LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Georgetown College and Shawnee State University are the preseason volleyball favorites in the Mid-South Conference, according to the MSC Coaches' Preseason poll released today by the conference.

First-year conference member Shawnee State is projected to win the East Division, while defending conference champs Georgetown College is selected to win the West Division.

This season marks the first time Mid-South Conference volleyball moved to divisional play. The conference expanded to 10 full-time members in July.

Shawnee State received 14 voting points, including three first-place votes from the East Division coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

University of Rio Grande is predicted to finish second in the East, receiving 13 voting points and a first-place vote. Pikeville College is third in the preseason ranking with 11 voting points, including the final first-place vote.

MSC newcomer University of Virginia's College at Wise received eight voting points, while West Virginia University Tech received four voting points to complete the East Division.

Georgetown received 16 voting points, including four first-place votes in the West Division preseason poll.

Campbellsville University is projected second in the West with 13 voting points and the final first-place vote.

Lindsey Wilson College received 10 voting points to finish third in the balloting, while University of the Cumberlands (7 voting points) and St. Catharine College (4) complete the West Division.

The 2010 MSC volleyball season begins later this month and concludes with the conference tournament Nov. 7-9 in Frankfort, Ky.