The Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball team was selected seventh in the 2008 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ poll that was released on Tuesday (Aug. 5). The Prairie Wolves received 72 total points in the poll. Northwestern College totaled 140 points and nine first place votes to be picked as the preseason conference favorite. 2007 GPAC Champions Morningside College received 129 points and three first place votes, while Dordt College had 122 points to round out the top three.

Nebraska Wesleyan head coach Gina Chambers is expected to return six starters and 12 lettermen off of the 2007 squad that finished 17-12 overall, 8-8 in the GPAC to tie for seventh place in the league standings. The Prairie Wolves qualified for the NCAA III National Tournament for the fourth straight season in 2007. Two returning players earned All-GPAC recognition last season.

The NWU volleyball team will report to campus on Aug. 24th to begin fall camp.

The Prairie Wolves open regular season play on Sept. 12-13 when they travel to Waverly, Iowa to take part in the Wartburg College Tournament. NWU will play four matches in the tournament beginning on Friday afternoon when they open the season against Simpson College at 3 p.m.

Nebraska Wesleyan’s first home match of the season is not until Sept. 30 when the Prairie Wolves host GPAC rival Doane College in Snyder Arena.