V-Hawks Favorite to Claim NSAA Crown

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) has officially released it's 2023 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, and Viterbo has been picked as the favorite to take home the league title.

The V-Hawks (30-8 overall record in 2022) collected six out of seven first place votes for a total of 48 points in the poll. Bellevue University (Neb.) (28-8) received the final first place vote, finishing second in the poll with 43 points.

The two teams shared the regular season title last season, both posting 13-1 records while beating the other on their home floors. The V-Hawks took the rubber match in the conference tournament championship for their eighth straight NSAA Conference Tournament Crown.

The V-Hawks look to continue the streak, returning Second-Team All-Americans Kenzie Winker and Jada Mitchell, as well as Honorable Mention Grace Rohde. Mitchell was also named the conference Offensive and Freshman of the Year, and Head Coach Ryan DeLong was the Coach of the Year.

Mayville State (N.D.) (17-18) took third place with 31 points, just two ahead of Dakota State (S.D.) (17-17) with 29. The two squads tied with for third place with even 7-7 records in last year's NSAA standings.

Valley City State (N.D.) (11-17) had 21 points for fifth place in the poll, while Waldorf (Iowa) (11-13) and Dickinson State (N.D.) (4-23) tied for sixth with 12 points apiece.

All NSAA members will be playing a 12-match conference schedule (6 matches at home and 6 matches on the road).

The conference season officially kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 13 with traveling partners playing each other.  Dakota State travels to Bellevue, while Viterbo hosts Waldorf.  Valley City State visits Dickinson State.  Mayville State won't open their North Star conference play until Sept. 21 at VCSU.

The top six teams will qualify for the North Star conference postseason tournament, which will be extended to a three-day tournament instead of two-day tournament.  The quarterfinals begin on Nov. 9, with the semifinals being played on Friday evening, Nov. 10.  The championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m.

The NSAA postseason tournament is slated 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 on Nov. 18 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.  The pool play begins on Nov. 29 and continues through Dec. 1 (each team in each pool will play two matches with a 'rest' day).  The single elimination bracket play opens on Dec. 2, with semifinals set for Dec. 4 and the championship match on Dec. 5.