ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Trine University volleyball squad was picked to finish fifth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll as announced today by the conference. The Thunder finished fourth in the conference the past two seasons and qualified for the four-team MIAA Tournament.
Defending champion Calvin was selected the preseason favorite receiving seven out of a possible nine first-place votes in the preseason poll of the league's coaches. Hope, picked to finish second, received the other two first-place votes. Alma was selected to finish third, followed by Adrian, Trine, Saint Mary's, Kalamazoo, Olivet and Albion.
The Trine team is coming off its first back-to-back winning seasons since the late 1980s and look to continue its push toward the top of the conference.
Trine will be a young squad this season as it has just one senior on the roster in Carlee Felber. After graduating the school's all-time kill leader Betsy Irwin and all-time assist leader Sarah Radekin, the Thunder will look to junior Carly Searles who was named to the All-MIAA Second Team last season. Searles finished 2012 with 20 double-doubles and two triple-doubles while ranking second on the team in assists and digs and third in kills and blocks.
The team will also look to a group of sophomores to improve in their second season with the Thunder. A season ago, Taylor Rabel, Stephanie Radandt and twin sisters Lauren and Megan Verkamp saw action in all 30 games for the squad. Coach Jamie Wozniak will rely on them to help guide the Thunder to another winning season and a spot in the postseason.
Trine opens the season on the road at the Otterbein and Capital tournament on Aug. 30 and 31. The Thunder then open the home season with a tri-match on Sept. 3 when it faces Olivet in its conference opener and also faces Rose-Hulman. Trine will take one preseason favorite Calvin at home on Sept. 11.
Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (7) 9 pts. 2. Hope (2) 14. 3. Alma 25. 4. Adrian 34. 5. Trine 35. 6. Saint Mary's 41. 7. Kalamazoo 49. 8. Olivet 54. 9. Albion 63.
