BURNSVILLE, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's swimming and diving team has been selected to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

MSU claimed the top spot in the poll as it claimed eight first-place votes and 64 points. Last season, the Mavericks claimed their second NSIC Championship in program history. St. Cloud State received one first-place vote and 57 points for the second spot in the poll, while Sioux Falls ranked third with 49 points.

Senior Anja Enervold was named MSU's Swimmer to Watch, while junior Ayla Taylor was named MSU's Diver to Watch. 

Last season at the NSIC Championships, Enervold claimed All-NSIC honors in four events, which included first place finishes in the 200 backstroke, the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay. Taylor received All-NSIC honors in the 1-meter diving event as she took third place in the event, to go along with a fifth place finish in the 3-meter diving event.

Minnesota State opens its 2021-22 schedule on Friday, October 8, as it travel to Vermillion, S.D., to take on the University of South Dakota. The dual is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.