7/31 2000 Fall MIAA Preseason Polls

July 31, 2000

Bulldogs Picked No. 1 In Two MIAA Preseason Coaches Polls

Truman State University has been picked second or better in four of the preseason conference coaches polls announced today by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Two Bulldog women's squads, soccer and cross country, were chosen as preseason favorites in two tight races.

After capturing the inaugural MIAA women's soccer championship last year, the Truman squad was picked to repeat in 2000. The 'Dogs collected five of the six first-place votes and 25 points, while Missouri-Rolla was second with 21 points and one vote for the top spot.

In women's cross country, the Bulldogs logged five first-place votes and 46 total points en route to being named the early league favorite for the second straight year. Central Missouri had 43 points and two first-place votes, while Pittsburg State (Kan.) charted one first-place vote and 40 points.

The MIAA preseason football poll had the Bulldogs picked sixth with 39 points, while Northwest Missouri was deemed the preseason favorite by recording eight votes for the top spot in the conference.

The Truman volleyball squad captured three first-place votes and 59 points while earning the No. 2 spot in that poll. Central Missouri had 62 points and six first-place votes while Northwest Missouri followed Truman with 47 points.

The men's cross country team also was picked as runner-up. The 'Dogs charted one first-place vote and 41 points, eight behind favorite Central Missouri.

The fall sports seasons kick off in mid-to-late August, with the men's soccer squad getting it all started with an Aug. 19 exhibition at Western Illinois University.

Here's a look at the five preseason polls as selected by coaches around the MIAA with first-place votes in parenthesis:

FOOTBALL
                           PTS.
1. Northwest Missouri (9)   81
2. Pittsburg State (1)      71
3. Central Missouri         62
4. Missouri Western         55
5. Emporia State (Kan.)     51
6. Truman                   39
7. Washburn (Kan.)          35
8. Missouri Southern        30
9. Southwest Baptist        14
10. Missouri-Rolla          12

VOLLEYBALL
                           PTS.
1. Central Missouri (6)     62
2. Truman (3)               59
3. Northwest Missouri       47
4. Emporia State (Kan.)     41
5. Missouri Western         40
6. Missouri Southern        24
7. Pittsburg State (Kan.)   21
8. Washburn (Kan.)          20
9. Southwest Baptist        10

WOMEN'S SOCCER
                           PTS.
1. Truman (5)               25
2. Missouri-Rolla (1)       21
3. Central Missouri         20
4. Northwest Missouri       12
5. Missouri Southern        10
6. Southwest Baptist         5

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
                           PTS.
1. Truman (5)               46
2. Central Missouri (2)     43
3. Pittsburg St (Kan.) (1)  40
4. Emporia State (Kan.)     28
5. Northwest Missouri       24
6. Missouri Southern        21
7. Southwest Baptist        13
8. Missouri-Rolla            9

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
                           PTS.
1. Central Missouri (7)     49
2. Truman (1)               41
3. Missouri Southern        34
4. Pittsburg State (Kan.)   31
5. Northwest Missouri       26
6. Emporia State (Kan.)     23
7. Missouri-Rolla           11
8. Southwest Baptist         9

Football