CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA -- The Trine University men's volleyball team was picked to finish sixth in the 2021 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) Preseason Poll.
Fontbonne (Mo.) University was picked as the favorite, followed by the University of Mount Union (Ohio) and both Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) University and Adrian (Mich.) College were both tied for third.
Trine returns nearly its entire roster from last season, including sophomore Parker Beale (Noblesville, Ind./Fishers) who was named the MCVL "Rookie of the Year" in 2020 and was a first-team All-Conference selection.
As a freshman, Beale led the team in kills with 164 and averaged 2.88 kills per set. He posted nine matches with 10 or more kills and had a season-high 23 kills in a five-set contest against Hiram (Ohio) College in February. Beale ended the season with a .225 attack percentage to go along with eight set assists and seven service aces.
Defensively, Beale had 83 digs (1.46 digs per set) and finished second on the team in blocks with 19 (three solo and 16 assists).
The Thunder will start the 2021 season on Saturday, Jan. 30 when they host conference newcomer and first-year program Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University in a pair of matches at Hershey Hall. The first match is set to begin at 11 a.m.