BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The 2023 Winona State University volleyball season is set to be underway, with WSU sitting ninth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced this week. The NSIC has named Sidney Paulson as the WSU Player to Watch for the Warriors this upcoming season. 

Winona State will look to continue its winning culture under head coach Joe Getzin after coming up just short of making an appearance in the NSIC 2022 Conference Tournament. WSU finished tied for ninth in the 2022 conference standings with Upper Iowa University.

The Warriors look to continue to grow and compete at a high level this coming season. Head coach Joe Getzin states, “We have a young but veteran team returning who has grown substantially since last season. With the addition of five talented freshmen, we look to build on last spring’s success.” 

One of the returning veterans helping lead the 2023 campaign is the Preseason NSIC Player to Watch. Paulson, a senior from Jackson, Wis., had made 27 match appearances in a breakout 2022 campaign. Paulson finished  11th in the NSIC in kills/set (3.25) and 16th in total kills (309).  

Additional key contributors to watch this 2023 season alongside Paulson would be setter/defensive specialist Jaci Winchell, a sophomore from Cannon Falls, Minn, who has 909 assists in her debut season as a Warrior.  Taylor Pagel and Lydia Lange are two other key standouts the Warriors look to utilize in their 2023 campaign. Pagel played and started in 27 of the matches in the 2022 season, and Lange factored in 22 of the 27 matches. 

The 2022 season was a milestone for head coach Joe Getzin, as he surpassed the 350-win mark mid-season as the Warriors' mentor. Getzin was assisted by Kristine Frisch, Jackie Kiecker, and Mara Quam in their 2022 season and will be looking forward to having all three assistant coaches returning for their 2023 campaign. 

Winona State is set to start its season with a non-conference matchup and two non-conference tournaments before starting NSIC play on Sept. 14th. 

The Warriors start their season on the road facing Michigan Technological University on Aug. 31, followed by the NMU Tournament in Marquette, Mich. on Sept. 1st & 2nd. Warriors will then travel to Kenosha, Wis., for the Hampton Inn Invitational on Sept. 8 and 9. 

WSU will commence NSIC play on Sept 14, hosting the University of Sioux Falls in the home opener in McCown Gymnasium, home of the WNB Financial Court. The Warriors will then hit the road on Sept. 16th to face off with rival Minnesota State University- Mankato in Mankato, Minn. 

For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.