BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Winona State University volleyball team has been tabbed seventh in the highly-competitive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the league announced Tuesday in the release of its 2018 preseason coaches' poll.
The Warriors are coming off a 21-8 (15-5 NSIC) season a year ago, notching their third straight 20-win campaign – a feat that has only occurred one other time in program history. Winona State went undefeated on the road in regular season conference play and finished the 2017 season fifth in the NSIC standings.
Winona State was ranked within the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 for the duration of the 2017 season, never falling below No. 17, but came up short of an NCAA Tournament berth when the regional fields were announced. The NSIC had seven teams ranked in the Top 25 at tournament time, however only four were granted NCAA bids.
Winona State was ranked No. 19 in the 2017 Division II AVCA postseason poll and the 2018 preseason poll is expected to be released in the coming days.
Head coach Joe Getzin is at the helm for his fifth season with the Warriors and welcomes back a pair of All-Conference players. Senior Maria Wrage set a single-season program record last year with a .357 hitting percentage en route to All-NSIC recognition for the first time in her career. Taylor Goar returns for her final season of eligibility after missing 2017 due to injury. The two-time All-NSIC First Team selection has floored 1,061 kills in three seasons and was named to the 2016 NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team.
Seniors Jordan Runge and Sophie Wilker, along with junior Alexis Bass, round out the Warriors' upperclassmen. Sophomore libero Becca Pagel started in all 29 matches as a freshman and right side Kate Masberg was a major contributor in the Warriors' attacking game last year. Sophomore Bre Maloney will navigate the WSU offense as the new starting setter.
Winona State welcomes seven new freshman to the roster this year.
The Warriors open the 2018 season with a four-game tournament hosted by Ferris State University on Friday, August 24. Winona State's first home match in McCown Gymnasium is slated for Thursday, August 6 at 6 p.m.
