January 5, 2012

                COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Loyola-Chicago has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association by a vote of the league coaches. The Ramblers edged Ohio State by three votes and had four first place votes to three for the Buckeyes. Lewis was picked to finish third, with Ball State and Quincy tied for fourth. IPFW was ranked sixth with Grand Canyon seventh to round out the voting.

                The coaches also selected the 2012 MIVA preseason All-Conference Team comprised of nine players and two liberos (due to a tie). All seven squads are represented with Lewis having three players and two each from Ohio State and Loyola-Chicago. Voted to the team from Lewis were Matt Gallik, Jay Petty and Roberto Torres-Davis. Mike Bunting and Joe Smalzer were selected from Loyola-Chicago with Mik Berzins and Shawn Sangrey from Ohio State. Steven Battaglia of Quincy, Trent Bruns of Grand Canyon, Ivan Matos of IPFW and Graham McIlvaine  of Ball State rounded out the team.

2012 MIVA Preseason Team Ranking
Rank	Team	Points (1st place votes)	2011 MIVA Finish/Record (Overall)
1	Loyola-Chicago	45 (4)	2nd/9-3 (21-8)
2	Ohio State	42 (3)	1st/11-1 (26-6)@#
3	Lewis	39	3rd-tie/7-5 (20-11)
4	Ball State	21	3rd-tie/7-5 (19-11)
	Quincy	21	6th/3-9 (22-14)
6	IPFW	20	5th/5-7 (16-12)
7	Grand Canyon	8	7th/0-12 (8-24)
@2011 MIVA Tournament Champion                         #2011 NCAA Champion

 

2012 MIVA Preseason All-Conference Team
Student Athlete	School	Pos.	Hgt.	Cl.
Steven Battaglia	Quincy	MB	6-6	So.
Mik Berzins	Ohio State	OH	6-3	Sr.
Trent Bruns	Grand Canyon	L	6-0	Jr.
Mike Bunting	Loyola-Chicago	OH	6-4	Sr.
Matt Gallik	Lewis	MB	6-6	RS-Sr.
Ivan Matos	IPFW	OH	6-4	Sr.
Graham McIlvaine	Ball State	S	6-6	So.
Jay Petty	Lewis	OH	6-6	RS-Jr.
Shawn Sangrey	Ohio State	OPP	6-5	Sr.
Joe Smalzer	Loyola Chicago	OPP	6-8	RS-So.
Roberto Torres-Davis	Lewis	L	5-9	RS-So.