BISMARCK, ND (PlayNorthStar.com) – Jamestown (N.D.), who is returning to North Star Athletic Association this season for the first time since 2017-18, is the head coaches’ preseason favorite to win the women’s volleyball league title.  The conference coaches’ preseason poll was announced Monday.  Each head coach could vote for their own team in the preseason poll.

The Jimmies, 25-11 overall record last season, tallied four first-place votes and 34 points to claim the top spot in the preseason poll.

Bellevue (Neb.) picked up the final two first-place votes and recorded 32 points in the poll.  The Bruins advanced to the NSAA Women’s Volleyball Postseason Tournament’s championship match.  BU finished their season with an overall record of 26-10.

Valley City State (N.D.) (23-11 overall record in 2023) was third in the preseason poll with 22 points.

Jamestown, Bellevue, and Valley City State quailed for the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament last season.  Each team advanced to the national tournament’s final site, with both UJ and BU advancing to the single elimination bracket play after the pool play action.

Dakota State (S.D.) (16-15 overall record last season) edged out Mayville State (N.D.) (15-11 overall record in 2023) for the fourth spot in the preseason poll.  The Trojans registered 16 points compared to the Comets’ 15 points.

Dickinson State (1-23 overall record in 2023) finished sixth with seven points.

All NSAA members will be playing a 10-match schedule (5 matches at home and 5 matches on the road) in the final year of the conference.

The conference season officially kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 18 with Dickinson State visiting Valley City State.  Jamestown opens their conference play at VCSU on Sept. 19.  The Blue Hawks continue their action at Mayville State on the same day.

Dakota State and Bellevue face each other in their conference opener in Bellevue, Neb., on Sept. 20.

All six teams will play in the North Star conference postseason tournament.  The top two seeds will receive a first-round bye, while third through sixth seeds will play in the quarterfinals round on Nov. 9 at higher seeds.  The remaining four teams will compete in the semifinals and championship match at the No. 1 seed on Nov. 15-16.

The NSAA postseason tournament’s champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament on Nov. 23 at campus sites.

The national tournament’s opening round winners will move on to the final site at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  The pool play begins on Dec. 4 and continues through Dec. 6 (each team in each pool will play two matches with a ‘rest’ day).  The single elimination bracket play opens on Dec. 7, with semifinals set for Dec. 9 and the championship match on Dec. 10.

Below is the complete list of the 2024 NSAA Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll below: