AVCA Division II 2015 Postseason Coaches Top 25 Poll (Dec. 14, 2015)

Despite being shut out by the regional tournament selection process for the NCAA II National Tournament, the University of Minnesota Duluth holds a No. 10 ranking in the Postseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 Poll released Monday. The Bulldogs had been ranked No. 5 in the final regular season poll.

The top spot belongs to Wheeling Jesuit University, crowned NCAA II National Champions after knocking off No. 2 Palm Beach Atlantic in the tournament finals. Worth noting, No. 10 UMD (23-8) knocked off the champion Cardinals in both of their meetings on Sept. 4 and 12 during the regular season. Wayne State (Neb.) College holds the top spot among Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools at No. 3, having reached the Elite Eight after ousting No. 4 Concordia University, St. Paul in the NCAA II Central Region final. Also ranked for the NSIC are No. 14 Northern State University, another team left out of NCAA postseason play, No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State University, and No. 22 Winona State University.

The University of Central Missouri, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Washburn University, all chosen to represent the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in the NCAA II Central Region tournament rank No. 11, 12, and 18, respectively.

The Bulldogs bid farewell to a group of seniors that made an indelible mark on program history. Setter Ashley Hinsch finished her career with four All-America selections and the second-most career assists (5,641) in program history. Middle blocker Monica Turner topped the record book in both career total blocks (386) and career hitting percentage (.361). Outside hitter Mariah Scharf finished with 1,281 career kills, ninth-most all-time at UMD. Defensive specialist Sheenagh Caroline earned three-straight NSIC All-Academic Team selections. The team will take the No. 10 ranking into the offseason as the Bulldogs prepare for what will be a very different team in 2016.