Burnsville, Minn.—The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team was picked to finish 15^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Volleyball Poll. In last season's NSIC preseason poll, the Golden Eagles were picked 13^th.
 
The Golden Eagles will look to rebound this season, after winning four games a season ago. Heading into head coach Sarah Rauen's third season at the helm, Minnesota Crookston will return a number of impact players, including Kaitlin Sikkink (Sr., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) and Deaira Gresham (Jr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.). Both of whom will look to carry the offensive load.
 
In addition, the Golden Eagles will return a quality backrow duo in Ali Schueler (R-Sr., DS/Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) and Katie Lienemann (Jr., DS/Lib., Rosemount, Minn.). Schueler and Lienemann were one and two on the team in digs, respectively and combined for a total of 580. The Golden Eagles will also rely on Sydney Kruisselbrink (Jr., S, Rochester, Minn.) to be consistent in her second full season as setter. Porsha Porath (So., OH, Windom, Minn.) will look to build off a solid first season in the maroon and gold and have an even better second season for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles kick off the season in the Wolverine State on Sept. 6 against Wisconsin-Parkside in the Keweenaw Volleyball Classic by Country Inn & Suites, hosted by Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich.
 
Perennial NSIC power Northern State was selected to win the conference, garnering 209 points. Meanwhile, Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth were both picked to finish second, each finishing with 203 points. Wayne State and Southwest Minnesota State rounded out the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
The Wolves bring back a lot of talent from last season's 26-5 team and NCAA Central Regional Tournament participant. Laura Snyder, Morgan Baufield and Jenna Reiff all had over 200 kills last season and the trio is back to try and help the Wolves get back to the NCAA tournament. Defensively, the Wolves will also be solid. Jaiden Langlie returns for her senior season after finishing seventh in the conference last season with 504 digs and 4.46 digs per set.
 
Concordia-St. Paul's Sara Macek was chosen as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. The senior from Monticello, Minn., broke out in a big way last season, earning AVCA All-America First Team honors. Macek also finished second in the NSIC and 11^th in the nation with a hitting percentage of .388, which was ninth-best in single season history at CSP.