BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Minot State has been selected to finish 16^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason volleyball poll as selected by the league head coaches and announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
 
The Beavers, who finished the 2017 season with a 5-24 overall record, received 28 points in the voting among the conference head coaches.
 
Defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul earned the top spot in the poll with 15 first-place votes and 225 points. Southwest Minnesota State received one first-place vote and finished second with 210 points, while Minnesota Duluth (194 pts), Northern State (176 pts) and Wayne State (164 pts) rounded out the top five.
 
Minot State returns five starters and libero Karli Koza from last year's team. Shelby Spuller, who was named the Beavers player to watch, led the team with 302 kills and averaged 3.11 kills per set.
 
Minot State returns Emily Falldorf and Hayley Swain in the middle as that duo combined for 136 blocks last season. Falldorf also ranked second on the team with 198 kills, while Swain had 155 kills.
 
Kelsey Dewulf returns for her senior season as the starting setter after recording 826 assists.
 
Koza and senior Mekayla Gurley anchor the Beaver defense. Koza led the team with 500 digs, while Gurley was second on the team with 244 digs.
 
Jeanne Brenner played in all 29 matches and had 162 kills, while Shae Pedersen saw action in 27 matches and had 159 digs.
 
Minot State opens the 2018 season at the Minnesota State Moorhead Tournament on Aug. 24-25. The Beavers will open the home portion of their schedule on Sept. 8 versus Northern State.
 
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Volleyball Poll
1. Concordia-St. Paul (15) 225 pts
2. Southwest Minnesota State (1) 210 pts
3. Minnesota Duluth 194 pts
4. Northern State 176 pts
5. Wayne State 164 pts
6. Augustana 145 pts
7. Winona State 138 pts
8. Upper Iowa 130 pts
9. Sioux Falls 123 pts
10. Minnesota State 102 pts
11. St. Cloud State 89 pts
12. Minnesota State Moorhead 75 pts
13. Minnesota Crookston 50 pts
14. Mary 40 pts
15. Bemidji State 31 pts
16. Minot State 28 pts
first place votes in ( )