SIOUX FALLS- With a little over two weeks before their season opener, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team got a boost of confidence with an appearance in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll released on Tuesday. Though they are not in the Top 25, the Cougars received 31 votes and one of the first teams out of the Top 25.
The Cougars finished 2018 with a Division-II program-best 20-10 overall record, including a 14-6 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. The Cougars also made their first appearance in the conference semifinals after upsetting Concordia, St. Paul in the NSIC Quarterfinals. Sioux Falls added to their historic season by finishing sixth in the Central Regional Rankings.
| Rank |
School |
Total Points Adjusted |
First Place Votes Adjusted |
| 1 |
Tampa |
1142 |
43 |
| 2 |
Cal State San Bernardino |
1040 |
0 |
| 3 |
Western Washington |
1023 |
1 |
| 4 |
Washburn |
981 |
2 |
| 5 |
Concordia - St. Paul |
931 |
0 |
| 6 |
Minnesota Duluth |
905 |
0 |
| 7 |
Lewis |
828 |
0 |
| 8 |
Northern State |
790 |
0 |
| 9 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
732 |
0 |
| 10 |
Tarleton State |
688 |
0 |
| 11 |
Nebraska-Kearney |
655 |
0 |
| 12 |
Ferris State |
561 |
0 |
| 13 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
548 |
0 |
| 14 |
Rockhurst |
512 |
0 |
| 15 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
487 |
0 |
| 16 |
Barry |
462 |
0 |
| 17 |
Central Missouri |
436 |
0 |
| 18 |
Drury |
369 |
0 |
| 19 |
Cal State L. A. |
288 |
0 |
| 20 |
Cal Poly Pomona |
244 |
0 |
| 20 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
244 |
0 |
| 22 |
Central Oklahoma |
179 |
0 |
| 23 |
Central Washington |
144 |
0 |
| 24 |
West Florida |
125 |
0 |
| 25 |
Wingate |
104 |
0 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Gannon 61; Colorado Mesa University 58; Michigan Tech 55; Wayne State (Neb.) 49; Azusa Pacific 47; Sioux Falls 31; Colorado School of Mines 30; Ashland 26; NW Missouri State 26; Chaminade 25; Florida Southern 23; American International 19; Saint Leo 19; Angelo State 16; Hillsdale 16; Illinois-Springfield 12; Dixie State-Utah 6; California State University San Marcos 5
Six teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 18 combined points.
