LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Oct. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team was chosen fourth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll released by the league office on Thursday morning.

Cal U was ranked fourth in the poll after finishing the 2019-20 season with a 19-11 overall record behind a 14-8 mark in conference action. The Vulcans advanced to the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament after earning their first post-season win in over a decade.

IUP was the preseason favorite in the PSAC West with seven first-place votes after winning back-to-back PSAC Championships, becoming the first school to repeat since 2010 and 2011. Mercyhurst was slotted second in the poll after advancing to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament while playing an independent schedule last year. Pitt-Johnstown was tabbed third and received the remaining first-place vote, followed by Cal U and Gannon at fourth and fifth, respectively. Slippery Rock was chosen sixth with Clarion, Edinboro and Seton Hill rounding out the poll.

In the PSAC East, Shippensburg was chosen the preseason favorite with seven first-place votes after advancing to the 2020 PSAC Championship. East Stroudsburg was tabbed second after posting three-straight, 20-win seasons, while West Chester and Millersville were selected third and fourth, respectively, with each school receiving one first-place vote. Kutztown was slotted fifth in the division, while Shepherd, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg and Mansfield rounded out the poll.

Cal U opens the season in two-plus weeks by facing Charleston (W.Va.) and Glenville State on Nov. 12-13 in a tip-off tournament hosted by the Golden Eagles in Charleston, West Virginia.