For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - For the 15th consecutive season the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears have been picked by the league coaches in the NSIC Preseason Volleyball Poll. The Golden Bears are coming off a season in which they won the NSIC regular season title and the NCAA National Championship (their ninth in the last 11 years). CSP received all 15 first place votes to tally 225 points.
Southwest Minnesota State, which won the NSIC Tournament Championship last year, was picked second as the Mustangs received 210 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for own team). Minnesota Duluth was picked third in the poll with 194 points while Northern State was fourth with 176 points.
The 2018 NSIC Volleyball season will begin with non-conference matches on Thursday, August 23 while the NSIC schedule begins September 5-6. The 2018 NSIC regular season champion will be determined by the 20-game conference schedule. The top eight teams will play in the single elimination NSIC Volleyball Tournament on November 6, 9-10. Quarterfinals will be hosted on campus by the top four seeds while the semifinals and championship will be hosted by the highest remaining seed following the first round of play. NCAA regional play will be November 15-18 while the NCAA Championships will take place at the NCAA Sports Festival on November 29 to December 1st at A.J. Palumbo Center (Pittsburgh, PA) Hosted by Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and SportsPITTSBURGH.
NSIC Players to Watch - 2018
Preseason Players of the Year in Italics (More info at link above)
| # |
Name |
Pos |
HT |
YR |
School |
Hometown |
High School |
| 3 |
Courtney Place |
OH |
6’2 |
SR |
Augie |
Okabena, Minn. |
Southwest Star Concept |
| 12 |
Julie Touchett |
MB |
6’0 |
JR |
BSU |
Verona, Wis. |
Verona |
| 13 |
Elizabeth Mohr |
S |
5’7 |
SR |
CSP |
Eden Prairie, Minn. |
Eden Prairie |
| 11 |
Morgan Schnabel |
OH |
6’0 |
SO |
UMary |
Lehr, N.D. |
Wishek |
| 5 |
Callie Schapekahm |
MH |
6’0 |
SR |
UMC |
Eagan, Minn. |
Eagan |
| 9 |
Sarah Kelly |
RS/OH |
5”11 |
SR |
UMD |
Chaska, Minn. |
Chaska |
| 10 |
Morgan Olson |
RS/OH |
5’11 |
JR |
MSU |
Annandale, Minn. |
Annandale |
| 2 |
Monica Vega |
L |
5’5 |
SR |
MSUM |
Ada, Minn. |
Ada-Borup |
| 8 |
Shelby Spuller |
OH |
5’11 |
JR |
MINOT |
Dexter, Mich. |
Dexter |
| 8 |
Ashley Rozell |
S |
5’11 |
JR |
NSU |
Warner, S.D. |
Warner |
| 8 |
Makenna Rockeman |
OH |
6’0 |
SR |
USF |
Broomfield, Colo. |
Legacy |
| 1 |
Taylor Reiss |
OH |
5’10 |
SR |
SMSU |
Taunton, Minn. |
Minneota |
| 15 |
Clara Krenz |
L |
5’5 |
JR |
SCSU |
Oakdale, Minn. |
North St. Paul |
| 13 |
Malissa LeClaire |
S |
5’11 |
SR |
UIU |
St. Michael, Minn. |
St. Michael-Albertville |
| 6 |
Megan Gebhardt |
S |
5’10 |
SR |
WSC |
Norfolk, Neb. |
Lutheran High Northeast |
| 2 |
Taylor Goar |
OH |
5’10 |
SR |
WSU |
Champlin, Minn. |
Champlin Park |
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