The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) announced Monday that the University of Minnesota Duluth Volleyball Team has been picked to finish eighth in the conference as voted by league coaches. It was also announced that junior right side hitter Madeline Guetzkow (Mayer, Minn.) was named UMD's Player to Watch entering the 2025 season.
 
"We are excited about the upcoming season, as we bring in a large core of new players that should bring high energy, excitement, and competition to our gym," head coach Jim Boos said of his 2025 squad. "We look forward to the challenges ahead and are excited to see how this group gels and becomes a cohesive unit."
 
Guetzkow will serve as one of UMD's team leaders this season, as she is one of seven returning letterwinners on a Bulldogs team that graduated eight seniors at the end of 2024 and welcomes nine freshmen in 2025. The junior averaged 2.45 points and 2.19 kills per game, and added 47 total blocks, each of which ranked third on the team, in helping lead UMD to a 15-11 overall record and an 8-10 NSIC mark.
 
"Madeline brings five-tool ability to the table, as well as experience on the floor from this past season," Boos said. "Her positive attitude and infectious energy will help lead a very young team into NSIC play. Her ability to bring out the best in herself and her teammates will be needed as the team learns and grows together."
 
The Bulldogs were selected behind reigning conference champs St. Cloud State (212 points; 8 first-place votes) Concordia University, St. Paul (208; 4), Southwest Minnesota State (202; 4), Wayne State (188), Northern State (170), Sioux Falls (133) and Winona State (132). UMD received 130 points, seven points ahead of ninth place selection Minnesota State.
 
The 2025 season will get underway for UMD against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 5 as part of the McKendree Invitational in Lebanon, Ill. The Bulldogs will also face host McKendree, Purdue Northwest and University of Missouri-St. Louis during the two-day event.
 
Their home-opener is slated for Thursday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. vs. Northern Michigan as part of the Up North Preseason Tournament at Romano Gymnasium. The contest will be televised on My9 Sports.
 
"There are many unknowns as we head into the preseason, so those first two weekends will be crucial in learning more about ourselves and preparing for the gauntlet of competition that the NSIC will once again be," Boos concluded.