ST. JOSEPH – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association preseason volleyball coaches’ poll has been released.
The conference coaches voted Missouri Western fifth, the same spot the team finished in 2015 after going 21-10 overall and 12-6 in the MIAA. The Griffons completed back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1997-98 seasons and had six student-athletes named All-MIAA. Three of those All-MIAA performers graduated, but the other three return to lead a group that includes a mixture of experience and talented newcomers.
“It’s clear we’re not sneaking up on anyone this year,” head coach Marian Carbin said. “I think the poll shows the other coaches’ recognition of what we’re building and their expectation for us to be a highly competitive team in one of the best volleyball conferences in the country. That’s our expectation as well, but we’d certainly like to take that next step.”
This will be Carbin’s fourth year as head coach of the program she once played for. Through her first three seasons, the Griffons have went 59-33 overall. Carbin has led the program to its most MIAA wins ever (16 in 2014), most overall wins since 1997 (25 in 2014), and in her first season, she delivered the program’s first winning conference record in 14 years. Headlining this year’s returners are 2015 second team All-MIAA selection Rachel Friedrichs and 2015 honorable mention All-MIAA selections Kayla Ruff and Shellby Taylor. Friedrichs finished her freshman season fifth in the MIAA with 97 total blocks, averaging 0.92 per match. Ruff was fourth in the MIAA as a sophomore with 4.81 digs per set and tied for the team lead with 28 service aces. Taylor showed more versatility as her freshman season went on, averaging 2.16 kills per set and .70 blocks per set.
“I really like what we have coming back and we’re very excited about our newcomers,” Carbin said. “To have three first-year players earn All-MIAA status is pretty incredible. Those three have grown and now know what it takes to be successful in this conference. They’re going to have to step up, along with our other returners, and become leaders now for a group of new Griffs that we feel can compete right away.”
The Missouri Western Volleyball season begins Sept. 2 in Topeka, Kansas where the team will participate in the two-day Washburn Invitational. The Griffons will play four matches in two days. The team’s home opener comes on Sept. 9 against Oklahoma Baptist as part of the Gold & Green Challenge. Missouri Western will co-host the event with Northwest Missouri State.
2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Washburn (5) 110
T2. Central Missouri (3) 106
T2. Central Oklahoma (3) 106
4. Nebraska-Kearney (1) 102
5. Missouri Western 77
6. Northwest Missouri 69
7. Fort Hays State 64
8. Emporia State 51
9. Lindenwood 39
10. Pittsburg State 36
11. Southwest Baptist 17
12. Missouri Southern 15
— MWSU Athletics —