BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Tying for their highest ranking in the preseason coaches' poll, University of Sioux Falls Volleyball was slotted seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference coaches' poll, which was released by the league on Thursday morning. Junior right side hitter
Bria Barfnecht was cited as USF's player to watch this season.
USF's seventh-place billing matches their 2016 regular season finish and ties their highest ranking in the preseason coaches' poll, equaling the projection of the NSIC coaches before the 2014 season. USF finished the 2016 season with a 19-10 record overall, including a 13-7 record in the NSIC regular season schedule.
Reigning national champion Concordia-St. Paul was tabbed as the favorite, collecting 10 first-place votes and 218 points to sit atop the poll. Southwest Minnesota State earned three first-place votes, placing them second, while Minnesota Duluth picked up two first-place nods to sit third and Augustana received the final first-place billing, which helped them to fourth in the preseason poll. The Cougars picked up 146 points from the voting, the most they've received in the preseason coaches' poll since joining the league.
A 5-foot-10 right side hitter from Delano, Minn., Barfnecht heads into her junior season as a two-way force for the Cougars. She recorded 248 kills while hitting .279, second highest among returners, and her kill total is third among returners. Barfnecht wasn't just limited to offensive output as she was the top blocking non-middle blocker for USF last year, posting 84 blocks for an average of 0.80 per set. Barfnecht posted double-digit kills in nine matches last year and was named the Country Inn & Suites Invitational most valuable player.
Barfnecht will be joined by fellow juniors and second team All-NSIC performers
Makenna Rockeman and
Lexi Scott. USF's talented veteran squad is rounded out by seniors
Janelle Lam and
Sydney Schaap, who have both played in more than 120 matches in their career.
The Cougars open their season as hosts of the Country Inn & Suites Invitational on Sept. 1 and 2. They begin their 20-match NSIC schedule on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Wayne State before hosting crosstown rival Augustana on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 3 p.m.
