The Northern State volleyball team was picked to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches' poll.
The Wolves finished with 137 points in the poll, just behind Minnesota State and Winona State who tied for sixth with 142 points. NSU posted a 19-11 record last year, including going 13-7 in league play, the program's best mark since 2001. The Wolves also return all-conference performers in Kelsey Chambers and Drew Smith.
Chambers was tabbed as the Wolves' player to watch in the preseason release. The sophomore outside hitter was named second-team All-NSIC as a freshman, after appearing in 105-of-106 sets on the season. The 5-foot-11 Chambers was second on the team in kills with 292 and recorded 53 total blocks on the year. She finished third on the team with 22 service aces and 235 digs and ended the year with an attack percentage of .236. She recorded a career-high 19 kills against Minnesota State-Moorhead and Minnesota-Crookston.
Six-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul was picked as the favorite in the NSIC for the 10th-straight year. The Golden Bears received 15 of the possible 16 first-place votes. Minnesota-Duluth received the other.
NSIC Preseason Poll|
Team (first-place votes) Total points
1. Concordia-St. Paul (15) 225
2. Minnesota Duluth (1) 209
3. Southwest Minn. State 195
4. Wayne State 183
5. Augustana 156
T-6. Minnesota State 142
T-6. Winona State 142
8. Northern State 137
9. MSU Moorhead 118
10. Upper Iowa 95
11. Minnesota-Crookston 90
12. Sioux Falls 71
13. St. Cloud State 66
14. Bemidji State 35
15. Minot State 31
16. U-Mary 25