ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's men's volleyball team is selected as the favorite to finish first in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) preseason coaches poll, released Wednesday (Dec. 16).

The Flyers received 62 points, including six first place votes. Loyola Chicago was picked to finish second with 43 points. Ball State was picked to finish third receiving 40 points and the other two first place votes.

Lewis is well represented on the 2021 Preseason All-MIVA team, with four members selected to the team, the most of any team in the conference.

Senior Ryan Coenen (Franklin, WI/Franklin) was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year and is a member of the Preseason All-MIVA team. Joining Coenen on the Preseason All-MIVA team are redshirt seniors Tyler Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) and TJ Murray (Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS) and sophomore Kevin Kauling (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley).

Coenen was the MIVA Player of the Year, an All-MIVA First Team selection, and an AVCA All-America First Team selection a year ago. Mitchem was also an All-MIVA First Team selection and an AVCA All-America First Team selection. Murray and Kauling were both named to the All-MIVA Second Team and were AVCA All-America honorable mention selections.

"It is always great to be recognized by the other coaches in the league with the potential to win the league," Lewis head men's volleyball coach Dan Friend said.  "I'm excited to get back into the gym and have the opportunity to compete with this group of guys.  The MIVA is going to be tough this year, there are a lot of outstanding players and you are going to have to be ready to compete every night."

The Flyers open their regular season schedule at home with matches against Campbellsville (Ky.) (Jan. 20), Queens (N.C.) (Jan. 22) and Lincoln Memorial (Jan. 23). All matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.