MINOT, N.D. – Minot State senior
Caton Pearcy was tabbed as the Beavers' Player to Watch as the NSIC announced the 2026 NSIC Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll and Preseason Players of the Year on Wednesday.
The 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Dickinson, North Dakota, was second in kills (191) and digs (295) for the Beavers last season, and looks to lead the way for Minot State as the team prepares for the 2026 season under new head coach Josh Wastvedt.
"Caton has been a steady, energizing leader throughout our program's transition, consistently setting the tone with her work ethic and commitment on and off the court," Coach Wastvedt said. "She's a true six-rotation competitor who embraces challenges and continues to elevate her game with every contact. Her growth as a smarter, more dynamic attacker has expanded her range and made her increasingly difficult to defend.
"Caton leads by example, supports her teammates, and carries a ceiling that makes her an easy choice as our player to watch this season."
Caton leads the way for a Beaver team tabbed as an underdog as Minot State was picked 16
th in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with 24 points.
Minot State begins the 2026 season hosting Mayville State for an exhibition match on Tuesday, August 18, at 6 p.m. at the MSU Dome, then opens the season in Springfield, Missouri, on August 28, playing Newman and Drury in the Drury Invitational. The Beavers make their regular-season home debut hosting Bemidji State in an NSIC match on Friday, September 11.
"There's a renewed and elevated energy within Minot State volleyball, and our returners have fully embraced the changes we've made since January," Wastvedt said. "That momentum is only strengthened by the six freshmen joining us, who bring competitiveness and excitement to the gym every day.
"We're prepared to play a stronger brand of volleyball built on disciplined defense and a more efficient offensive identity," Minot State's first-year coach added. "This group is hungry, connected, and ready to make noise as we push ourselves higher within the conference."
The NSIC's 2025 co-champion, Concordia-St. Paul, was picked to repeat as the conference champion with 220 points and 11 first-place votes, while fellow 2025 co-champion Wayne State was picked second with 207 points and 3 first-place votes. St. Cloud State was picked third with 199 points and 2 first-place votes.
Southwest Minnesota State was picked fourth with 177 points, Sioux Falls was picked fifth with 158 points, Minnesota State was picked sixth with 156 points, Minnesota Duluth was picked seventh with 143 points, Northern State was picked eighth with 140 points, Augustana and Winona State were picked ninth, each with 104 points, Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 11
th with 86 points, Jamestown was picked 12
th with 78 points, Bemidji State was picked 13
th with 59 points, Mary was picked 14
th with 40 points, Minnesota Crookston was picked 15
th with 25 points, and Minot State was picked 16
th with 24 points.
Concordia-St. Paul's junior outside hitter, Makenna Nold, the AVCA Division II National Player of the Year last season, was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
2026 NSIC Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st-place votes in parenthesis |
Points |
| 1 |
Concordia-St. Paul (11) |
220 |
| 2 |
Wayne State (3) |
207 |
| 3 |
St. Cloud State (2) |
199 |
| 4 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
177 |
| 5 |
Sioux Falls |
158 |
| 6 |
Minnesota State |
156 |
| 7 |
Minnesota Duluth |
143 |
| 8 |
Northern State |
140 |
| t9 |
Augustana |
104 |
| t9 |
Winona State |
104 |
| 11 |
Minnesota State Moorhead |
86 |
| 12 |
Jamestown |
78 |
| 13 |
Bemidji State |
59 |
| 14 |
Mary |
40 |
| 15 |
Minnesota Crookston |
25 |
| 16 |
Minot State |
24 |
