MIAA releases preseason polls in three fall sports

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced coaches’ polls for three of the league’s fall sports – men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. Coaches were not allowed to vote their own team in the poll..

The Comets, which advanced to the MIAA Tournament each of the last three seasons, were selected third in the preseason men’s soccer poll, receving 22 points and one first-place vote. Defending league champion Calvin College was chosen as the favorite with nine points and six first-place votes. Hope College was second with 15 points and also received one first-place vote.

Olivet kicks-off its season Friday, Aug. 29, when they host Carthage (Wis.) College. Game time from the Cutler Athletic Complex is 7 p.m. 

The Comets picked seventh in the preseason volleyball poll. Defending MIAA co-champion Hope received six first-place votes and is the preseason favorite with 10 points. Calvin, who won the 2013 NCAA Division III national championship match, earned the other three first-place votes for 13 points.

Olivet begins the 2014 campaign Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30, at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference-MIAA Challenge, hosted by Manchester (Ind.) University. On Friday, the Comets play Franklin (Ind.) College at 5 p.m., followed by a match vs. the host Spartans. On Saturday, Olivet battles Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology at 11 a.m., followed by a match vs. Anderson (Ind.) University.  

The Comets were selected to finish eighth in the preseason women’s soccer poll with 56 points. Defending MIAA champion Calvin earned eight of nine possible first-place votes for eight points. Hope received the first-place vote for 15 points.

Olivet opens the 2014 season Friday, Aug. 29, when it hosts Alverno (Wis.) College at 6 p.m.