RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Volleyball has been picked to finish second in the Great American Conference's Western Division during the 2021 spring season. The GAC announced the preseason poll for volleyball on Tuesday.
The Great American Conference suspended all NCAA Division II athletic competition during the fall 2020 semester, meaning volleyball will be played in the spring semester for the first time. In addition, divisional play will be implemented for the first time, meaning SWOSU will face a 10-game double round robin schedule with two games apiece against East Central, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Baptist, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene.
Defending conference champion Oklahoma Baptist is the preseason pick to finish atop the Western Division, finishing with four first-place votes and 24 total points, which placed them six points ahead of the Bulldogs in second. Northwestern and Southern Nazarene each claimed a first-place vote and the teams tied for third in the poll with 17 points each.
Head Coach
Josh Collins, now in his ninth season guiding the Bulldogs, has three seniors leading his team this spring in setter
Allie Hoang, outside hitter
Chezney Nielsen and middle hitter
Emma Cohalla.
SWOSU Volleyball will open the 2021 spring season on Sunday, January 24, against Oklahoma Christian, their lone non-conference game before heading to Southern Nazarene on Wednesday, January 27, for the first conference match.
2021 Great American Conference
Preseason Volleyball Poll
Western Division
#. Team, Points (1st Place)
1. Oklahoma Baptist, 24 (4)
2. SWOSU, 18
T-3. Northwestern Okla., 17 (1)
T-3. Southern Nazarene, 17 (1)
5. Southeastern Okla., 8
6. East Central, 6
