Volleyball | 8/3/2017 12:38:00 PM

NSIC Preseason Poll
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team has been picked to finish 10th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference according to a preseason poll of the league's coaches released on Thursday.

MSUM received 77 points in the poll, three ahead of 11th-place Upper Iowa. Defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul was selected as the preseason favorite, earning 10 first-place votes and 218 points. Southwest Minnesota State was second at 202 followed by Minnesota Duluth.

Junior libero Monica Vega was listed as the MSUM player to watch. The Ada, Minn., native was a two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Week last season and led MSUM with 583 digs (5.5 per set).  Sophomore Sarah Hagler is back after recording 224 kills and a team-high 93 blocks in 2016. Sophomore Courtney Sebitschka (182 kills) and sophomore Ellie Rutten (162 kills) also are back as part of the hitting corps.

MSUM opens on Sept. 1-2 at the Minot State Classic. The Dragons will face Montana State-Billings to start the event.