William Penn Slated to Place 10th
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s volleyball program seeks to push for a postseason berth and more as the Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll was released Tuesday.
WPU, which was 12-19 in 2019 (7-11 Heart), has been picked to place 10th in the 14-team conference.
Heart newcomer and perennial national power Park sits atop the poll, while Grand View and Central Methodist should give the Pirates a fight for the crown.
Evangel and Baker conclude the top five, while MidAmerica Nazarene, Mount Mercy, Benedictine, and
Clarke also hold positions in front of the navy and gold. Peru State, Graceland, Culver-Stockton, and Missouri Valley are at the bottom of the rating.
The NAIA has postponed all of its fall national championships to the spring, but the Heart still plans to play its full regular season slate as well as its postseason tournament this fall. The national tournament is currently slated for next April.
WPU starts the 2020 season by hosting the Wendy’s Invitational on September 5-6, facing Waldorf, St. Ambrose, Trinity International, and Briar Cliff. The Heart campaign begins the following weekend as the Statesmen travel south to battle Evangel.
2020 Heart Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Park
2. Grand View
3. Central Methodist
4. Evangel
5. Baker
6. MidAmerica Nazarene
7. Mount Mercy
8. Benedictine
9. Clarke
10. William Penn
11. Peru State
12. Graceland
13. Culver-Stockton
14. Missouri Valley
