OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sooner Athletic Conference announced the results of the 2018 Volleyball preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday, and Mid-America Christian finished in the middle of the pack, slotting in seventh of the 12 teams in the SAC.
MACU racked up 52 points in the poll, slotting in just ahead of Oklahoma Panhandle State University (50). Oklahoma City University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University tied for first in the poll, grabbing 101 points and five first place votes each. John Brown took the lone remaining first-place vote and amassed 95 points. Texas Wesleyan University (82) and Wayland Baptist University (81) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, and Southwestern Christian University (63) took sixth. Central Christian College (31), Langston University (28), the University of Science & Arts (25), and Bacone College (17) rounded out the poll.
Following a 6-10 SAC record in 2017, the Evangels have a new head coach, with Faith Avalos taking the reins during the spring. Avalos has brought in a bevy of new talent, drawing on her recruiting experience from her time at a pair of schools in the Great American Conference. Only four players remain from the 2017 team, and the Evangels will not have to wait long to compare themselves to a SAC opponent, with an August 31st date at Wayland Baptist.
The SAC Schedule returns to a double-round robin format this season, after a divisional format was tried out in 2017. The Conference remains as 12 teams, even with the departure of St. Gregory's University, thanks to the addition of the Langston University Lions. This leaves the slate at 22 games in conference play.
MACU's Volleyball season opens on the road on August 18 with a tri-match at Randall University. On that day, the Evangels will take on the Saints and the Crowley's Ridge College Pioneers.
