ANNVILLE, PA (January 4, 2021) -- For the first time in nearly two years, the King's College men's volleyball team is preparing to compete in their second varsity season. With the first contest just 12 days away, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) has released the 2022 Preseason Poll, and the Monarchs have been selected to finish eighth overall as voted on by the 10 conference coaches.

King's received 23 total points, just three points behind seventh-placed Eastern University (26 points) and two points ahead of ninth-seeded Widener University (21 points). The 2021 MAC Champions from Messiah University earned the top spot in the poll with 81 total points and nine of the 10 first-place votes. Stevens (71 points), Stevenson University (61 points), and Arcadia University (59 points) round out the top four in the polls.

The Monarchs return seven players from its inaugural season and looks to incorporate the addition of eight newcomers to the King's men's volleyball program. Returning for the Monarchs is junior Joe Herman who led the offense with 262 kills at 3.40 kills per set, hitting .321, as well as the defense with 140 digs at 1.82 digs per set for the shortened season. Junior setter George Beck tallied 658 of the Monarchs 746 assists in the abbreviated season in 2020, while the middle hitter duo of junior Sam Capwell and senior Matt Piontkowski recorded 179 and 175 kills, respectively.

Head coach Bernie Kachinko returns in the program's second varsity season after recording a 17-6 overall record, as their 17 team wins ranked third overall in NCAA Division III before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kachinko looks to lead the Monarchs to another successful season and their first MAC playoff appearance in program history.

King's opens their 2022 schedule at home on Sunday, November 16 with a doubleheader against Neumann University, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium. MAC play begins for the Monarchs on the road at Messiah on February 8 before their MAC home opener on February 16 against cross-town rival Wilkes in McGrane Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.

MAC Preseason Poll (1st Place Votes):
1 - Messiah University - 81 (9)
2 - Stevens - 71
3 - Stevenson  University - 61
4 - Arcadia University - 59
5 - Alvernia University - 50
6 - Misericordia University - 44
7 - Eastern University - 26
8 - King's College - 23
9 - Widener University - 21
10 - Wilkes University - 14