SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Summit League) – Defending regular-season champion South Dakota was picked to repeat as Summit League Volleyball champions, garnering 63 points and seven first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll released Wednesday by league officials.
The Coyotes have won at least a share of the regular season crown twice since joining the league and edged the 2019 Summit League Tournament champions Denver by six points to take the top spot. The Pioneers, who return 2019 Summit League Player of the Year Lydia Bartalo, were picked second with 57 total points and the remaining two first-place votes.
Only seven points behind the Pioneers was Omaha with 50 points as the Mavericks picked up the third-place spot in the poll for the third straight season. League newcomer Kansas City was picked to finish fourth with 41 points while North Dakota State tallied 37 points and was picked fifth. North Dakota (25) edged Oral Roberts (23) for sixth place while South Dakota State (20) and Western Illinois (8) rounded out the rankings. The 2020 volleyball season was postponed to the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic.
2020 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Rank | School | Points (1st) | |||
| 1. | South Dakota | 63 (7) | |||
| 2. | Denver | 57 (2) | |||
| 3. | Omaha | 50 | |||
| 4. | Kansas City | 41 | |||
| 5. | North Dakota State | 37 | |||
| 6. | North Dakota | 25 | |||
| 7. | Oral Roberts | 23 | |||
| 8. | South Dakota State | 20 | |||
| 9. | Western Illinois | 8 |
