FREELAND, Mich. – In a preseason poll of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's lacrosse coaches, the Calvin women's lacrosse team was the favorite in what is predicted to be a close race for the MIAA title.

Calvin, last season's MIAA tournament champions, received five first-place votes to earn 61 points in the preseason poll of nine MIAA coaches. The Knights edged Albion, who were the 2016 regular season champions, by five points; the Brits garnered three first-place votes. Hope, who finished third in the preseason poll with 50 points, also secured a first-place vote.

Kalamazoo and Saint Mary's tied for fourth, each team receiving 36 points, while Adrian was close behind in sixth with 32 points. Alma (29 points), Trine (16), and Olivet (8) rounded out the poll.

The preseason poll for MIAA women's lacrosse awards eight points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, et cetera; coaches were not allowed to vote for their own programs.

Calvin (12-6 in 2016, 7-1 MIAA) defeated Albion 12-11 in the 2016 MIAA title game, earning the program's first-ever berth into the NCAA Tournament. Returning for Calvin this spring are first-team All-MIAA performers Amanda Davio (Jr., A/M, Okemos, Mich.), Emily Cefaratti (Sr., A, Hinsdale, Ill.), and Alyssa Gagnon (Jr., D/M, Minooka, Ill.).

Albion (10-7, 8-0) ran the table during MIAA regular season play in 2016 and have multiple key players returning for this spring. Cait Gaitley (Jr., A, Grosse Pointe, Mich.) was a first-team All-MIAA honoree last season, as was Taylor Nelson (Jr., D, Simi Valley, Calif.).

Hope (7-6, 6-2) returns Mara Droppers (Sr., D, Winter Park, Fla.) to the lineup this season after earning first-team All-MIAA accolades last year.

The 2017 campaign begins Feb. 23, when Hope takes on Cleary at 9 p.m. The 2017 MIAA Tournament is set for May 4 and 6; semifinal action will be at the top two seeds from the regular season play, with the championship game hosted by the highest remaining seed.