The American Volleyball Coaches Association has released the Division II Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll and Upper Iowa is one of eight Northern Sun Conference schools in the rankings or receiving votes. The Peacocks are receiving votes for the 12th straight time including the final 11 weeks of the 2017 season.
The highest ranking for UIU came on Oct. 30 last season at No. 25 after a road weekend at No. 20 Wayne State College and No. 15 Augustana University. The Peacocks defeated the Wildcats in a five-set thriller, but dropped a five-set match to the Vikings after holding a 2-1 advantage. A tight match all the way through, UIU outscored Augie 107-106 in the five frames.
Upper Iowa joins seven other Northern Sun Conference members in the preseason poll including the top three ranked programs in the nation; No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul, No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State University and the No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth. Northern State University is ranked No. 9, while Winona State University and Augustan are ranked No. 17 and No. 23, respectively. Wayne State is also receiving votes and is only two spots away from the No. 25 ranking.
The 2018 campaign begins in Big Rapids, Mich. at the Ferris State Invitational. The Peacocks will be taking on No. 21 Ferris State University on Thursday, Aug. 23, and then challenging Lake Superior State University on Aug. 24, as well as Clarion University and Mercyhurst University on Aug. 25.
UIU will then head to Indianapolis, Ind. for the UIndy Invitational over Labor Day Weekend. The Peacocks will line up with Wheeling Jesuit University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday, Aug. 31 and then take on the University of Indianapolis and Quincy University on Sept. 1.
Upper Iowa's home opener will be on Thursday, Sept. 6. The Peacocks will welcome the defending NCAA DII Champion and No. 1 Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul.
AVCA DIVISION II COACHES TOP 25 PRESEASON POLL
| Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Total Points |
2017 |
| 1 |
Concordia - St. Paul (47) |
1198 |
34-3 |
| 2 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
1077 |
29-4 |
| 3 |
Minnesota Duluth |
1015 |
26-7 |
| 4 |
Florida Southern |
983 |
30-7 |
| 5 |
Western Washington |
922 |
27-4 |
| 6 |
Lewis (1) |
914 |
33-3 |
| 7 |
Regis |
879 |
31-4 |
| 8 |
Nebraska-Kearney |
837 |
33-4 |
| 9 |
Northern State |
729 |
23-7 |
| 10 |
Rockhurst |
713 |
32-8 |
| 11 |
Cal State San Bernardino |
682 |
24-8 |
| 12 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
638 |
26-4 |
| 13 |
Gannon |
567 |
31-7 |
| 14 |
Arkansas Tech |
536 |
35-1 |
| 15 |
West Florida |
454 |
30-7 |
| 16 |
Central Oklahoma |
419 |
29-6 |
| 17 |
Winona State |
397 |
21-8 |
| 18 |
Tarleton State |
349 |
29-6 |
| 19 |
NW Nazarene |
272 |
25-5 |
| 20 |
Colorado School of Mines |
259 |
25-6 |
| 21 |
Ferris State |
234 |
24-8 |
| 22 |
Central Missouri |
223 |
25-8 |
| 23 |
Augustana (SD) |
215 |
23-9 |
| 24 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
147 |
33-6 |
| 25 |
Flagler |
133 |
27-4 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Missouri Western 112;
Wayne State (Neb.) 98; Hillsdale 67; Saint Leo 51; Tampa 45; Angelo State 39; West Texas A&M 37; Wingate 33; Azusa Pacific 29; Metro State 26; Arkansas-Fort Smith 23; Alaska-Anchorage 20; Findlay 17; Sonoma State 16; Anderson (S.C.) 15; Cal State L. A. 15; Central Washington 14; Molloy 14; UC San Diego 7; Biola 4;
Upper Iowa 4; Colorado Mesa 2
