Lady Blues picked fourth in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

For immediate release - Aug. 3, 2004
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues were picked fourth in the MIAA Coaches Poll that was released today. The Lady Blues will open the season on Fri. Aug. 27th against Cameron University at the Rockhurst Invitational Tournament.

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association volleyball coaches have selected defending champion Truman State University as the favorite to win the conference title for the upcoming season.

The Bulldogs were a unanimous choice, getting all of the eight available first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own schools) and collectin 64 points. Central Missouri State, the squad which advance to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional title match in 2003, was selected second in the survey with 54 points.

The 2003 MIAA runner-up in the regular season and postseason tournament, Pittsburg State, was third with 47 points and the remaining first-place vote. The Lady Blues of Washburn, 2002 conference champs, were two points behind the Gorillas in fourth with 45.

Emporia State edged Missouri Western for fifth in the survey with 34 points to the Griffons' 32, followed by Northwest Missouri State in seventh with 23 points.

Missouri Southern, with Mark Willis taking over as Lions' head coach in 2004, was selected eighth with 16 points, while Southwest Baptist was ninth.

The regular season schedule commences on August 26, when the CMSU Jennies face North Alabama in a rematch of the 2003 regional title match in Orange Beach, Ala.

2004 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

   School                      Pts.
   1. Truman (8).................64
   2. Central Missouri State.....54
   3. Pittsburg State (1)........47
   4. Washburn...................45
   5. Emporia State..............34
   6. Missouri Western...........32
   7. Northwest Missouri State...23
   8. Missouri Southern..........16
   9. Southwest Baptist.......... 9
   
   Points awarded on a 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
   Coaches could not vote for their own school.