Volleyball Receives Votes in First NAIA Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Asbury volleyball is receiving votes in the Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches’ Preseason Poll. The Eagles fall into the others receiving votes category with five votes and rank 40th out of over 200 schools.
Asbury finished with the most wins in collegiate volleyball in 2012 at 42-11 and shared the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title with Indiana East after a 14-1 league mark. The Red Wolves check in at 25th in the poll with 123 votes. KIAC newcomer Point Park (Pa.) is also receiving votes and is 32nd with 57 votes.
Texas at Brownsville tops the poll with 20 of 22 first-place votes after winning their first NAIA National Championship in December. Last season's runner-up, Concordia (Calif.) comes in at No. 2 and received the last two first-place votes. Lee (Tenn.) and Columbia (Mo.) follow Concordia (Calif.) as they are tied at No. 3. Biola (Calif.) rounds out the top five, as it is ranked fifth.
Seven teams that were not ranked in last season's final poll, No. 16 Madonna (Mich.), No. 20 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), No. 21 Carroll (Mont.), No. 22 Cornerstone (Mich.), No. 23 Cal State San Marcos, No. 24 Westmont (Calif.) and No. 25 Indiana East, all made the jump into the preseason Top 25. The Crusaders made the biggest jump as they were receiving votes in last time.
The Golden State Athletic Conference placed the most teams in the preseason poll with four: No. 2 Concordia (Calif.), No. 5 Biola (Calif.), No. 10 Vanguard (Calif.) and No. 24 Westmont (Calif.).
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Independents. The first regular-season poll will be announced on Sept. 4.
The Eagles start the season on Friday August 24 at home against St. Catharine at 7 pm.
