The Idaho State women's volleyball team was picked second in the 2013 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll.    

    The Bengals had 83 points, including two first-place votes. They finished second during the 2012 regular season and second at the 2012 Big Sky Tournament.

    Portland State topped the Bengals with 95 points and seven first-place votes. Portland State won the Big Sky regular season championship a year ago.

    Tournament champion Northern Colorado placed third in the poll with 75 points, followed by North Dakota with 74 points. Northern Arizona came in fifth with 59 points and two first-place votes. Eastern Washington was sixth with 56 points. Sacramento State was seventh with 49 points, and Montana State was eighth with 37 points. Southern Utah was ninth with 28 points, Weber State 10th with 26 points and Montana finished 11th with 23 points.

    The Bengals return eight players for 2013, including Big Sky MVP Lori Mendenhall-Lee. Mendenhall-Lee was named Big Sky Player of the Week twice during the 2012 season and was also named to the Big Sky All-Tournament team.

    Big Sky All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree Tressa Lyman also returns, along with fellow starters Alydia Fields-Grimm, Whitney Bartschi-Harrington and Kylie Searle-Sessions.

    The Bengals open the 2013 season with back-to-back tournaments at the University of Missouri and the University of New Mexico. ISU opens home play against Montana-Western Sept. 10 and Big Sky play begins at Northern Arizona on Sept. 19.