INDIANAPOLIS – Defending champion Hillsdale was revealed as the West Division favorite as part of the new Great Midwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour.
The Chargers received all possible six first-place votes (teams can’t vote for themselves) with 82 total points to lead West Division schools polled by the league’s coaches. Findlay was divisional runner-up with one first-place vote and 76 total points.
Newcomer Tiffin announced its arrival to the Great Midwest with 56 points for third, four-time tourney champs Cedarville begins a new coaching era in fourth with 50 points. In order, Kentucky Wesleyan, Ohio Dominican and Trevecca, rounded out the voting, in the West Division respectively.
Hillsdale and Findlay battled their way to co-division crowns in the regular season, each finished with 28 wins and ultimately enjoyed trips to the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional where the two rivals met again for an opening-round draw.
Their successful first seasons as league members sets the stage for another highly-anticipated division race in 2018. Findlay edged out Hillsdale in five sets in the national tournament before the Oilers saw their strong postseason run end against Rockhurst.
The wild wild West won’t be won easily as seven teams have their sights set on winning a championship.
Hillsdale is armed for a repeat run with four first team all-conference selections returning to the fold for Great Midwest Coach of the Year Chris Gravel. The Chargers were young in 2017, but played with an impressive poise for a dominant season record of 28-4.
Conference player of the year Paige VanderWall and Great Midwest Freshman of the Year Lindsey Mertz are two of the best in the nation at their respective positions while senior Kara Vyletel is back on the outside attack and Taylor Wiese is just a sophomore at the libero position.
Gravel and Hillsdale debut the regular season with a doozy against defending national champ and perennial powerhouse Concordia-St. Paul on Aug. 23.
The Findlay All-American/all-region/all-conference duo of Hailee Olson and Amanda Winner remains intact for their senior year with Kara Scherger anchoring the back row. The Oilers have the talent to make another trip back into the regional.
Tiffin is a little bit of a wild card with the program coming off of a 20-win season in their final year with the GLIAC. The Dragons will look assert themselves in the thick of the divisional race as a contender. Two-time GLIAC Libero of the Year Taylor Lattimore leaves behind some tough shoes to fill.
The Yellow Jackets of Cedarville have traditionally been a strong presence in the conference standings and will look to maintain that status in a new system with first-year head coach Greg Smith.
Smith replaced Doug Walters, who assumed the post at Palm Beach Atlantic, the nation’s No. 12 preseason ranked team.
Ohio Dominican and Trevecca matched their win total last season and both programs are looking to make significant strides with young rosters. ODU was competing in its first year with the Great Midwest while TNU is less than three years removed from celebrating the conference title in 2015.
Great Midwest Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
West Division
| School |
Points |
| 1. Hillsdale (6 first-place votes) |
82 |
| 2. Findlay (1 first-place vote) |
76 |
| 3. Tiffin |
56 |
| 4. Cedarville |
50 |
| 5. Kentucky Wesleyan |
34 |
| 6. Ohio Dominican |
27 |
| 7. Trevecca |
18 |