University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Named Preseason Favorites
8/17/2023 11:04:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – For the third time in the last five years, the University of Northern Colorado garnered the top spot in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.
"It is a compliment to be chosen preseason No. 1, even if most of it is based on last year," Northern Colorado Volleyball Head Coach Lyndsey Oates said. "We had a good run last year and we have 14 returners from the championship team."
The Bears won their seventh conference championship, including back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
"Every year and every team are different," Oates said. "I love the chemistry of this team, and they are driven."
Since 2019, they backed up regular-season titles with tournament championships in three of the last four year, claiming both in 2019, 2021 and 2022. UNC owns a 56-10 (.848) mark in conference play during that span.
"It is certainly our goal to be No. 1 at the end of the season, but I think the conference is extremely deep this year," Oates said. "There will be no nights off."
The 2023 Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship takes place Nov. 22-24 in Greeley, Colorado, hosted by Northern Colorado.
"The primary goal is to max out our talent and be playing our best volleyball at the end of the year," Oates said. "We are ready for the challenge."
Weber State, which won the 2020 regular season and tournament championships placed second in the preseason poll with 69 points. Portland State rounded out the top-3 with 61 points.
2023 Big Sky Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
"It is a compliment to be chosen preseason No. 1, even if most of it is based on last year," Northern Colorado Volleyball Head Coach Lyndsey Oates said. "We had a good run last year and we have 14 returners from the championship team."
The Bears won their seventh conference championship, including back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
"Every year and every team are different," Oates said. "I love the chemistry of this team, and they are driven."
Since 2019, they backed up regular-season titles with tournament championships in three of the last four year, claiming both in 2019, 2021 and 2022. UNC owns a 56-10 (.848) mark in conference play during that span.
"It is certainly our goal to be No. 1 at the end of the season, but I think the conference is extremely deep this year," Oates said. "There will be no nights off."
The 2023 Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship takes place Nov. 22-24 in Greeley, Colorado, hosted by Northern Colorado.
"The primary goal is to max out our talent and be playing our best volleyball at the end of the year," Oates said. "We are ready for the challenge."
Weber State, which won the 2020 regular season and tournament championships placed second in the preseason poll with 69 points. Portland State rounded out the top-3 with 61 points.
2023 Big Sky Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Northern Colorado, 80 (8)
- Weber State, 69 (1)
- Portland State, 61
- Montana State, 53 (1)
- Sacramento State, 51
- Montana, 41
- Northern Arizona, 36
- Eastern Washington, 28
- Idaho State, 20
- Idaho, 11
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