CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) has conducted its annual preseason poll, with Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball being picked seventh out of nine teams. The Yellow Jackets are preparing to open their first season in program history on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets rank second among the three new members of the league, ranking behind Wittenberg University (fifth place) and ahead of Wabash (Ind.) College (ninth place), a fellow debutant. Head Coach Kyle Mars will look to lead his first team, made up of 10 freshman and 13 total athletes, to even bigger heights.

"We are excited to be entering a competitive league in our first year," said Mars. "The guys on this team have tremendous respect for the talent in the MCVL. Of course, myself and our staff have much respect for the coaches who have built these programs as well. We're looking forward to getting the chance to prove to ourselves that we can compete at a high level among these teams."

Fontbonne (Mo.) University comes it at the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by fellow Ohio Athletic Conference member the University of Mount Union. Mount St. Joseph University and Adrian (Mich.) College round out the top half of the league in a tie for third place.

Baldwin Wallace will do the honor of serving up the first MCVL match of the season, when the Yellow Jackets will face Trine (Ind.) University, who came in at sixth overall in the preseason poll, in two matches on Saturday, January 30. The Yellow Jackets will return for their home opener the following weekend to host Olivet (Mich.) College, who placed eighth in the same poll.