Elmhurst Tabbed as Pre-Season Favorite for CCIW Volleyball

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – In 2004, the Elmhurst and Carthage volleyball teams shared the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title. In 2005, CCIW coaches predict that Elmhurst will win the title outright after beating out Carthage by three points to earn the top spot in the 2005 volleyball pre-season poll.

Elmhurst, which finished 32-11 in 2004, won the poll with 47 points, including five first place votes. Carthage (31-6 in 2004) finished second with 44 points, including three first place votes. Elmhurst won the conference tournament title over Millikin in three games last season, but shared the overall title with Carthage based on a point system. The CCIW did away with the point system for 2005 and will determine a conference champion through the regular season standings.

Illinois Wesleyan (22-15) was third in the pre-season poll, tallying 35 points, while Millikin (31-10) placed fourth with 34 points. North Central (16-17) was sixth with 19 points.

Rounding out the poll were Wheaton (16-23) and North Park (9-29) with 16 and eight points respectively.

The CCIW volleyball season begins September 2.

2005 Pre-Season Poll