Dominican chosen as volleyball coaches' preseason favorite
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- Dominican was chosen as the favorite in the Northern Athletics Conference's 2011 women's volleyball preseason coaches' poll with 163 points and seven first-place votes.
The Stars finished a game out of first place last season (10-2), but had one of their most successful seasons in history with a 26-10 overall record, and secured their first trip to the NCAA III Championship Tournament by claiming their first conference tournament title, sweeping their opponent in each of the three rounds of the league tourney.
Defending champion Concordia Wisconsin (23-9, 11-1) was tabbed in a tie for second with Edgewood (19-14, 10-2) with each team receiving 138 poll points. The Falcons received four first-place votes, while Edgewood received the remaining two.
Benedictine (24-10, 9-3) and Wisconsin Lutheran (19-13, 8-4) were netted for a tie in the fourth spot with 126 points apiece, while Maranatha (21-15, 5-7) took the last spot in the top half of the poll with 93 points. Marian, (10-22, 6-6), Concordia Chicago (11-16, 4-8) and Rockford (7-17, 6-6) took the sixth, seventh and eighth spots, which would fill out the eight-team conference tournament. The full preseason poll is available below.
The teams start the season late next week and the first conference matches of the season take place on Sept. 13. The winner of the conference tournament, which takes place Nov. 1-5, receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA III Championship Tournament.
2011 Northern Athletics Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Dominican (7), 163
2. Concordia Wisconsin (4), 138
Edgewood (2), 138
4. Benedictine, 126
Wisconsin Lutheran, 126
6. Maranatha, 93
7. Marian, 90
8. Concordia Chicago, 78
9. Rockford, 64
10. Lakeland, 61
11. MSOE, 51
12. Aurora, 39
13. Alverno, 16
first-place votes in parentheses
voted on by the conference's 13 head coaches
