ELMHURST, Ill. – North Dakota State was fifth in the Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coach Poll. NDSU tied for fifth with Omaha with 22 points.
 
Three-time defending champion Denver was first with 47 points overall and five of a possible eight first place votes. South Dakota was second with 45 points and received the remaining three first place votes. Oral Roberts was third with 35 and Fort Wayne was fourth with 33.
 
North Dakota State finished the 2016 season with a 14-18 record including 11-5 in the Summit League. The Bison won eight of their final 11 matches before falling to South Dakota in the league tournament semifinals. NDSU will be directed by interim head coach Jennifer Lopez, who was an assistant the past two seasons. Lopez was the Summit League Setter of the Year, Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 2011 as a senior for North Dakota State.
 
The Bison return seven players and four starters including Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Mikaela Purnell, all-freshman team outside hitter Alex Erickson, along with setter Brianna Rasmusson and middle blocker Jessica Jorgensen.
 
Purnell, a 5-foot-9 junior from Excelsior, Minn., was named to the Summit League "Players to Watch List". Purnell ranked third nationally, averaging 5.70 digs per set and collected 479 overall last season.
 
North Dakota State is scheduled to host the Green & Gold scrimmage at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. Admission is free.
 
The Bison open the regular season at 4 p.m. Central Time Friday, Aug. 25, against Boise State in the Arizona State Sun Devils Volleyball Classic.
 
2017 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank   School                         Points (1st)                  2016 Record (League Play)
1.         Denver                        47 (5)                           23-9 (13-3)
2.         South Dakota              45 (3)                           25-7 (13-3)
3.         Oral Roberts               35                                17-15 (8-8)
4.         Fort Wayne                 33                                13-18 (9-7)
T5.       North Dakota State     22                                14-18 (11-5)
T5.       Omaha                        22                                8-22 (5-11)
7.         South Dakota State    12                                5-23 (4-12)
8.         Western Illinois            8                                  4-28 (1-15)
 
#SummitVB "Players to Watch" List
Claire Grove | Outside Hitter | Western Illinois
Brittany Jessen | Setter | South Dakota
Becca Latham | Outside Hitter | Denver
Elizabeth Loschen | Outside Hitter | South Dakota
Laura Milos | Outside Hitter | Oral Roberts
Sydney O'Shaughnessy | Setter | Omaha
Mikaela Purnell | Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist | North Dakota State
Nicole Rightnowar | Outside Hitter | Fort Wayne
Ashlynn Smith | Outside Hitter | South Dakota State