BU Volleyball slots in at No. 17 in Preseason Top 25
The BU volleyball team picked up a No. 17 ranking in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll in an announcement by the national office on Wednesday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Bellevue University volleyball team picked up a No. 17 ranking in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Preseason Coaches' Poll in an announcement by the NAIA's national office on Wednesday.
Despite the departures of three All-Americans from last year's squad, voters seemed inclined to give Bellevue's recent success on the national stage the benefit of the doubt.
The Bruins return three starters and eight letterwinners from last season's squad that finished with a 28-8 overall record, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the 15th time in school history. Bellevue tied for the 2022 North Star Athletic Association regular-season title, finishing with a 13-1 conference mark. Also returning for the Bruins is two-time All-American Eve Fountain who missed last season with an injury.
Reigning National Champion University of Jamestown sits atop the poll after collecting 18 of 19 first place votes. Corban University garnered the other first place tally and is ranked second. Eastern Oregon University, Concordia University Nebraska, and Northwestern University round out the top five.
Bellevue collected 252 points in the poll to nestle in at No. 17, one spot behind Indiana Wesleyan University and immediately ahead of College of St. Mary.
Viterbo is the lone other North Star Athletic Association institution represented in the poll. The V-Hawks, NSAA Tournament winners and regular season co-champions with BU last season, are ranked No. 7 with 423 points. BU and Viterbo meet Sept. 20 at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center and Oct. 20 in La Crosse, Wis. for a pair of matches which will likely shape the top spots in the conference standings.
The NSAA Postseason Tournament is slated to take place from Nov. 9-11 at the Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D. The tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament, which begins on Nov. 18 at campus sites.
Opening Round winners advance to the final site at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Pool Play begins on Nov. 29 and continues through Dec. 1 (each team in each pool will play two matches with a 'rest' day). The single elimination bracket play opens on Dec. 2, with the semifinals set for Dec. 4 and the National Championship Match scheduled for Dec. 5.
The Bruins open the 2023 season this Thursday, Aug. 17, with a 7 p.m. match at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.