SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Omaha volleyball team was selected third in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Wednesday morning.
The Mavericks were picked third in the preseason poll for the third consecutive season while
Anna Blaschko and
Claire Mountjoy were named to the Summit League Players to Watch List.
Omaha went 19-14 in 2019 and advanced to the second Summit League Championship Final match in program history.
Blaschko enters her senior campaign after being named All-Summit last season as a junior. The Shakopee, Minn., native became the first Maverick in the Division I era to be named to the AVCA Midwest Region First Team. Blaschko led the Summit League with a .390 hitting percentage to set a DI era single-season record and rank third all-time in program history. She totaled 360 kills and 99 blocks while appearing in 33 matches, including 30 starts at middle blocker last season.
Mountjoy appeared in all 33 matches for the Mavericks last season at libero while named to the All-Summit Honorable Mention team. The Omaha native played in all 219 sets and set a DI era program record with 561 total digs, which ranks fourth all-time in program history. Mountjoy tallied nine matches with 20-plus digs last season and ranked third in Summit League with 4.35 digs per set.
The Mavericks open the season this weekend with a pair of matches. Omaha opens on the road at Creighton on Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. before hosting UNI on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. in Sapp Fieldhouse.
2020-21 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team - Points (First-Place votes)
1. South Dakota - 63 (7)
2. Denver - 57 (2)
3. Omaha - 50
4. Kansas City - 41
5. North Dakota State - 37
6. North Dakota - 25
7. Oral Roberts - 23
8. South Dakota State - 20
9. Western Illinois - 8
Summit League Players to Watch List
Elizabeth Juhnke | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Sophomore
Madison Jurgens | South Dakota | Setter | Junior
Tina Boe | Denver | Middle Blocker | Senior
Lydia Bartalo | Denver | Outside Hitter | Senior
Anna Blaschko | Omaha | Middle Blocker | Senior
Claire Mountjoy | Omaha | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Senior
De' Janae Arnold | Kansas City | Middle Hitter | Junior
Alli Schomers | Kansas City | Setter | Senior
Alexis Bachmeier | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Senior
Kirstin Tidd | North Dakota State | Middle Hitter | Junior
Darian Chwialkowski | North Dakota | Outside Hitter | Junior
Lexi Ahrens | North Dakota | Middle Hitter | Junior
Sakira LaCour | Oral Roberts | Middle Blocker | Sophomore
Sarah Thiessen | Oral Roberts | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Junior
Crystal Burk | South Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Junior
Tatum Pickar | South Dakota State | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Junior
Mariah Mitchell | Western Illinois | Right Side | Junior
Gabby DePersio | Western Illinois | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Sophomore
