No Shockers Among Conference Preseason Favorites

Hard to disagree with the conferences’ choices for preseason picks around the Midwest and Central regions. Here are the area favorites, including links to the official conference previews.

CENTRAL
IIAC, Simpson
MIAC, Saint Benedict
SLIAC, Webster
UMAC, Northwestern

MIDWEST
CCIW, Carthage
MWC, Tie: St. Norbert, Beloit
Northern AC, Lakeland
WIAC, Oshkosh

-Ricky Nelson

Midwest, Central Teams Abound in First AVCA Poll

The preseason AVCA poll shows the strength and depth of the 2009 D-III volleyball universe is once again in the Midwest and Central (and West) regions. Here is the link to the poll. Midwest and Central teams are bolded below.

More posts of interest before the season’s first serve are the senior losses and potential returnees for all Midwest teams, all Central teams and all Top 25 teams in the final 2008 poll. Note: All three posts were done between mid-December and early January. Use the links on the right-side rail to see official team rosters as we near the season openers.

For the record … my preseason Final 4: Emory, a certain WIAC team, Wash U and Southwestern

Rank, School, (First-Place Votes), Poll Points, 2008 Record, 2008 Final Rank
4. Wisconsin-Oshkosh 521 40-3 6
5. Washington (1) 495 31-7 5
7. Carthage 446 32-5 8
10. St. Benedict 343 29-7 13
10. St. Thomas 343 28-3 11
15. Wisconsin-Whitewater 265 30-10 14
17. Concordia (Minn.) 194 22-6 16
20. Wisconsin-Eau Claire 122 24-12 23
21. Gustavus Adolphus 120 26-5 20
25. Simpson (Iowa) 51 20-15 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Illinois Wesleyan 12; Wisconsin-La Crosse 11

-Ricky Nelson