OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels have been selected to finish fifth in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, the league announced today (Oct. 20).

Reigning NAIA National Champion Oklahoma City University is the clear favorite to repeat this season, finishing first by garnering all nine possible first-place votes.  Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team. 

Oklahoma Baptist University came in second, followed by John Brown University, who received the other first-place nod. 

Wayland Baptist University was fourth, with MACU rounding out the top five. Texas Wesleyan University came in sixth, followed by Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Southwestern Christian University. 

USAO and St. Gregory's University were ninth and 10th to conclude the poll. 

In his first year at the helm, head coach Marcus Moeller guided the Lady Evangels to their most wins (18) as an NAIA school and also their most conference victories (11).  

The Lady Evangels will also welcome back NAIA All-America honorable-mention performer Ashlee Ferguson, along with solid rotational players from last season and a strong recruiting class. 

MACU will open the 2014-15 campaign by hosting Central Baptist College on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.