Full AVCA Release 

INDIANAPOLIS - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its Division II Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll on January 4, with Hillsdale slotted 12th. 

Nebraska-Kearney earned the No. 1 spot in the preseason poll with 1131 total points and 17 first-place votes. Concordia - St. Paul came in second with 1095 total points and two first-place votes. Cal State San Bernardino ranked third in the poll with 1070 total points and 28 first-place votes. 

Hillsdale totaled 647 points in the poll, after finishing the 2019 season with a 28-4 record and an appearance in the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional Final. The Chargers remain idle in the rankings, as they finished the 2019 season with a final ranking of 12th place. 

Hillsdale returns middle hitter, Allyssa Van Wienen, who was named first team AVCA All-American last season. Van Wienen is the lone first team AVCA All-American in conference history. 

Entering her senior season, Van Wienen has the best career hitting percentage in conference history at .371 and ranks third all-time in solo blocks with 67.

The Chargers also return three all-conference selections in setter Lindsay Mertz and outside hitters Karoline Shelton and Maggie DePorre. 

Also a senior, Mertz ranks first in assists (3625) and assists per set (11.44) in the conference record books. Hillsdale will take on Trevecca in its season opener on January 22. 

The next AVCA Division II Poll is set to be released on January 26.