AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team was picked to finish in a tie for fourth in Peach Belt Conference standings following the release of the 2016 conference preseason coaches' poll Aug. 24.

The Falcons were picked to finish in a tie for fourth with Lander University after receiving 55 total points. Montevallo received one second-place vote, one third-place vote, five fourth-place votes and two fifth-place votes in the poll.

Flagler College is the preseason favorite to win the conference title after racking up 77 total points. Armstrong State University was picked to finish second with 69 total points, followed by USC Aiken in third place with 67 total points.

Montevallo finished with a 20-13 overall record a year ago, including a 11-7 mark in Peach Belt Conference play. The Falcons finished tied for fourth with Lander in regular season standings and earned the No. 4 seed in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

The Falcons return three players from last season who appeared in all 33 matches, including junior Kristy Bohan, a preseason All-Peach Belt Conference selection.

Bohan was named a first team NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association a year ago. Bohan, who was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week twice a year ago, was also a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection following her sophomore season.

The Huntsville, Alabama native led the Peach Belt Conference with 437 kills a year ago and was second in the conference with a .345 hitting percentage. Bohan was also fourth in the conference with 107 total blocks and finished seventh in the conference with 0.86 blocks per set.

Bohan and the Falcons will open the 2016 season Friday, Sept. 2 with a match against Erskine College in Bristol, Tennessee.