Emporia State’s volleyball team was selected as the preseason No. 1 in the MIAA coaches poll, released Wednesday.
ESU, the defending league champion, and Washburn each received five first-place votes, but Emporia State narrowly earned more total points, garnering 94 to Washburn’s 92. The Hornets advanced to an NCAA regional final in 2008; the Ichabods finished third in the league last year and made the regional tournament.
Emporia State returns four of six starters from last year’s league champion, headlined by setter Ting Liu. Liu was an All-American last season and the conference’s player of the year. Outside hitter Arica Shepard, a third-team All-American in 2008, also returns.
Central Missouri was picked as the preseason No. 3 with 79 points a year after a fourth-place finish in the league and a regional semifinal berth. Nebraska-Omaha and Truman State, which advanced to the national semifinals last year, were tied for fourth in the poll. Truman finished second in the MIAA last season. UNO, another NCAA regional qualifier last year, received the one first place vote that didn’t go to either ESU or Washburn.
In sixth place was Pittsburg State, which also qualified for the NCAA regional last year, followed by Northwest Missouri State. Missouri Southern was voted eighth, followed by Southwest Bapist, Fort Hays State and Missouri Western.
MIAA teams begin play Aug. 28, and league play begins Sept. 15.
2008 MIAA volleyball preseason coaches poll
Points
1. Emporia State (5) 94
2. Washburn (5) 92
3. Central Missouri 79
T4. Nebraska-Omaha (1) 69
T4. Truman State 69
6. Pittsburg State 61
7. Northwest Missouri State 40
8. Missouri Southern State 37
9. Southwest Baptist 35
10. Fort Hays State 15
11. Missouri Western State 14