LA GRANDE, Ore. – As the 2012-13 season begins to ramp up, the Cascade Conference has released their preseason polls, as selected by the coaches.  Evergreen men’s soccer had the highest ranking, predicted to finish fifth in the upcoming season.  Women’s soccer was selected eighth while volleyball was prognosticated to finish 10th in the final conference standings.

The Geoduck men’s soccer program picked up 32 points in the preseason poll to finish three points back of Warner Pacific in fourth place and two points ahead of College of Idaho in sixth position.  Concordia earned all eight first place votes to earn selection as the favorite to win a third straight conference crown.

Evergreen’s women’s soccer team earned the eighth spot in the preseason rankings with 31 points, just one point back of seventh-place Oregon Tech and one point ahead of Eastern Oregon in ninth.  The Concordia women also were unanimous selections to win the conference title, which would be their 15th in 16 seasons.

After struggling in 2011, the Geoduck volleyball program has reloaded and is looking to surprise some teams in 2012.  They will have plenty of opportunity to move up in the standings after being selected 10th by the coaches in the preseason poll.  College of Idaho was the unanimous choice to repeat as Cascade Conference champions.

The athletic year kicks off on Aug. 17 when the men’s soccer team plays host to Trinity Lutheran in a non-conference match.  Volleyball will open up their season on Aug. 23 in Spokane against Carroll College while women’s soccer has their first official kick on Sep. 1 at home against Menlo.