MADISON, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the North Star Athletic Association Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Vikings received 46 poll points to finish third in the rating amongst the eight NSAA teams. VCSU is coming off a 15-13 overall record last season and fourth-place finish in the NSAA standings.

Valley City State is set to open the season Aug. 24-25 with a two-day tournament at Viterbo University. The Vikings will play their first 12 matches on the road before hosting Dickinson State University on Sept. 12 for the home opener and NSAA opener.

Viterbo University was a unanimous pick to repeat at NSAA champions. Bellevue University was picked second in the NSAA poll, followed by VCSU, Presentation College, Dakota State University, Dickinson State University, Waldorf University and Mayville State University.

All NSAA members will be playing a 14-match schedule (7 matches at home and 7 matches on the road).  The conference season officially kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 12 with traveling partners playing each other.  Viterbo visits Waldorf; Dakota State hosts Bellevue; Valley City State welcomes Dickinson State and Mayville State travels to Presentation.

The top six teams will qualify for the North Star conference postseason tournament.  The postseason tournament will be held at the No. 1 seed on Nov. 9-10.

The NSAA postseason tournament’s champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament.  The national tournament opening round is slated for Nov. 17 at campus sites, with each opening round winners advancing to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa on Nov. 27-Dec. 1.

Below is the complete list of the 2018 NSAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll below: