AVCA -- The Ferris State Bulldogs enter the new season as the No. 14th ranked team in the country following the release of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs have their sights set on capturing four consecutive league titles and will lean on sophomore sensation Allyson Cappel who garnered AVCA All-America accolades and GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2016.
Grand Valley State and Ashland appeared in the others receiving votes category. The season begins Thursday, August 31st with GLIAC competition getting underway Friday, September 15th.
| Rank | School (First-Place) | Points | 2016 Record | 2016 Final Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concordia - St. Paul (38) | 1149 | 35-2 | 1 |
| 2 | Southwest Minnesota St. (4) | 1125 | 28-6 | 2 |
| 3 | Nebraska-Kearney | 1040 | 35-2 | 5 |
| 4 | Alaska-Anchorage (1) | 1002 | 34-3 | 3 |
| 5 | Winona State (3) | 987 | 27-6 | 4 |
| 6 | Palm Beach Atlantic (2) | 965 | 32-4 | 6 |
| 7 | Minnesota Duluth | 937 | 25-5 | 7 |
| 8 | Lewis | 824 | 29-8 | 10 |
| 9 | Angelo State | 752 | 34-4 | 11 |
| 10 | Augustana (SD) | 709 | 27-6 | 8 |
| 11 | Wheeling Jesuit | 667 | 41-3 | 9 |
| 12 | Western Washington | 631 | 23-8 | 14 |
| 13 | Wayne State (Neb.) | 602 | 24-8 | 12 |
| 14 | Ferris State | 570 | 30-6 | 16 |
| 15 | Cal State San Bernardino | 495 | 25-5 | 17 |
| 16 | Washburn | 432 | 28-6 | 13 |
| 17 | Tampa | 415 | 23-9 | 24 |
| 18 | Central Oklahoma | 395 | 30-4 | 15 |
| 19 | Colorado School of Mines | 358 | 25-7 | 20 |
| 20 | Metro State | 287 | 27-5 | 18 |
| 21 | Central Missouri | 262 | 23-10 | 19 |
| 22 | Concordia (CA) | 171 | 26-3 | 22 |
| 23 | Rockhurst | 145 | 27-7 | 23 |
| 24 | Northern State | 122 | 16-12 | 21 |
| 25 | Tarleton State | 110 | 27-7 | 25 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Florida Southern 75; NW Nazarene 69; West Florida 44; North Alabama 39; California Baptist 31; Grand Valley State 25; Saint Leo 22; South Carolina-Aiken 20; Central Washington 16; Wingate 12; NW Missouri State 10; American International 9; Flagler 8; Arkansas-Fort Smith 6; Ashland 6; Cedarville 4
12 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 52 combined points.
