NAPERVILLE, Ill. – For the first time since 2005, Elmhurst was predicted to the win the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) volleyball title according to a preseason poll announced Wednesday.

The Bluejays (31-6, 5-2) won the preseason poll with 48 points including six first place votes, marking the first time in seven years that Elmhurst was picked to win in a preseason volleyball poll. The team’s last conference title came in 2004, but the Bluejays are coming off an NCAA postseason appearance in 2011. 

Defending champion Carthage (34-7, 7-0) placed second in the poll with 40 points including two first place votes. The Lady Reds were predicted to win the conference title every year from 2006-2011, winning five times during that span. Carthage advanced to the national semifinal last season.

Millikin (26-11, 6-1) placed third in the preseason poll with 37 points. Illinois Wesleyan (18-15, 2-5) finished fourth with 31 points, followed by Wheaton (22-13, 4-3) (24), North Central (18-17, 3-4) (23), Augustana (9-23, 1-6) (14) and North Park (15-18, 0-7) (seven).

Voting is done by the CCIW’s head volleyball coaches. Each coach votes for the seven other schools in the conference in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (seven points for first, six for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own teams.

2012 CCIW Volleyball Poll

Rank	Team	Points	First Place Votes
1	Elmhurst	48	6
2	Carthage	40	2
3	Millikin	37
4	Illinois Wesleyan	31
5	Wheaton	24
6	North Central	23
7	Augustana	14
8	North Park	7