North Dakota State Picked to Win Summit League Volleyball Title

ELMHURST, Ill. - After capturing its third championship in four years, two-time defending Summit League Volleyball Champion North Dakota State was selected as the preseason favorite to repeat in a vote of the league's nine head coaches.

The Bison, looking to win their third-straight league title and fourth in five years, collected six first-place votes and 62 total points to lead the poll.  Fort Wayne came in second with 58 points and the final three first-place tallies.  Oakland and South Dakota State tied for third with 43 points, while five points separated IUPUI and South Dakota in fifth and sixth.  Rounding out the poll were Kansas City (23 points), Western Illinois (13 points) and league newcomer Omaha (11 points).

The regular season begins Aug. 24 with all nine teams competing in non-league tournaments.  Summit League play starts Sept. 14 as eight-of-nine teams go head-to-head, including Omaha's first-ever league match as it hosts South Dakota State. The top four teams in the regular season standings will compete for The Summit League Volleyball Championship at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse in Fargo, N.D., Nov. 16-17. The tournament champion will earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

North Dakota State Bison (26-9 Overall, 16-2 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 3+Libero/3 | Letterwinners R/L: 6/3 | Newcomers: 5

Head Coach (Year): Kari Thompson (2^nd)

Key Returnees: Megan Lambertson, MH (1^st Team All-League, .410 hitting pct., 308 kills, 81 blocks), Brynn Joki, OH (2^nd Team All-League, 397 kills, 3.23 kps, 377 digs, 3.07 dps); Lauren Cammack, OH (233 kills, 142 digs); Andrea Henning, L (547 digs, 4.41 dps)

Fort Wayne Mastodons (21-9 Overall, 14-4 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 4+Libero/2 | Letterwinners R/L: 8/4 | Newcomers: 6

Head Coach (Year): Kelley Hartley Hutton (14^th)

Key Returnees: Emily Spencer, OH (Freshman of the Year, 1^st Team All-League, All-Freshman Team, 455 kills, 3.79 kps, 359 digs); Tessa McGill, L (2^nd Team All-League, 653 digs, 5.44 dps, 33 aces); Megan Steenhuysen, S (2^nd Team All-League, 1,333 assists, 11.11 aps); Kendall Wienkes, OH (193 kills, 279 digs)

Oakland Golden Grizzlies (18-10 Overall, 12-6 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 4/3 | Letterwinners R/L: 9/8 | Newcomers: 7

Head Coach (Year): Rob Beam (6^th)

Key Returnees: Meghan Bray, OH (1^st Team All-League, 389 kills, 3.54 kps, 358 digs, 3.25 dps); Taylor Humm, OH (All-Freshman Team, 177 kills, 230 digs, 3.11 dps); Brittany Holbrook, MH (250 kills, 91 blocks); Alli Kirk, DS (603 digs, 5.43 dps)

South Dakota State Jackrabbits (13-20 Overall, 5-13 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 4+Libero/2 | Letterwinners R/L: 9/4 | Newcomers: 4

Head Coach (Year): Phil McDaniel (2^nd)

Key Returnees: Kelli Fiegen, MH (1^st Team All-League, 422 kills, .346 hitting pct., 3.49 kps, 118 blocks); Kaitlin Klingemann, MH (304 kills, 71 blocks, 34 aces); Lexi Fowler, S (1,192 assists, 9.85 aps, 297 digs); Shay Birath, L (641 digs, 5.30 dps, 20 aces)

IUPUI Jaguars (15-16 Overall, 8-10 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 4/1+Libero | Letterwinners R/L: 10/2 | Newcomers: 3

Head Coach (Year): Steve Payne (16^th)

Key Returnees: Bethany Fogler, MH (220 kills, 138 blocks, 1.17 bps); Moriah Fair, OH (347 kills, 3.07 kps, 304 digs); Kelsey Hoefer, RS/OH (316 kills, 2.82 kps); Alexis Meeks, S (1,173 assists, 9.94 aps, 285 digs)

South Dakota Coyotes (14-18 Overall, 7-11 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 4+Libero/2 | Letterwinners R/L: 10/3 | Newcomers: 5

Head Coach (Year): Matt Houk (5^th)

Key Returnees: Kendall Krittenbrink, OH (2^nd Team All-League, All-Freshman Team, 465 kills, 4.23 kps, 221 digs); Natalie Walseth, MH (258 kills, 102 blocks); Tori Kroll (1,206 assists, 9.73 aps, 307 digs); Riley Haug, DS (444 digs, 3.67 dps, 41 aces)

Kansas City Kangaroos (12-17 Overall, 6-12 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 3/3+Libero | Letterwinners R/L: 5/8 | Newcomers: 8

Head Coach (Year): Christi Posey (2^nd)

Key Returnees: Ella Meier, S (816 assists, 7.03 aps, 360 digs); Brittany Fossier, MH (74 blocks, 1.04 bps, 92 kills), Emily Lucas, OH (249 kills, 204 digs)

Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks (12-18 Overall, 3-15 Summit League)

Starters R/L: 5/2 | Letterwinners R/L: 9/5 | Newcomers: 3

Head Coach (Year): April Hall (1^st)

Key Returnees: Ann Miller, OH (All-Freshman Team, 263 kills, 349 digs); Bridget Murphy, DS (580 digs, 5.98 dps); Molly Murphy, DS (312 digs, 43 aces); Sarah Fetter, S (975 assists, 9.56 aps, 236 digs)

Omaha Mavericks (5-23 Overall)

Starters R/L: 1/5+Libero | Letterwinners R/L: 5/7 | Newcomers: 5

Head Coach (Year): Rose Shires (23^rd)

Key Returnees: Natalie Ebke, OH (320 kills, 2.99 kps, 309 digs); Amy Roberts, DS (239 digs)