'Dons Chosen Fifth in Preseason Poll, Shank All-MIVA

Columbus, OH - After a 12-15 campaign in 2009, head coach Arnie Ball and the Mastodons have been selected to finish in fifth place in the 2010 MIVA Preseason Coaches Poll. Junior outside hitter Darryl Shank was also named to the Preseason All-MIVA Team.

Ohio State, the 2009 regular season and tournament champion, was selected as the preseason favorite in 2010 with four of seven first-place votes. Ball State garnered the remaining three first-place votes to finish second in the voting, while last year's regular season runner-up, Lewis, was voted to finish in third.

The Loyola Ramblers checked in fourth place with 31 votes, followed by the 'Dons at 21. Grand Canyon University, in their first year in the MIVA, was selected sixth while Quincy rounding out the voting in 7th place.

Shank, who averaged 3.15 kills per set en route to being named Second Team All-MIVA in 2009, was honored by league coaches as a Preseason all-MIVA selection.

Ohio State and Ball State each landed three players on the preseason squad to lead all teams.

The 'Dons will make their 2010 debut Friday, Jan. 8 as they host the NJIT Highlanders for a 7 p.m. match at the Hilliard Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne.