V-Hawks Picked Second in Preseason Coaches Poll

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Volleyball team was picked to finish second in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) volleyball coaches preseason poll the league announced on Monday. The V-Hawks received 59 points in the poll, voted on by league coaches, just two points behind Bellevue (Neb.) (61).

The Bruins received five first place votes while Viterbo, who has been picked as the preseason favorite the previous seven season, received the final three.

The V-Hawks, who finished seventh in last year's postseason top 25 coaches poll, went a perfect 14-0 in league play last year, en route to a 39-2 season and an appearance in the national tournament. The V-Hawks will look to replace Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year Miah Garant, as well as All-Conference performers Maya Roberts, Katie Frohmader, and Abbey Johnson.

However, reigning NSAA Coach of the Year Ryan DeLong will return the conference Defensive Player of the Year in Adrianna Reinhart and First Team All-Conference outside hitter Kenzie Winkler.

Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish third with 47 points, followed by Valley City State (N.D.), whose 36 points just edged out Mayville State (N.D.) at 35. Presentation (S.D.) was sixth at 19 points, then Waldorf (Iowa) at 17, and Dickinson State in eighth at 14 points.

All NSAA members will be playing a 14-match schedule (7 matches at home and 7 matches on the road).

The conference season officially kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 14 with traveling partners playing each other.  Bellevue visits Dakota State, Dickinson State travels to Valley City State, Waldorf host Viterbo, and Presentation welcomes Mayville State.

The top six teams will qualify for the North Star conference postseason tournament on Nov. 11-12.  The postseason tournament is scheduled to take place at the Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D.

The NSAA postseason tournament's champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament, which is scheduled for Nov. 19 at campus sites.

The national tournament's opening round winners will move on to the final site at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  There will be a new format for the final site of the national tournament, where the teams will have a 'rest' day.  The pool play begins on Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 2 (each team in each pool will play two matches).  The single elimination bracket play opens on Dec. 3, with semifinals set for Dec. 5 and the championship match on Dec. 6.