OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Volleyball Lady Evangels have been selected to finish tied for sixth in the 2016 Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll, the league recently announced.   

Oklahoma City University topped the poll, followed by two-time defending SAC regular season champion Wayland Baptist University.

In the third spot was Texas Wesleyan University, followed by John Brown University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University rounding out the top five.

MACU was tied for sixth with Southwestern Christian University, with St. Gregory's University, Bacone College and volleyball newcomer USAO concluding the 10-team poll.

The Lady Evangels, under fourth-year head coach Mike Freeman, are coming off their first .500 season since 2012.

MACU will begin the 2016 season with a tri-match on Aug. 26 against Southwestern College (Kan.) and Manhattan Christian College (Kan.) in Winfield, Kan.

The home opener is set for Sept. 5, also a tri-match featuring a SAC contest with SAGU and then a matchup with Crowley's Ridge College (Ark.).