BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth volleyball team was slotted third in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Wednesday morning.
The Bulldogs received 165 points after tying for second in the league a year ago with a 17-3 record. After falling in the NSIC Tournament semifinals, UMD earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The Bulldogs won their first round match over Washburn University (Kan.) before falling to NSIC rival Concordia University-St. Paul in the region semifinal to finish 27-5 overall and ranked seventh nationally in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll. The Bears edged last year's NSIC regular season champion Wayne State College (Neb.) by one first place vote to be this year's NSIC preseason favorite.
UMD lose just one starter from last year's squad and return much of the team's production from a year ago. In fact, Minnesota Duluth returns 78% of its offensive output from 2022.
Orchestrating the Bulldogs attack will be fifth-year setter
Madison Gordon. Gordon, a Player to Watch by the NSIC, recorded career-highs in assists (1,286), kills (56) and points (98.5) a season ago. Gordon was third in the NSIC in 2022, averaging 11.26 assists/set in league matches.
First Team All-NSIC performers in right-side hitter
Samantha Paulsen and outside hitter
Cianna Selbitschka return to the court for the Bulldogs. As do Second Team All-NSIC middle blockers
Grace Daak and
Hope Schjenken.
Kaylyn Madison also returns to her libero spot after registering nearly four digs per set last season.
The big hole to fill for the Bulldogs is outside hitter
Sydney Lanoue, who led the team in kills (363) last season. Lanoue was named to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team.
The Bulldogs open their season at the Ferris State University (Mich.) Invitational on September 1 against Adelphi University (N.Y.) and the host Ferris State. UMD has its home opener the following week when the Bulldogs host the four-team Up North Preseason Tournament, starting with Michigan Tech University on Thursday, September 7. NSIC play then begins with a trip to the University of Mary (N.D.) on Friday, September 15.
