FRISCO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team is picked seventh in the preseason Southland Conference poll on Friday afternoon.
 
Under first-year coach Joe Morales, the Lions are looking to make the postseason for the 12^th straight season. Last year, A&M-Commerce went 6-12 in conference play to finish seventh but collected a win over the sixth seeded New Orleans in the SLC Tournament.
 
Defending regular season conference champion, Houston Christian, narrowly edged out Southeastern, who won the SLC Tournament, for the top spot in the preseason poll. A&M-Corpus Christi, who hosts this year's conference volleyball tournament, is picked third.
 
The Lions finished in the poll just behind UIW, while ahead of New Orleans, Nicholls, and Lamar. A&M-Commerce went 2-0 against UIW a year ago.
 
A&M-Commerce begins the regular season a week from Friday at the UTSA Invitational, while facing SFA in an exhibition match on the road on Saturday.
 
The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by each head coach and volleyball sports information director. Each voter ranks their predicted order of regular season finish, not including their own team.
 
2023 SOUTHLAND VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

1.	HCU (8)	120
2.	Southeastern Louisiana (8)	118
3.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	96
4.	McNeese	93
5.	Northwestern State	82
6.	UIW	58
7.	A&M-COMMERCE	55
8.	New Orleans	53
9.	Nicholls	23
10.	Lamar	22