The KCAC has released the 2016 preseason coaches’ polls for cross country, soccer and volleyball.
Cross country—Tabor men were picked to finish seventh of 12 teams. No. 2 ranked University of Saint Mary was picked to repeat as KCAC champions. Last year, Tabor placed seventh of 12 at the KCAC meet.
The Bluejay women were picked 11th in the conference. Friends was selected first. The Falcons won the KCAC championship last year. Last season, Tabor finished 11th of 12 schools at the KCAC championship.
Soccer—The women’s soccer team was selected to finish ninth in the conference. Tabor received 40 points to finish ahead of Southwestern (38), Bethel (20) and York (11).
Kansas Wesleyan, meanwhile, topped the poll with 110 points and 10 first-place votes. The Coyotes are followed by Ottawa (98 points), Oklahoma Wesleyan (95, 1), Bethany (81), Friends (69), Sterling (64), McPherson (57) and the University of Saint Mary (43).
A year ago, Tabor was seventh in the KCAC with a 2-6-2 record, 4-11-2 overall. Oklahoma Wesleyan and Ottawa both went 9-1 in the KCAC, while 17th-ranked Kansas Wesleyan went 8-1-1 and won the conference tournament.
The men’s soccer team was selected sixth. Tabor garnered 61 points to finish ahead of Bethany (60), Sterling (40), Saint Mary (37), York (30), Bethel (27) and Southwestern (18).
Meanwhile, Oklahoma Wesleyan topped the poll with 110 points and 10 first-place votes). McPherson (94) received the final first-place vote, followed by Kansas Wesleyan (92), Friends (89) and Ottawa (68).
Last year, Tabor was seventh in the KCAC with a 4-6 record, 5-12-1 overall. Eighth-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan won the regular-season title with a perfect, 10-0 record and also won the KCAC tournament.
Volleyball—Tabor College was chosen third in the conference preseason poll. The Bluejays garnered 102 points behind first-place Ottawa (121 points, 11 first-place votes) and Kansas Wesleyan (109, 1).
Tabor placed ahead of Oklahoma Wesleyan (89), Friends (77), Sterling (62), Southwestern (55), McPherson (47), Bethany (44), Saint Mary (40), York (35) and Bethel (11).
A year ago, the Bluejays placed third in the KCAC with a 15-5 record, 23-12 overall. No. 23 Ottawa won the conference at 19-1, 34-7, followed by Kansas Wesleyan (16-4, 26-13).
2016 women’s cross country
1. Friends
2. Southwestern
3. Saint Mary
4. Sterling
5. Ottawa
6. Kansas Wesleyan
7. McPherson
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan
9. Bethany
10. Bethel
11. Tabor
12. York
2016 men’s cross country
1. Saint Mary
2. Kansas Wesleyan
3. Southwestern
4. McPherson
5. Friends
6. York
7. Tabor
8. Sterling
9. Ottawa
10. Oklahoma Wesleyan
11. Bethel
12. Bethany
2016 women’s soccer
1. KWU (110 votes, 10 first)
2. Ottawa (98)
3. Okla. Wesleyan (95, 1)
4. Bethany (81)
5. Friends (69)
6. Sterling (64)
7. McPherson (57)
8. Saint Mary (43)
9. Tabor (40)
10. Southwestern (38)
11. Bethel (20)
12. York (11)
2016 men’s soccer
1. OKWU (110 votes, 10 first)
2. McPherson (94, 1)
3. Kansas Wesleyan (92)
4. Friends (89)
5. Ottawa (68)
6. Tabor (61)
7. Bethany (60)
8. Sterling (40)
9. Saint Mary (37)
10. York (30)
11. Bethel (27)
12. Southwestern (18)
2016 volleyball
1. OU (121 votes, 11 first)
2. Kansas Wesleyan (109, 1)
3. Tabor (102)
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan (89)
5. Friends (77)
6. Sterling (62)
7. Southwestern (55)
8. McPherson (47)
9. Bethany (44)
10. Saint Mary (40)
11. York (35)
12. Bethel (11)
