Northwestern College is second in the 2015 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) preseason coaches’ volleyball poll released Tuesday afternoon.
Northwestern, the two-time defending conference champion earned three first place votes and totaled 101 points, trailing only Midland, last year’s runner-up, in the preseason poll. Midland earned five first place votes and totaled 110 points. Hastings (100 points) is third, followed by Dordt (96) in the four spot and Concordia (89, 1 first place vote) to round out the top five.
The Red Raiders return seven letterwinners off a 2014 team that won both the GPAC regular and postseason titles. They finished 15-1 in the GPAC, 33-5 overall, losing to #5 Viterbo (Wis.) in the first round of the 12-team tournament at the NAIA National Championship. Northwestern finished the year ranked 10th in the final NAIA coaches’ poll.
2015 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll:
Place – Team – Pts (1st Place Votes)
1. Midland – 110 (5)
2. Northwestern – 101 (3)
3. Hastings – 100 (3)
4. Dordt – 96
5. Concordia – 89 (1)
6. Briar Cliff – 70
7. Nebraska Wesleyan – 55
8. Doane – 54
9. College of Saint Mary – 44
10. Morningside – 30
11. Mount Marty College – 25
12. Dakota Wesleyan – 18
