By WJBC Staff
NAPERVILLE – Defending College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin champion Millikin was picked to win the 2017 conference volleyball title, while Illinois Wesleyan was picked for second place, according to a preseason coaches’ poll announced Tuesday.
The Big Blue (28-12, 7-1) won the poll with a total of 62 points including six first place votes. Millikin, under the direction of head coach Debbie Kiick, won its sixth CCIW regular season title and second in a row last season. The program also won their fourth CCIW Tournament title in 2016, which earned them the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. The Big Blue advanced all the way to the regional final last season.
Illinois Wesleyan (20-9, 5-3) was second in the poll with 55 points and two first place votes. The Titans narrowly missed earning a CCIW Tournament berth last season after finishing tied for fourth with Carthage. In 2015, Illinois Wesleyan shared the conference title and advanced to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1998.
Elmhurst (23-13, 6-2) was third with 49 points and one first place vote after the Bluejays earned an at-large bid to the NCAA postseason in 2016, their sixth-straight appearance. Elmhurst finished tied for second with Wheaton last season.
Carthage (18-13, 5-3) placed fourth with 46 points, while Augustana (25-8, 4-4) and Wheaton (13-16, 6-2) tied for fifth as each totaled 33 points.
North Central (14-16, 0-8), North Park (8-21, 2-6) and Carroll (7-23, 1-7) rounded out the poll with 19, 14 and 13 points respectively.
IWU opens the season Sept. 1 at Wittenburg.
