WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference announced its 2025 men's golf preseason poll on Friday, with the West Liberty University Hilltoppers selected sixth by the league's head coaches.

The Hilltoppers earned 48 points in the voting, placing just one point behind both Fairmont State and West Virginia Wesleyan, who tied for fourth with 49 points. Glenville State (55 points) was picked third, while defending MEC champion Charleston (81 points, nine first-place votes) and Davis & Elkins (67 points) claimed the top two spots. Fairmont State collected the only other first-place vote.

The 2025 season marks the start of a new era for West Liberty under first-year head coach Noah Seivertson, who takes over the program after wrapping up a standout playing career for the Hilltoppers last spring. Seivertson brings firsthand experience of competing in the MEC and will now look to guide his alma mater up the conference standings.

The Hilltoppers will aim to build momentum throughout the fall and position themselves for a strong showing when the MEC Championships return to the Cobb Course at Glade Springs on Oct. 6-8.

Charleston will look to defend its league title after placing three golfers in the top five at last year's championship. Davis & Elkins, meanwhile, captured the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional crown in 2024 and advanced to the NCAA Championships.

Behind Charleston, Davis & Elkins, Glenville State, Fairmont State, West Virginia Wesleyan, and West Liberty, the rest of the poll included Concord (38), Wheeling (36), West Virginia State (17), and Point Park (10).

The Hilltoppers are set to open the 2025 season on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Wheeling Invitational in St. Clairsville, Ohio.