FREELAND, Mich. – For the second season in a row the Trine University women's volleyball team has been picked fifth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Preseason Coaches' Poll released today.
The Thunder received votes tallying 33 points to finish in the fifth spot. The point totals are determined by votes cast by association coaches, who cannon vote for their own team. Calvin University finished in first in the poll receiving the maximum 64 points including eight first-place votes. Hope College picked up the other first-place mark and received a total of 57 points to enter the season ranked second. Rounding out the top for are Alma College with 50 points and Albion College with 41 points.
Trine finished last season with a fifth-place finish as they went 3-5 in the MIAA as the association moved to a single round-robin format for the first time. The finish earned them a spot in the extended MIAA postseason field. They bowed out in the first round in a hard-fought loss to Albion.
Overall the Thunder finished the season with an 11-12 record. They head into this season returning a few crucial players while bringing in a healthy class of newcomers.
Junior Madison Munger (Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central) returns after leading the team in kills with 254 during the 2018 campaign. She also returns the second-most total blocks from last year's team after finishing with 36.
The team also returns its lead blocker from last season in junior Sarah Toles (Kendallville, Ind. / East Nobel) who last season led the way with 67 total blocks. She also recorded 121 kills.
Classmate Lindsey DeCamp (New Haven, Ind. / New Haven) returns to the team after leading the way with 46 aces last season. She also led the team defensively with 391 digs from the libero position.
"It's a new year and a new team and we are excited about this season," said head coach Jamie Wozniak, "We lost a lot of senior leadership last season but I am excited to see what our new leaders will do with the chance to step up."
The Thunder will take the court for the first time this season when they travel to the Illinois College Invite on Friday, Aug. 30. They will take on MacMurray College at 5 p.m. and Knox College at 7 p.m.
2019 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place | School (First-Place Votes) | Points |
1. | Calvin University (8) | 64 |
2. | Hope College (1) | 57 |
3. | Alma College | 50 |
4. | Albion College | 41 |
5. | Trine University | 33 |
6. | Saint Mary's College | 25 |
7. | Adrian College | 24 |
8. | Olivet College | 21 |
9. | Kalamazoo College | 9 |