Marian University women’s volleyball received 118 total points to finish 11th in the NACC preseason poll, as voted on by the sports information professionals and head coaches of the league.

Edgewood was selected as the favorite once again receiving 374 points and 18 of the 28 first-place picks.  Aurora and CUW were separated by a single point with the Spartans grabbing six first-place votes and the Falcons the final four.  St. Norbert rounded out the group of four schools with more than 300 points picking up 333.  The next two spots were tightly contested with Lakeland taking 253 points and Benedictine 247.  Illinois Tech was the final school with more than 200 points at 216, while MSOE was the final preseason NACC Tournament squad at 192.

Wisconsin Lutheran came in at ninth with its 176 points followed by Dominican at 140.  Marian and Concordia Chicago were the final schools with more than 100 points at 140 and 118, respectively.  Rockford took the 13th spot in the preseason poll with 60 points, while Alverno had 31 points to round out the poll.

The top eight teams in the final regular-season standings will qualify for the league’s postseason tournament. First-round games are slated for Tuesday, Nov. 11, followed by semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 13, and the tournament final on Saturday, Nov. 15. The tournament champion receives the NACC’s automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Marian opens the season hosting the Marian Invitational August 29-30.  The Sabres will play three matches over the two days and welcome UW-La Crosse, Monmouth, Benedictine, and Wheaton to Sadoff Gym.