The Wayne State volleyball team is ranked 13th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Div. II Top 25 preseason coaches poll.
The Wildcats received a total of 602 points in voting conducted by various Div. II coaches across the country. It is the 103rd consecutive national ranking for the WSC volleyball program dating back to Sept. 28, 2009.
As has been the case for several years, the Northern Sun Conference and Central Region dominate the AVCA poll. The NSIC is represented by seven teams, including top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul, No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 5 Winona State, No. 7 Minnesota Duluth, No. 10 Augustana, the Wildcats and 25th ranked Northern State. Other Central Region schools include MIAA teams Nebraska-Kearney (3), Washburn (16), Central Oklahoma (18) and No. 21 Central Missouri.
Wayne State returns four starters from last year’s team that was 24-8 overall and qualified for the NCAA Div. II Volleyball Tournament for the 11th time in 12 years. The Wildcats, ranked sixth in the NSIC preseason volleyball coaches poll, open the 2017 season on Friday, Sept. 1, facing Rollins (Fla.) at 11 a.m. in the Colorado Mines Tournament in Golden, Colo.
The AVCA Div. Top 25 is as follows:
1. Concordia-St. Paul
2. Southwest Minnesota State
3. Nebraska-Kearney
4. Alaska-Anchorage
5. Winona State
6. Palm Beach Atlantic
7. Minnesota Duluth
8. Lewis
9. Angelo State
10. Augustana (SD)
11. Wheeling Jesuit
12. Western Washington
13. Wayne State (Neb.)
14. Ferris State
15. Cal State San Bernardino
16. Washburn
17. Tampa
18. Central Oklahoma
19. Colorado School of Mines
20. Metro State
21. Central Missouri
22. Concordia (Calif.)
23. Rockhurst
24. Northern State
25. Tarleton State
