INDIANAPOLIS – Hillsdale College was just on the outside of the top 10 as the American Volleyball Coaches Association previewed the 2021 fall season with its annual preseason poll for Division II.
The Chargers, sporting a streak of four consecutive conference championships, including this spring, were once again picked as the league’s preseason favorite, overall and as a member of the North Division.
Additionally, North Division members Findlay and Walsh were also in the receiving votes category of the AVCA Poll.
Hillsdale finished the 2019 campaign as the No. 2-ranked team in the Midwest Region while first-year conference member Ashland was ranked seventh.
The AVCA ranked competing programs in the spring and Hillsdale was ranked No. 1 in Division II on Feb. 10 as one of five teams from the Great Midwest in the Top 25 Poll.
The Chargers finished 16-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 in the league schedule during the spring, which concluded with a trip to the AVCA National Tournament in Dallas.
Hillsdale’s roster is loaded under head coach Chris Gravel with plenty of familiar faces including former conference players of the year Karoline Shelton (OH) and Allyssa Van Wienen (MB).
Senior setter Lindsey Mertz will be at full strength running the offense while Alli Wiese and Madie Schider will frustrate opponents digging out attacks. The Chargers have a handful of underclassmen who were thrown into the fire in the spring and a class of newcomers that has the program thinking of contending for a national title.
Hillsdale doesn’t shy away from the competition and has a date vs. No. 9-ranked Oklahoma Baptist on opening weekend at the Ferris State Invitational. The Chargers are ranked from the Midwest Region along with No. 6 Lewis, No. 21 UMSL and No. 25 Rockhurst, from the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Findlay earned 45 points in the receiving votes category and Walsh collected 24.
2021 AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll -- Aug. 23, 2021
| Rank |
School |
2021 Record |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Angelo State (22) |
0-0 |
NR |
| 2 |
Concordia-St. Paul (9) |
0-0 |
NR |
| 3 |
Cal State Bernardino (15) |
0-0 |
NR |
| 4 |
Nebraska-Kearney (1) |
0-0 |
NR |
| 5 |
Tampa |
0-0 |
NR |
| 6 |
Lewis |
0-0 |
NR |
| 7 |
Minnesota Duluth |
0-0 |
NR |
| 8 |
Washburn |
0-0 |
NR |
| 9 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
0-0 |
NR |
| 10 |
Colorado Mesa |
0-0 |
NR |
| 11 |
MSU Denver |
0-0 |
NR |
| 12 |
Colorado School of Mines |
0-0 |
NR |
| 13 |
Hillsdale |
0-0 |
NR |
| 14 |
Western Washington |
0-0 |
NR |
| 15 |
Northern State |
0-0 |
NR |
| 16 |
St. Cloud State |
0-0 |
NR |
| 17 |
Northwest Missouri State |
0-0 |
NR |
| 18 |
Central Missouri |
0-0 |
NR |
| 19 |
Harding |
0-0 |
NR |
| 20 |
Texas-Tyler |
0-0 |
NR |
| 21 |
Missouri-St. Louis |
0-0 |
NR |
| 22 |
Regis |
0-0 |
NR |
| 23 |
Wheeling |
0-0 |
NR |
| 24 |
Wayne State (NE) |
0-0 |
NR |
| 25 |
Rockhurst |
0-0 |
NR |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Texas A&M-Kingsville 162; Gannon 158; Southern Indiana 145; Northern Michigan 139; Winona State 123; Ferris State 119; Alaska-Anchorage 114; Azusa Pacific 93; Southwest Minnesota State 89; Michigan Tech 72; Palm Beach Atlantic 65; Wingate 64; Hawai'i-Hilo 60; Lynn 60; Augustana (SD) 48; West Texas A&M 48; Findlay 45; Cal State L. A. 41; Flagler 32; Barry 27; Upper Iowa 25; Walsh 24; Chaminade 23; Nova Southeastern 21; West Florida 21; Central Washington 10; Saint Leo 10; Arkansas-Fort Smith 9; Minnesota State 9; Central Oklahoma 8; Missouri S&T 8; Biola University 6; Davenport 5; American International 4; Grand Valley State 3.
16 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 91 combined points.