Women’s and men’s basketball teams picked fifth and sixth in MIAA preseason coaches’ polls

OLIVET, Mich. -- The Olivet College women's and men's basketball teams have been picked to finish fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 2011-12 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Polls. Each coach was not allowed to vote for his/her own team. Hope is the preseason favorite in men's poll, while Calvin is the women's preseason favorite.

Second-year Head Coach Nicole Burford welcomes back only three returning letterwinners to her women's basketball team. The letterwinners are junior Mellissa Bageris (Milford) and the sophomore duo of Heather Lauwers (Ortonville/Brandon) and Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser).

Olivet travels to play Defiance (Ohio) College in its season-opener Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Under the leadership of fifth-year Head Coach Gene Gifford, the Comet men return six letterwinners. Seniors Jaren Edsall (Whitehall) and Eric Mack (Eastpointe/Roseville) are expected to lead Olivet in 2011-12.

In his first three seasons at Olivet, Edsall has played in 67 games, with 44 starts, averaged 5.9 ppg and drained 69 three-pointers. Mack, who transferred to Olivet from St. Clair County Community College prior to last season, started half of the 26 games played and had a 4.8 scoring average.

The Comets open the 2011-12 season Tuesday, Nov. 15, when they host Aquinas College at 7:30 p.m.

Men's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Hope (7) 7 pts. 2. Calvin (1) 13. 3. Adrian 24. 4. Albion 30. 5. Trine 31. 6. Olivet 34. 7. Kalamazoo 38. 8. Alma 49.

Women's Poll Results (First-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Calvin (8) 8 pts. 2. Hope (1) 16. 3. Saint Mary's 21. 4. Albion 36. 5. Olivet 38. 6. Adrian 41. 7. Trine 50. 8. Alma 51. 9. Kalamazoo 63.