SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - For the sixth consecutive season, the Omaha Volleyball team has been ranked third overall in the Summit League Preseason Poll. Once again, the Mavericks were also just one of three teams to earn a first-place vote in the poll.
The league also announced its list of Preseason Players to Watch, with
McKenna Ruch and
Shayla McCormick both being named for the first time in their careers.
Last season, the Mavericks posted 20 wins and advanced to the Summit League Tournament Finals for the second consecutive year. The team went 14-4 in conference play, with only South Dakota, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State picking up victories against them. Omaha also played in the NIVC for the first time in program history, falling to Pacific in the opening round of the tournament.
Ruch looks to lead the way for Omaha in 2023 after becoming just the second Maverick in the Division I era to earn AVCA All-American honors. The First Team All-Summit selection ranked in the top 10 in the Summit in kills (305), hitting percentage (.341), and blocks (145). She also had two double-digit block performances, posted a hitting percentage above .500 in six matches, and set a new career-best with a .714 hitting percentage against Lipscomb on September 16.
As for McCormick, she followed up her impressive rookie season by becoming one of the top offensive players in the conference, finishing fifth overall with 438 kills and third in kills per set with 3.74. She also finished fourth in aces with 43 and 11th in digs with 370. Overall, she ended the season with 28 double-digit kills matches and 20 double-doubles. McCormick was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region team and First Team All-Summit.
Omaha is set to open the regular season this Friday, August 25 at 7 p.m. when they face Texas A&M in their first match of the Omaha Invite presented by Sarpy County Tourism.
2023 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points (1st)
|
2022 Record (SL)
|
|
1.
|
South Dakota
|
61 (6)
|
29-4 (16-2)
|
|
2.
|
North Dakota State
|
54 (2)
|
21-12 (13-5)
|
|
3.
|
Omaha
|
53 (1)
|
20-11 (14-4)
|
|
4.
|
South Dakota State
|
39
|
18-15 (11-7)
|
|
5.
|
North Dakota
|
34
|
12-18 (9-9)
|
|
6.
|
Denver
|
30
|
19-12 (12-6)
|
|
7.
|
Kansas City
|
25
|
10-21 (7-11)
|
|
8.
|
St. Thomas
|
16
|
4-26 (2-16)
|
|
9.
|
Oral Roberts
|
12
|
9-21 (6-12)
|
Players to Watch
Evelyn Diederich | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Senior
Madison Harms | South Dakota | Middle Blocker | Senior
Ali Hinze | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Senior
Kelley Johnson | North Dakota State | Setter | Senior
Shayla McCormick | Omaha | Outside Hitter | Junior
McKenna Ruch | Omaha | Middle Blocker | Senior
Masa Scheierman | South Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Sophomore
Sydni Schetnan | South Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Redshirt Sophomore
Marissa Stockman | North Dakota | Middle Blocker/Right Side | Graduate
Elizabeth Norris | North Dakota | Setter | Graduate
Gianna Bartalo | Denver | Libero/Defensive Specialist | Senior
Cadi Boyer | Denver | Middle Blocker | Graduate
Carly Gillen | Kansas City | Middle Blocker | Senior
Odyssey Warren | Kansas City | Outside Hitter | Senior
Lauren Galvin | St. Thomas | Outside Hitter | Junior
Emma Goerger | St. Thomas | Middle Blocker | Sophomore
Kalena Vaivai | Oral Roberts | Setter | Senior
Trinity Freeman | Oral Roberts | Outside Hitter | Junior
