VOLLEYBALL: Bemidji State polled at 13th in ever-challenging NSIC
Aug. 9—BURNSVILLE — In arguably the best conference in Division II, the Bemidji State volleyball team will try to rise through the ranks of the NSIC. The Beavers were selected 13th with Tuesday's release of the preseason coaches' poll.
"I am excited for this year's team because they have brought a new level of excitement to the gym,"
head coach Kevin Ulmer
said in a release. "Their enthusiasm for learning and growing has been a breath of fresh air and we're confident it will contribute to their game day performances."
BSU earned 52 points in the poll to beat out U-Mary (50), Minnesota Crookston (27) and Minot State (25).
At the top of the poll, Concordia-St. Paul edged out St. Cloud State by a 217-213 margin. CSP also had a 9-7 edge in first-place votes. Wayne State (189 points) and Augustana (179) filled out the third and fourth spots in the poll.
Bemidji State junior Lauren Justesen was voted as the team's Player to Watch. The defensive specialist tallied 230 digs last year and also picked up 15 service aces.
Concordia-St. Paul's Jasmine Mulvihill was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Beavers finished the 2021 campaign 2-26 overall and 2-18 in conference play. They open the new season with the Northern Michigan Tournament on Aug. 26-27 in Marquette, Mich.
2022 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1-Concordia-St. Paul 217; 2-St. Cloud State 213; 3-Wayne State 189; 4-Augustana 179; T5-Minnesota Duluth 149; T5-Northern State 149; 7-Southwest MN State 146; 8-Winona State 141; 9-Minnesota State 115; 10-Upper Iowa 109; 11-Sioux Falls 98; 12-MSU Moorhead 61; 13-Bemidji State 52; 14-U-Mary 50; 15-Minnesota Crookston 27; 16-Minot State 25.
