Cleveland State Tops 2018 #HLVB Preseason Poll
Rachel White
INDIANAPOLIS – Defending champion Cleveland State finished atop the 2018 #HLVB Preseason Poll. The Vikings earned four first place votes and edged Oakland by two points to earn the top spot in voting done by the head coaches.
After a strong 2017 campaign, winning both the regular season and tournament titles for the third straight year, Cleveland State (69 points) returns Tournament MVP and All-League Honorable Mention outside hitter Sara Skeens, along with All-Freshman outside Emily DeGeorge and All-Tournament middle blocker Trinniti Hall. The Vikings will need to replace 2017 Defensive Player of the Year Shannon Grega and Setter of the Year Gina Kilner in their pursuit of their fourth straight title.
Oakland (67 points) was voted second, receiving three first place votes, in the 2018 Preseason Poll after finishing second in the regular season in 2017 before falling to Green Bay in the semifinals. The Golden Grizzlies bring back All-Freshman Team honoree Jamie Walling, but will look to replace Player of the Year Darien Bandel and four-time All-League First Team member Sammy Condon from last year’s squad. Condon joins the Oakland bench as an assistant coach this season.
Coming in third place, with one first place vote, is UIC (58). The Flames finished fifth in the regular season last year and return All-Freshman Team selection Manuela Conte. Last year’s tournament runner-up Green Bay (51) also picked up a first place vote in the poll, placing fourth. The Phoenix return 2017 Freshman of the Year Taylor Wolf and All-League Honorable Mention setter Maddie Yoss as new coach Abbey Sutherland begins her first season at Green Bay in 2018.
IUPUI (50) and Northern Kentucky (48) each qualified for the tournament last season, squaring off in the quarterfinals. The Jags finished 12-4 in the regular season standings last year, earning the three seed, while the Norse went 7-9 and were the six seed. NKU defeated IUPUI in the tournament before falling to CSU in the semifinals. Rounding out the 2018 Preseason Poll are Milwaukee (29), Wright State (18), and Youngstown State (15).
The 2018 Horizon League Volleyball Championships will take place on November 16-18 at the highest seed who meets the facility criteria and will feature the top six teams in the standings.
2018 #HLVB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team - Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Cleveland State - 69 (4)
2. Oakland - 67 (3)
3. UIC - 58 (1)
4. Green Bay - 51 (1)
5. IUPUI - 50
6. Northern Kentucky - 48
7. Milwaukee - 29
8. Wright State - 18
9. Youngstown State - 15