The Continental Volleyball Conference has announced the results of the 2014 Preseason Poll, which features familiar names at the top. Carthage College and Juniata College tied for preseason favorites in the CVC, which has now expanded to 12 teams.

For the second consecutive season, Carthage College and Juniata College tied for preseason favorites in the Continental Volleyball Conference. The two programs each received 137 total points, including splitting first-place votes down the middle with six each. After the top four spots (Carthage, Juniata, Stevenson, Thiel) there appears to be a separation of teams that will battle it out for the final playoff spots. The next five schools (Cairn, Eastern Mennonite, Dominican, Lakeland and MSOE) are within five points of each other in the preseason poll.

Carthage finished last season with a 24-8 overall record, going 6-1 in conference play, and return six starters and 16 total players from last year's squad. The Redmen, coached by L.J. Marx, will be led by a pair of All-Americans in Connor Wexter and Jon Storm. Wexter, a senior setter, was AVCA First Team All-American and the 2013 CVC Player of the Year after leading the nation in assists per game. Storm, a junior outside hitter, was named AVCA Second Team All-American and All-Conference after hitting .308 with over 300 kills last season. Also back are senior libero Mike Jebens and senior middle blocker Jeff Beach, who led the nation in blocks per set. The Red Men add to their team depth by bringing in a couple of freshmen in middle blocker Ryan Paull and opposite hitter Griffin Shields.

Juniata is in much the same position as Carthage in that they return a talented roster. The Eagles bring back all seven starters from last year's team that captured the 2013 CVC Tournament title and advanced to the Division III National Tournament. Last year's team finished with a 24-12 overall record and head coach Kevin Moore brings back 14 players from last year's team. The Eagles will be led by a group of All-Conference performers in Joe Bortak, Paul Kuhn and Ross Madden. Bortak, a junior middle blocker who earned All-American honors last year, and Madden, a senior outside hitter, each earned All-Conference honors in each of the last two seasons. Kuhn was named Second Team All-American and All-Conference last year while Alex McGolgin, a senior outside hitter, also returns after leading the team in kills with 332. Running the offensive attack for Juniata is sophomore setter Matt Elias. Elias sparked the Eagles late run last year and ended up earning CVC Newcomer of the Year honors as well as the CVC Tournament MVP.

Stevenson was picked third in the poll, receiving one second place vote. The Mustangs finished last year with a 26-12 overall record and 6-2 record in conference play. The Mustangs are led by a pair of seniors in Austin Jacoby and Adam Thatcher. Jacoby, an outside hitter, earned All-Conference honors after leading the conference with 440 kills last season. Thatcher, a libero, picked up All-Conference honors after recording 449 digs, an average of 3.35 per set, last year. The Mustangs, who made the CVC Tournament, ended last year by winning the ECAC Division III South Championship.

Thiel was picked fourth in the poll, receiving the final remaining second place vote. The Tomcats are in their fourth year under head coach Steve Brewer who guided the team to a program best 20 wins last season with a 20-12 overall record. Thiel returns five starters and 13 players from last year's squad that earned a spot into the CVC Tournament. They will be led by junior middle hitter Michael Whitelock. Whitelock hit .394 last year, totaling over 200 kills. Also back are juniors Corey Hamilton, a setter; outside hitter John Turner and defensive specialist Colin Vitale.

Cairn was picked fifth in the preseason poll after going 8-19 last season and finishing 2-6 in conference play. The Crimson Eagles are under the direction of third year head coach Ben Fuller and will count on a trio of players. Ryan Garven, a junior outside hitter, finished with 124 kills and 130 digs last season. Sophomore middle hitter Randall Colson registered 23 total blocks last season while senior setter Jon Wilson is also back after averaging 9.26 assists per set last year.

Eastern Mennonite finished last season with a 14-13 overall record and 2-6 mark in the CVC. They welcome new head coach Dominick Porter will look to replenish a team that lost three of its top four hitters from last year and their go to setter, John Barry. The Royals may have found that player in Jesse Reist, who as a freshman last year, finished second on the team in kills with over 200 on the year.

Newcomers Dominican and Lakeland tied for seventh in the preseason poll. Dominican's program is brand new and brings in 16 freshmen that will look to jump right into competitive action. The Stars are coached by Dan Ames, who will take his new program for a trip to New York before they jump into CVC play. Ames turned to the local high school scene to build his program, bringing in three All-Area players in Charlie Spry, Zach Sinn and Alex Coyne, who was also named All-State.

Lakeland joins the CVC after spending their previous time as a club team. The Muskies were 28-19 last year during club play and are guided by second year head coach Chris Brandt. They return five starters and nine players from last year's team that won a club championship. They will be led by juniors Cole Aiazzi, Alec Redlich, and Dayton Erickson and senior Brett Kaczmarek. The team also brings in transfer Tyler Boyce and freshmen Tim Robbins and Matt Stolz.

Milwaukee Engineering will be under the direction of new head coach Wayne Schulz and takes over a team that finished 7-19 overall last season and 2-4 in the CVC. The Raiders will have to replace a pair of All-Conference performers in Jack Geary and Brian Main. The youthful Raiders, with just two seniors on this year's team, bring in five freshmen that will look to make a return trip to the CVC Tournament.

Mount St. Joseph, returning to the CVC after the program did not field a team last year, is picked 10th in the preseason poll. The Lions, led by first year head coach Ryan Lengerich, bring back two players in sophomore setter Luke Eschenbach and sophomore outside hitter Alec King. They also welcome junior opposite hitter Cesar Trigo de Serrano, a transfer from Mount Olive, and a pair of freshmen in Richie Planek, a High School All-American, and outside hitter Alex Vohland, a 2012 All-State performer.

Fontbonne is picked 11th in the 2014 poll after going 2-20 overall last season. The Griffins return four starters from last year's team. Second year head coach Mike Haston will rely on junior outside hitter Aaron Graue, an All-Conference performer last year. Sophomore libero Jimmy Stika is also back after finishing 9th in the nation in digs per set. Also back are sophomores Justin Winkelman and Dominic Prospero. Joining the team will be freshmen Zack Pelker and Brendan Keller.

Newcomer Marymount was picked 12th in the preseason poll. The Saints, much like fellow newcomer Dominican, are a new program that will be starting from the ground. They are coached by Hudson Bates with the first match in program history on January 17 against New Jersey City.

The CVC Preseason Poll is voted on by the league's head coaches. The 2014 men's volleyball season begins the weekend of January 16.

2014 CVC Preseason Poll