Five-time defending NCAA Division II champion Concordia University of St. Paul is the preseason pick of coaches to win the 2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship. The Golden Bears have won nine straight league titles.
Minnesota Duluth is ranked second among 16 league teams in the poll released Thursday. The Bulldogs shared the 2011 NSIC title with Concordia and played in the Division II tournament, losing in the second round of regional play to Concordia. UMD finished 28-4.
Concordia junior All-American Kayla Koenecke of Delano, Minn., has been named league preseason player of the year. UMD junior outside hitter Kate Lange of Hibbing is listed by the league as a player to watch this season. She's a two-time All-NSIC pick who was on the 2011 Division II All-American second team.
The Bulldogs open the season Aug. 31 with matches against McKendree University and Truman State at Kirksville, Mo.
