason honor. Additionally, the conference head coaches have predicted a third-place finish for the Fighting Illini in 2015, behind defending National Champion Penn State and Nebraska.
Birks enters her third-straight season on the Preseason All-Big Ten list after earning AVCA All-America Second Team and a unanimous All-Big Ten selection last fall. On pace to become the Illini's all-time kills leader, she led the Big Ten in kills, kills per set, points, points per set and double-doubles as a junior while recording her third consecutive 500-kill performance.
Birks is one of two Big Ten players to capture her third Preseason All-Big Ten nod, joining Penn State senior Megan Courtney. Juniors Kadie Rolfzen (Nebraska) and Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin) are the remaining repeat honorees, claiming their second straight. Carlini was also a unanimous selection, along with Penn State's Haleigh Washington and Michigan's Abby Cole.
After a third-place finish in the 2014 Big Ten standings at 16-4, the Fighting Illini are predicted to repeat as No. 3 at the end of this season. Defending National Champion Penn State, who is ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Preseason Poll is the projected conference winner, while No. 5 Nebraska is expected to take second and 2014 Big Ten Champion No. 5 Wisconsin was listed fourth.
2015 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
| Name | School | Yr. | Position            | Hometown |
| JOCELYNN BIRKS (3) | Illinois | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Willow Springs, Ill. |
| ABBY COLE | Michigan | Jr. | Middle Blocker | Grand Haven, Mich. |
| Chloe Reinig | Michigan State | Jr. | Outside Hitter | South Lyon, Mich. |
| Paige Tapp | Minnesota | Jr. | Middle Blocker | Stewartville, Minn. |
| Kelsey Fien | Nebraska | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Bakersfield, Calif. |
| Kadie Rolfzen (2) | Nebraska | Jr. | Outside Hitter | Papillion, Neb. |
| Taylor Sandbothe | Ohio State | Jr. | Middle Blocker | Lee's Summit, Mo. |
| Megan Courtney (3) | Penn State | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Dayton, Ohio |
| Ali Frantti | Penn State | So. | Outside Hitter | Spring Grove, Ill. |
| HALEIGH WASHINGTON | Penn State | So. | Middle Blocker | Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| Aiyana Whitney | Penn State | Sr. | Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker | Norwood, N.J. |
| Annie Drews | Purdue | Sr. | Outside Hitter | Elkhart, Ind. |
| LAUREN CARLINI (2) | Wisconsin | Jr. | Setter | Aurora, Ill. |
| Taylor Morey | Wisconsin | Sr. | Libero | Muncie, Ind. |
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS
(2)Â Two-time selection
(3)Â Three-time selection
2015 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
