OKLAHOMA CITY -- Under fifth-year head coach Robert Wakefield, the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels have been chosen to finish in the upper half of the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll in the fourth spot, the highest SAC preseason ranking in school history since joining the NAIA. 

Oklahoma City University was picked first, receiving a maximum seven first-place votes with coaches not allowed to vote for their own team. 

Coming in second was St. Gregory's University, followed by USAO, who recieved the lone other first-place tally. 

After MACU, Texas Wesleyan University rounded out the top five, with Bacone College sixth and Southwestern Christian University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University finishing tied for eighth to finish the poll. 

The preseason ranking confirms the climb the squad continues to make, as the Lady Evangels are coming off consecutive winning seasons for the first time as an NAIA school. 

Wakefield will be featuring eight seniors on this squad that will look to continue the program's ascension into a top-tier SAC program. 

The Lady Evangels open the 2016 season Feb. 9 at NCAA D-II Rogers State University before kicking off the home schedule on Feb. 11 against Oklahoma Wesleyan University.