The Calvin University men's volleyball team was picked to finish seventh in MCVL in the conference's preseason poll released on Wednesday.
Calvin, which finished 8-18 last season with a 1-7 record in MCVL play, finished eighth in the final conference standings last season and was picked seventh this season out of ten teams.
The Knights, under the direction of first-year head coach Aaron Sagraves, will enter the upcoming season with a strong cast of returners led by MCVL Honorable Mention honorees
Gabriel Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Michigan Aviation Academy) and
Nick Bultje (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian). Laughlin led the Knights last season with an average of 2.21 kills per set, while Bultje averaged 1.82 kills and 0.81 blocks per set.
Calvin also returns starting libero
Parker Steele (Boscobel, Wis./Boscobel), who averaged 2.09 digs per set, as well as starting setter
Cameron Dogger (Holland, Mich./Zion Christian), who averaged a team-best 4.28 assists per set.
University of Mount Union finished atop the poll with 75 total points and five first-place votes. Baldwin Wallace University finished second with 74 points and three first-place votes. Wittenberg University is third with 68 points and two first-place votes.
You can see full MCVL preseason poll results if you
click here.
Calvin men's volleyball will open its season on Friday, January 23, when it plays four matches in two days in Wisconsin. The Knights will face Maranatha Baptist University and Lakeland University on January 23, followed by matches against Concordia University - Wisconsin and Greenville University on January 24.
