KIAC Releases Fall Pre-Season Polls
BEREA, Ky. – The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coaches have released their fall preseason polls as announced by the league office on Wednesday evening. Asbury won three regular season fall championships (men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball) but all three were picked to finish second this year. Women’s tennis, after a record setting season last year was picked to finish second as well.
Volleyball
Defending KIAC Tournament Champion Indiana East was picked by the coaches to win the league this year, taking home seven of nine first-place votes. Asbury finished with 69 points and one first-place vote, IUE had 79 total points. Indiana Southeast was picked third with 65 points and one first-place vote. Last season Asbury set a school record with 33 wins and brought home their second KIAC Regular Season Title with a perfect 8-0 conference mark. The Eagles lost in the tournament championship game to IUE 3-1 after beating them in their lone match during the season in Richmond 3-2. The rest of the poll includes: Cincinnati Christian (54 points), Midway (42), Mountain State (36), St. Louis Pharmacy (27), Brescia (24) and Berea (9). Asbury gets their season started on Friday August 26th with two matches in the Rio Grande Tournament in Ohio.
Men’s Soccer
After the first undefeated conference mark in school history and a share of the regular season title for the second straight year, Asbury was picked to finish second by the KIAC coaches. Asbury received 20 points and one first-place vote as Brescia, who won the tournament title, was picked to win the conference with 24 points and the remaining four first-place votes. Asbury finished last year 2-0-2 in conference games and were dropped by Brescia in the tournament 2-1 in double overtime. The rest of the poll includes: Cincinnati Christian (16 points), Mountain State (10) and Berea (5). The Eagles begin their season on Friday August 26th at home against Ohio Christian at 7 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Asbury is the five-time defending KIAC Regular Season Champions but was picked to finish second by the league coaches. Asbury was picked behind Cincinnati Christian who won the KIAC Tournament by defeating Asbury 3-2 last year. CCU finished with 25 points and all five first-place votes. Asbury had 19 points. The Eagles finished last year 5-0 in the conference and have won 10 in a row during the regular season the last two years. Since their five-year streak began in 2006 Asbury has compiled a 19-1 regular season mark in the conference and a 28-2 overall record including the tournament. The rest of the preseason poll includes: Midway (15 points), Mountain State (11) and Berea (5). Asbury kicks-off their season on Friday August 26th on the road against Indiana Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
After a record-setting season for the women’s tennis team, Asbury has been picked to finish second by the KIAC coaches behind defending champion Indiana Southeast. IUS picked up seven of eight first-place votes and 62 points overall. Asbury finished with 50 points and Midway with 47. The rest of the poll includes: Brescia (42 points), Alice Lloyd (26, 1 first-place), IUE (26), Berea (23) and St. Louis Pharmacy (12). Last year Asbury finished tied with Midway for second-place with a 9-3 league mark. The Eagles would go on to defeat Midway in the tournament semi-finals before falling to IUS in the finals. Asbury set a school record with 18 match victories and competed in the NCCAA National Tournament for the first time in school history. Their season gets started on Friday September 2nd at Indiana East.
Men’s Cross Country
The Asbury men were picked to finish third in the KIAC by league coaches behind Berea and Brescia. Berea won the KIAC Championship Meet last year followed by Brescia. Berea was the unanimous selection to win, receiving all eight first-place votes and 64 total points. Brescia took home 52 points followed by Asbury with 42. The rest of the poll includes: IUE (39 points), St. Louis Pharmacy (34), Mountain State (25), Cincinnati Christian (19) and Alice Lloyd (13). The first meet of the season will be the only home meet for the Eagles as they host the Chick-fil-A Invitational on Thursday September 1st at 4:30 p.m.
Women’s Cross Country
Asbury was picked third by leagues coaches behind defending champion Berea and the runner-up from last year, Brescia. Berea received seven first-place votes and 79 total points while Brescia took the remaining two first-place votes and 67 points overall. Asbury finished with 60 points. The rest of the poll includes: St. Louis Pharmacy (51 points), IUE (47), Midway (33), Mountain State (33), CCU (21) and Alice Lloyd (14). The first meet of the season will be the only home meet for the Eagles as they host the Chick-fil-A Invitational on Thursday September 1st at 4:30 p.m.
