Tommies top MIAC poll

With a coaching carousel whirling around them, the St. Thomas Tommies are in familiar territory: the MIAC hunted. Not surprising news, but MIAC coaches predict eighth-ranked St. Thomas will be the top team in the conference. The Tommies lose one player from a team that was one match away from the Elite 8.

St. Thomas collected nine first-place votes while St. Olaf got the other three to finish second in the poll. Saint Benedict was third, followed by a tie for fourth between Concordia and Saint Mary’s. Of those five, only Concordia failed to reach the NCAA tournament.

This year I think all five make it. I actually think Saint Ben’s, No. 3 in the poll and last year’s co-champ, is on the thinest ground heading into the year in the Midwest Region’s deepest conference. But new coach and star graduations or not, the Blazers should be fine.

I, too, like the Tommies to win their fourth consecutive regular season championship. What’s not to like? But I wouldn’t be surprised if St. Olaf or Concordia claims the top spot. The MIAC will be fun all year. Roughly the top two-thirds of the conference could beat each other on any night, and there will be four or five deserving NCAA teams when all is said and done.

In accordance to being the best volleyball conference in either the Midwest or Central region in 2010, the MIAC also provided the best preview/coaches’ poll in either region. Click here read it.

-Ricky Nelson