BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced the preseason coaches' poll for the 2025 volleyball season. Minnesota State Moorhead was selected 12th in the initial rankings with junior Raiah Mandell tabbed as the Dragon 'player to watch'.

MSUM earned 77 points in the poll which was topped by St. Cloud State with 212 points and eight first-place votes. Concordia-St. Paul (4) and Southwest Minnesota State (4) claimed the number two and three spots and the remaining first--place votes. The Dragons return 16 student-athletes to the fold in 2025, following a 2024 campaign which saw MSUM go 9-17 overall with four league victories. 

"Our entire team has grown this offseason from experience and skill. We have a committed group of returning student-athletes who have established a positive team culture that prioritizes the success of the team and growth of the individual," said MSUM head volleyball coach Kari Thompson, who enters her third season at the helm in 2025. "We add some competitive incoming freshmen this year and will have experience and depth at every position leading to a very balanced team."

Mandell earns the 'player to watch' nod after seeing steady improvement throughout her sophomore season in 2024. The Mounds View, Minn., native played in all 26 matches for Moorhead a season ago, concluding the year with 88 sets played. Mandell registered 149 kills and 33 total blocks a season ago to go along with a .159 hitting percentage. Of her 33 blocks, 24 were tabbed as assisted blocks with Mandell clipping 1.69 kills per set mark. 

"Raiah has the potential to be a force at the net and has showed that in matches her sophomore season. Having experience as a middle gives her the ability to be diverse in her offensive options and to always be an offensive option," said Thompson of Mandell. "Her blocking has the ability to alter the offensive options of our opponents on every play. Raiah's on court impact will continue to grow as she has been working on her overall game this offseason."

MSUM is slated to open the 2025 season as part of the Dallas Classic, hosted by Dallas Baptist University. The tournament will see the Dragons play four matches across two days beginning with a matchup against St. Edward's on Friday, September 5 beginning at 11:30 a.m.