OGDEN, Utah (August 11, 2015) - In a vote by the league’s head volleyball coaches, Idaho State was selected as a narrow favorite to win the 2015 Big Sky Conference title.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason poll, which was released Tuesday by the league office.
Defending regular-season champion Idaho State earned 108 points and a league-high four first-place votes. ISU put together a 15-1 conference record and went 23-9 overall in 2014, earning the top seed and tournament-hosting rights. They knocked off Southern Utah and edged Northern Arizona in a five-set thriller before falling to No. 3 seed Northern Colorado in the Championship. The Bengals’ only conference losses came against UNC, going 17-0 against the rest of the Big Sky including the tournament. New Head Coach Rick Reynolds takes over an ISU team that returns 2014 Big Sky MVP Tressa Lyman and first-team selection Makenzie Filer.
Northern Arizona was close behind in second, grabbing 106 points and three first-place votes. NAU was 21-8 overall and 11-5 in conference play last season, earning the No. 5 seed in the tournament. They defeated Idaho in the quarterfinals, but were outlasted 3-2 by ISU in the semis. The Lumberjacks were stout defensively in 2014, finishing in the top 10 nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.147) and blocks per set (2.96). Head Coach Ken Murphy returns five starters this season, including three-time All-Big Sky selection Janae Vander Ploeg at outside hitter.
North Dakota was slotted third in the poll with 101 points and three first-place votes. UND finished atop the Big Sky North division with a 13-3 conference record and a school-record 26 wins overall. They were knocked off by eventual tournament champion Northern Colorado in the 2014 semifinals. North Dakota led the Big Sky in total blocks, digs and total attacks in its first season under Head Coach Mark Pryor. UND brings back 2014 Big Sky Freshman of the Year Faith Dooley and Libero of the Year McKenzie Hart.
Northern Colorado also nabbed 101 points, but was slotted fourth with its two first-place votes. The Bears rolled as the third seed in the 2014 conference tournament, not dropping a set in three-straight sweeps over Portland State, UND and ISU to claim their fourth title in the past six tournaments. UNC went on to face Colorado in the NCAA Tournament first round, falling 3-1. 2014 Big Sky Coach of the Year Lyndsey Oates returns two second-team selections in Ashley Guthrie and Big Sky Tournament MVP Kendra Cunningham.
Idaho was slotted fifth in the poll with 84 points. In their first season back with the Big Sky since 1995, the Vandals went 11-5 in league action. Idaho topped the league in hitting percentage during conference matches in 2014 under veteran Head Coach Debbie Buchanan. Senior setter Meredith Coba led the Big Sky in assists last season and was a first-team selection.
Portland State was picked to finish sixth with 65 points. After claiming back-to-back regular season titles, PSU finished sixth in the conference in 2014, its lowest finish under Head Coach Michael Seemann. After losing nine letter-winners from last season, the Vikings bring in a very young squad with seven freshman and one upperclassmen. PSU has eight 20-win seasons in the last 10 years.
Montana was chosen seventh with 53 points. The Grizzlies struggled overall in 2014, but mustered up a 6-10 Big Sky record to claim a spot in the tournament. Montana enters its first season under former Utah assistant coach Brian Doyon. Second-team conference selection Capri Richardson and West Virginia transfer Hannah Sackett look to lead the Grizzlies this season.
Rounding out the poll was Eastern Washington (8th, 52 points), Southern Utah (9th, 34), Sacramento State (T-10th, 30), Weber State (T-10th, 30) and Montana State (12th, 28).
The 2015 season begins August 28 and conference play opens September 23.
The Big Sky enters its second-straight season with its two-division format. Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota and Northern Colorado will be in the North Division. Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State will be in the South Division.
The top eight teams will advance to the 2015 Big Sky Championship. The top eight will be decided by overall conference winning percentage, regardless of division.
The Big Sky Championship will be November 19-21 and will be hosted by the regular-season champion.
2015 Volleyball Preseason Poll
Team Points
1. Idaho State 108 (4)
2. Northern Arizona 106 (3)
3. North Dakota 101 (3)
4. Northern Colorado 101 (2)
5. Idaho 84
6. Portland State 65
7. Montana 53
8. Eastern Washington 52
9. Southern Utah 34
T10. Sacramento State 30
T10. Weber State 30
12. Montana State 28
(Number of first place votes in parenthesis)