Dakota Wesleyan University volleyball enters the upcoming campaign slotted fifth in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, according to rankings released on Wednesday, August 13. The Tigers secured 77 total points in the conference survey, positioning them just behind fourth-place Morningside, which earned 92 points, according to sports.yahoo.com reporting.
GPAC Preseason Volley Poll Standings
Conference coaches determined the preseason pecking order through a survey where they were prohibited from voting for their own squads. Concordia claimed the top spot in the 12-team league with 117 points and seven first-place votes, narrowly edging out Northwestern, which tallied 115 points and five top votes. Midland rounded out the top three in the conference poll with 95 points. Below Dakota Wesleyan in fifth, the College of Saint Mary checked in at sixth with 64 points, followed closely by Dordt with 63 points and Hastings with 62 points. Mount Marty, Doane, Waldorf, and Briar Cliff filled out the remaining positions at the bottom of the GPAC standings.
National Poll Recognition and Team Outlook
Beyond the conference outlook, Dakota Wesleyan also picked up 10 vote points in the NAIA national preseason poll, placing them among 26 programs sitting just outside the top 25, as reported by sports.yahoo.com. Concordia opened at No. 4 nationally following a national tournament quarterfinalist run last season, while Northwestern claimed the No. 7 spot after an undefeated GPAC run in 2023. Midland also represented the conference nationally at No. 20, with Morningside joining DWU among teams receiving votes.
The Tigers look to build on a 13-16 overall record from 2023, which featured a 7-9 mark in conference play and a trip to the GPAC tournament quarterfinals. The roster retains significant depth, having graduated just two seniors from the previous squad. Dakota Wesleyan opens its 2025 schedule on Saturday, August 16, traveling to Valley City, North Dakota, for a triangular matching them against Valley City State and Dickinson State.
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