CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA -- The Trine University men's volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2020 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) Preseason Coaches Poll.
Trine finished with nine points in this year's preseason poll to rank fifth overall. Fontbonne (Mo.) University was selected as the favorite with 25 points and five first-place votes. Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) University was second with 20 points and one first-place vote and the University of Mount Union (Ohio) rounded out the top three schools with 15 points.
Coming off the inaugural season in 2019, the Thunder return the majority of its roster including stat leaders Eric Santiago-Garcia (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Glen Ridge), Kyle Dixon (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township), Dan Boren (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and Hunter Monday (Beech Grove, Ind./Lutheran).
Santiago-Garcia led the team in several statistical categories in 2019 including kills with 310 (3.01 kills per set) with a .159 attack percentage. He also led the team in service aces with 36, digs at 172 (1.67 digs per set) and was among the team leaders in blocks with 32 (14 solo and 18 assists). Dixon also reached the 300 kill plateau with an even 300 to finish second behind Santiago-Garcia. He was also second in aces (33) and fourth in digs with 135 (1.31 d/s).
Boren tallied 155 kills in 29 matches and 101 sets played (1.61 k/s) a year ago. He led the team in hitting percentage at .272 and also led the squad in blocks with 47 (nine solo and 38 assists). In addition, Boren finished among the team leaders in aces (14) and digs (80).
Monday was the team's primary setter last season and will assume the same role in 2020 after finishing the 2019 campaign with 824 assists (8.00 assists per set). To go along with his assist total, Monday also ended the year with 69 kills (0.67 k/s), 24 aces, 157 digs (1.52 d/s) and had 34 blocks (nine solo and 25 assists). His 157 digs were the third most on the team.
Also returning this season are Raviel Winters (Elwood, Ill./Joilet Central), Josh Cook (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) and Jackson Condrey (Spokane, Wash./Ferris). All three players will look to contend for playing time this spring.
Trine will begin the 2020 season on Friday, Jan. 17 when it takes on Aurora (Ill.) University in Aurora, Ill. The match is set to begin at 8 p.m.