BURNSVILLE, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team has been picked to finish 10th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

MSU, which finished its 2017 season with a 15-13 record, including a 9-11 NSIC record,  received a total of 102 points. 

Concordia-St. Paul, which won the NCAA Championship last season, took the top spot in the poll with 225 points and 15 first-place votes. Southwest Minnesota State claimed the second spot in the poll with 210 points, with Minnesota Duluth (3rd/194 points), Northern State (4th/176 points) and Wayne State (5th/164 points) rounding out the top five.

Junior Morgan Olson was named MSU's NSIC Player to Watch for the upcoming season. Olson finished her sophomore campaign with 218 kills while hitting .271. She recorded at least 10 kills in 11 matches last season, including a season-best 17 at Minot State.

Minnesota State opens its regular season schedule on Friday, Aug. 24 in Evansville, Ind., as it takes part in the USI Invitational. MSU will take on Kentucky State at 11:30 a.m., before squaring off with Edinboro University at 4:30 p.m.

NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll