OCU second in preseason SAC volleyball poll

From OCU Sports Info.
Rich Tortorelli, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has been predicted to finish second place in the chase for the Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball title for its highest standing ever in the preseason league poll.

Last year under first-year coach Kyle Steele, the Stars had an overall record of 20-12 (11-5 in SAC play) and reached the semifinals of the SAC volleyball tournament before getting ousted by Oklahoma Baptist 25-11, 25-14, 29-27.

Defending league champion Wayland Baptist (Texas) is the clear favorite in the 2015 Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball pre-season poll, according to voting by the league’s coaches.

WBU, who finished last season with a record of 23-10 record, finished eight points ahead of runner-up Oklahoma City University. WBU was voted first on seven of the eight ballots and finished with a total of 71 points. OCU collected the remaining first-place vote and totaled 63 points in the poll.

Texas Wesleyan was picked third with 55 points, while John Brown (Ark.) was fourth (54), Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) fifth (42), and Southwestern Christian sixth (31). Mid-America Christian was seventh (29) with St. Gregory’s and conference newcomer Bacone sharing eighth with 24 points.

The 2015 volleyball season starts Aug. 20 with a SAC/RRAC Crossover Tournament. The Stars open the season 3 p.m. Aug. 28 against Westmont (Calif.) at Murchison Gymnasium in La Mirada, Calif. OCU’s first conference match is 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at John Brown in Siloam Springs, Ark. The top six teams in the conference standings qualify for the SAC tournament on Nov. 7-14 with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NAIA Championship Opening Round.