NKyTribune staff
Defending champion Cleveland State is the favorite in the Horizon League’s preseason volleyball poll, which was released Wednesday.
Cleveland State (69 points) received four first-place votes in the preseason poll and edged Oakland by two points to earn the top spot in the voting of the head coaches. Cleveland State returns tournament MVP Sara Skeens along with Emily DeGeorge and Trinniti Hall this season.
Northern Kentucky University is sixth in the preseason poll with 48 total points. The Norse posted a 12-15 overall record last year, including a 7-9 mark in the Horizon League. NKU also advanced to the Horizon League Tournament semifinals with a victory over IUPUI in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual champion Cleveland State in four sets.
NKU welcomes back nine letterwinners and five starters in 2018, including All-Horizon League outside hitter Haley Libs. Now a senior, Libs topped NKU in both kills (366) and digs (361) last season.
NKU opens the season Friday at the Golden Dome Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The Norse meet Toledo at 4 p.m. Friday to begin that tournament.
On Saturday, NKU will play both Weber State (10 a.m.) and host Notre Dame (7 p.m.) to conclude the two-day event.
2018 Horizon League volleyball preseason poll
Pl. Team – Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Cleveland State – 69 (4)
2. Oakland – 67 (3)
3. Illinois-Chicago – 58 (1)
4. Green Bay – 51 (1)
5. IUPUI – 50
6. Northern Kentucky – 48
7. Milwaukee – 29
8. Wright State – 18
9. Youngstown State – 15
(Compiled from staff reports and the Horizon League)
