FREELAND, Mich. – Defending NCAA Division III Volleyball National Champion Calvin is the unanimous preseason pick to emerge as the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion in the 2017 race as the Knights earned eight of a possible eight first-place votes in a preseason poll of MIAA coaches.

Followers of MIAA volleyball know, however, that one of the nation's most competitive volleyball conferences will provide excitement and close competition again in the 2017 season.

Hope, also an NCAA Championship participant, ranked second with 55 points and one first-place vote. Following close behind in third was Adrian with 49 points, while fellow 2016 MIAA tournament participant Saint Mary's ranked fourth with 45 points. Albion (34 points) edged Alma (32 points) for fifth place, and Trine (19 points) leaned past Olivet (17 points) for seventh; Kalamazoo (9 points) wrapped up the nine-team poll.

Calvin (33-1, 16-0 in 2016), who was also ranked first nationally in the AVCA preseason poll, will look to Jenna Lodewyk (Sr., S, Villa Park, Ill.), a three-time first-team All-MIAA selection and AVCA second-team All-America selection, for leadership. Fellow first-team All-MIAA pick Anna Kamp (Jr., OH, Orland Park, Ill.), also returns after an All-American season in 2016.

Hope (25-6, 13-3) secured the MIAA's atuomatic berth to the 2016 NCAA Championships in 2016 with a thrilling five-set win over Calvin in the title match to give the Knights their lone blemish on their 2016 record. First-team All-MIAA honoree Sophia Hackett (Sr., S, Indianapolis, Ind.) was a key contributor to the Flying Dutch's success last fall.

Adrian (15-14, 9-7) pressed top-ranked Calvin in the semifinals of last year's MIAA Tournament before falling 3-1 in the opening round. The Bulldogs feature Olivia Welch (Jr., OH, Vicksburg, Mich.) among their top returnees, as her 26 services aces last fall ranks third-best in program history.

Saint Mary's (15-14, 11-5) finished third in the MIAA race last season, bolstered by nine 3-0 victories against conference challengers last fall. Last year, the Belles ranked third in the MIAA in kills per set (12.02).

Eighteen games are on the docket for the 2017 season opening date of Friday, Sept. 1; in the opening weekend, five MIAA teams will face nine opponents either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll. Teams waste no time jumping into MIAA play on Wednesday, Sept. 6. 

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