The Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball team was selected sixth in the 2010 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ poll that was released on Monday (Aug. 9). The Prairie Wolves received 68 total points in the poll.

Northwestern College totaled 121 points and 11 first place votes to be picked to repeat as conference champions. Morningside College received 101 points for second and Doane College had 97 points for third place. Dordt College received the other first place vote and 96 total points to round out the top four.

Nebraska Wesleyan head coach Gina Chambers, who begins her seventh season at NWU, is expected to return four starters and 12 lettermen off of the 2009 team that finished 18-12 overall and ranked #23 in the final AVCA/DIII rankings. NWU qualified for the NCAA III Tournament for the sixth straight season in 2009, advancing to the second round for the second consecutive year. Of the returning players, one was an All-American and two have earned All-GPAC recognition.

NWU reports to fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 19th. The Prairie Wolves open the 2010 season on Sept. 4-5, when they travel to Forest Grove, Ore., to compete in the Pacific University Tournament. NWU will play four matches in the tournament beginning on Saturday morning when they open the season against Linfield College.

Nebraska Wesleyan’s first home match will be their GPAC opener on Sept. 7, when they host Midland Lutheran College in Snyder Arena.

2010 GPAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll