MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/26/06)-- The Concordia volleyball team has officially been handed the jerseys with the big red bulls-eye on the front to start the 2006 season. For the second time in the past three seasons, the Cobbers have been tagged by the MIAC coaches as the team to beat in the MIAC.

Concordia received six first-place votes in the MIAC coach's preseason poll and edged out defending champion St. Thomas as the top team heading into the 2006 campaign. Surprisingly, the Tommies received only one first-place nod from the coaches. St. Ben's, picked to finish third, received the second-most, first -place votes as four coaches selected the Blazers as their top pick.

2005 NCAA playoff participant Carleton was selected as the fourth pick in the conference and also received one first-place vote.

Concordia will begin play on Friday, Sept. 1 when they host the annual Concordia Invitational. The Cobbers are coming off a season where they went 21-5 and made the NCAA playoffs for the third straight season. Concordia enters 2006 having spent 23 consecutive weeks in the top 25 in the nation.

The Cobbers will open the MIAC season on Sept. 13 when they play at St. Thomas at 7 p.m.

2006 MIAC Preseason Coach's Poll

1. Concordia (6)
2. St. Thomas (1)
3. Saint Benedict (4)
4. Carleton (1)
5. Bethel
6. St. Olaf
7. Macalester
8. Gustavus
9. Saint Mary's
10. Hamline
11. Augsburg
12. St. Catherine