Apparently the MIAA coaches aren’t history buffs when it comes to their own conference. On Tuesday, the coaches released their annual preseason poll and had Emporia State fifth.
This is nothing new for the Hornets, who have proved the coaches wrong in both of coach Bing Xu’s first two seasons, finishing higher than their preseason ranking in each. Last season the MIAA coaches also tabbed the Hornets for a fifth-place finish. They finished third.
“For us, we cannot control that. We can only control our game on the court,” Xu said. “Doesn’t matter where we’re at right now, I know this and I have confidence in this every year that we’re better than that.”
The Hornets, who went 10-3 in conference in 2007 and were ranked 15th in the final AVCA National poll, return five starters and their libero from last year’s 27-9 team.
Coaches picked defending conference champion Truman State to repeat. The Bulldogs, who received five of a possible 10 first-place votes, also return five starters and their libero, so no surprise there. Washburn followed Truman, receiving two first-place votes.
The Lady Blues lose three starters, including first-team All-American Tessa Jones. The Lady Blues deserve recognition after winning their regional and making it to the national semifinals.
After one and two, the coaches poll gets confusing. Pittsburgh State, which finished fifth in the MIAA in 2007 and returns four starters, was tabbed for third by the coaches and received three first-place votes. The Hornets went 3-0 against the Gorillas last season.
Central Missouri received the final first-place vote and finished with 72 points in the poll, two points ahead of Emporia State. The Jennies, who finished fourth in the MIAA last season, could be the sentimental pick. Head coach Peggy Martin will coach her final season this year after 33 seasons with the team. CMU returns three starters.
So the logic behind the Gorillas and Jennies ahead of the Hornets left some in the ESU athletic office scratching their heads on Tuesday. But the quiet and calm Xu left his dome alone.
“For me, I’m pretty easygoing. I cannot control that,” Xu said. “For me, we keep working hard on a daily basis. We’ll show them what we can do and where we’re supposed to be. I don’t let them bother me.”
Xu has high expectations for his Hornets. Sophomore setter Ting Liu returns after winning freshman of the year in both the conference season and team’s regional. Junior outside hitter Arica Shepard was a first-team All-MIAA selection and honorable-mention All-American.
Xu also expects contributions from the team’s two newcomers, freshmen Kelsey Abels and Megan Lueger. He said the goal is always top three in the conference, where he said he believes his team should have been in the preseason poll, but Xu has even higher aspirations.
“Top two,” Xu said. “We even have a chance to make it as the top team.”
The Hornets start practice Monday and opens their season August 29 at the UNO Comfort Inn and Suites/Fire Water Grille Tournament. The home opener and conference opener is Sept. 17 against Truman.