Spartan VB Picked To Finish EighthNORTH MANCHESTER – Manchester University was tabbed eighth on the 2016 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason volleyball coaches poll, released Aug. 12. The Spartans, coming off a 2015 campaign where they finished 10-17, reaching double digit victories for the first time since 2012 and earning a conference tournament berth for the first time since 2008, received 35 points. Defending champion Hanover College topped the list with 98 points and eight first-place votes with Bluffton University of Ohio second (88 points – one first-place vote) and Transylvania University of Kentucky third (76 points). A trio of Black and Gold student-athletes were mentioned in the “Players to Watch” section. Senior outside hitter Courtney Chowning, sophomore setter Dakota Stanichuk and sophomore middle hitter Hannah Tevis were noted. MU opens the 2016 season, Sept. 2-3, competing in the Anderson University Raven Invitational.
