[Volleyball] Trevecca Volleyball | Great Midwest Preseason Coaches Poll Announced

NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team was selected seventh in the western division of the Great Midwest Conference (G-MAC) preseason coaches poll presented by Under Armour.

Great Midwest Story READ

Though the Trojans were tipped to finish seventh, coach Jayme Crowley believes her team will be better.

"It's a fair assessment considering last year's record," Crowley said. "However, we will surprise some teams this season as we are much improved and have more depth at each position."

Hillsdale, who won the 2017 G-MAC Championship, was named preseason favorites to defend their G-MAC title and win the western division with 82 points (6 first place votes). The Chargers were picked ahead of second place Findlay who had 76 points (1 first place vote).

New to the G-MAC and the Trojans division this year is Tiffin University who was picked to finish third, just behind Findlay with 56 points.

"We have some experience playing (Tiffin) in the past," Crowley said. "They have usually run a faster offense which is pretty deceptive and will add strength to the G-MAC."

The Trojans finished 5-23 last season, failing to reach the G-MAC tournament for the first time since joining the conference six years ago.

"We are the redeem team and redemption means change, transformation, growth, and improvement," Crowley said. "We don't want to be satisfied unless we see true redemption. Our season long goal is to return to the conference tournament. It's going to take a unified team effort with sacrificial role playing and servant leadership to make that happen."

Crowley, who is entering her 11th season at the helm of the Trojans has added Emily Moore to her coaching staff.

A native to Nashville, Moore is a longtime high school and club volleyball coach in the middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky area.  In the last thirteen years, her high school teams have made six state tournament appearances including a TSSAA State-runner up finish in 2013. 

THE 2018 GREAT MIDWEST VOLLEYBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL, PRESENTED BY UNDER ARMOUR

East Division

Walsh (79 points – 6 first place votes)

Lake Erie (70 points – 1 first place vote)

Malone (63 points)

Davis & Elkins (44 points)

Ursuline (35 points)

Ohio Valley (27 points)

Alderson Broaddus (21 points)

West Division

Hillsdale (82 points – 6 first place votes)

Findlay (76 points – 1 first place vote)

Tiffin (56 points)

Cedarville (50 points)

Kentucky Wesleyan (34 points)

Ohio Dominican (27 points)

Trevecca (18 points)

* The top seed, based on overall winning percentage, will serve as host for the 8-team conference tournament.

** Beginning this season there is an East Division favorite and a West Division favorite. Last year's balloting ranked schools 1-13 and then was broken down divisionally; this year the voting was strictly divisional.

WHAT'S NEW?

The Tiffin University Dragons have entered the G-MAC and will travel to Nashville to face the Trojans on September 15. With the addition of Tiffin there are now 14 full member schools with volleyball evening the balance of the east and west to two seven team divisions.

The newest additions to the Trojan roster are (8) freshmen: Austyn Baldwin (FR/Kingston Springs, TN), Hannah Bornemann (FR/Oswego, IL), Elizabeth Cook (FR/Phoenix, Arizona), Holly Edwards (FR/Liberty Township, OH), Claire Hindman (FR/Westfield, IN), Madison Martin (FR/Martinsville, IN), Leilani Victor (FR/Hudson, WI) and Lydia Yonce (FR/Nashville, TN). 

"It's refreshing and energizing to have a brand new team and a fresh new start for everyone involved," Crowley said. "We have two freshman setters and they will need to make an immediate impact. Currently, the freshman to watch from an offensive perspective, will be Austyn Baldwin and Madison Martin." 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The Trojans season kicks off August 31st when they travel to Owensboro, Kentucky to take part in the Kentucky Wesleyan Tournament, a six-team tournament.

The Trojans will host G-MAC conference foe, Ursuline College for their home opener on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. in Trojan Fieldhouse.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS

Visit Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com

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