Surprise, surprise - NSIC volleyball coaches tabbed Concordia-St. Paul to finish atop the league in a preseason poll released today.
It's the 14th consecutive year conference coaches have picked the Golden Bears (218 points, 10 first-place votes) to finish first.
Minnesota Duluth came in third, behind second-place Southwest Minnesota State, which had 202 points and three first-place votes. The Bulldogs received 201 points and two first-place votes.
Concordia-St. Paul, which claimed its eighth national championship last season, will have a new look this fall after graduating a senior class that included five former All-Americans.
UMD won its first 21 matches in 2016 and finished tied for third in the NSIC with Augustana.
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The Bulldogs begin practice Aug. 14 and open the season Sept. 1 at the Nova Southeastern Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Volleyball
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NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Concordia-St. Paul (10) 218
2. SW Minn. State (3) 202
3. Minnesota Duluth (2) 201
4. Augustana (1) 172
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5. Winona State 171
6. Wayne State 157
7. Sioux Falls 146
8. Northern State 133
9. Minn. State-Mankato 113
10. Minn. State-Moorhead 77
11. Upper Iowa 74
12. Minnesota-Crookston 71
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13. St. Cloud State 70
14. Mary 54
15. Bemidji State 46
16. Minot State 15
