NAPERVILLE, IL -- Carthage was picked to win the 2016 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) title according to the preseason coaches' poll released Wednesday.

The Red Men (23-6, 14-0 MCVL) earned the MCVL title last season and claimed the top spot in the MCVL poll with 169 points and 13 first place votes.

Dominican (15-11, 10-4 MCVL) finished second in the poll with 151 points.  The Stars finished 10-4 in MCVL play a year ago, placing third in the league standings.

Mount St. Joseph (19-9, 11-3 MCVL) finished third in the poll with 150 points and the final first place vote, while Milwaukee School of Engineering (17-12, 8-6 MCVL) finished fourth (126 points).

Benedictine (7-16, 4-10 MCVL) placed fifth in the poll with 117 points and was followed by Lakeland (14-17, 7-7 MCVL) with 111 points. 

North Central was selected to finish seventh (93 points) in its first varsity season, while Loras (3-20, 1-13 MCVL) was pegged to place eighth (68 points).

Wittenberg (61 points), Fontbonne (5-22, 1-13 MCVL; 60 points), Marian (57 points), Greenville (48 points), Adrian (38 points) and Olivet (25 points) rounded out the poll respectively.  The Tigers, Sabres, Panthers, Bulldogs and Comets will be competing for the first time at the varsity level this season.

The 2016 season opens on January 9.  The MCVL portion of the schedule will begin on February 2 with the MCVL tournament slated for April 8-9 at the conference champion site.

2016 MCVL Coaches' Preseason Poll