BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The defending NSIC regular season and tournament champions of St. Cloud State were picked by the league coaches in the NSIC Preseason Volleyball Poll. The Huskies are coming off a 2024 season where they finished 29-3 overall and 18-0 in NSIC play, and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final. SCSU received eight first place votes to tally 212 points.

The University of Jamestown, playing their first season at the NCAA Division II level, was picked to finish 11th. Senior setter Lily Bertsch was chosen as the Jimmies' preseason player to watch.

Concordia-St. Paul was picked second with 208 points and four first place votes while Southwest Minnesota State was third with 202 points and the other four first place votes. 
The 2025 NSIC Volleyball season will begin with non-conference matches on Thursday, September 4 while the NSIC schedule begins September 19.  The NSIC regular season champion will be determined by the 20-match conference schedule. The 2025 NSIC Volleyball Tournament shall be an eight-team tournament with the quarterfinals hosted at the top four seeds on Tuesday, November 18 and the semifinals/championship matches hosted at the highest remaining seed. The semifinals/championship matches will take place on two consecutive days between Friday and Sunday, November 21-23 with the dates of competition determined by the host institution.

"We will be the least experienced team that I have coached in my 17 years at the University of Jamestown," said head coach Jon Hegerle, who enters his 17th season. "However, this team has a lot of energy and the players genuinely care about each other. Returning only four players from last year's roster, we will have a number of new faces on the court. I am excited to see how our team, players, and coaches respond to the gauntlet that is NSIC volleyball!"

"Lily will be in her third year as a starting setter," continued Hegerle. "She has a tremendous work ethic and is a student of the game. Lily is always looking for what her team and teammates need. Lily is competitive and doesn't shy away from any challenge. She is also humble and empathetic which makes her a great leader."

Bertsch played in 25 matches last season, averaging 6.05 assists and 1.96 digs per set.

The Jimmies open the regular season in Nashville, Tenn., at the Ray Thrasher Classic, hosted by Trevecca Nazarene University September 5-6.

2025 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Poll

1	St. Cloud State (8)	212
2	Concordia-St. Paul (4)	208
3	Southwest Minnesota State (4)	202
4	Wayne State	188
5	Northern State	170
6	Sioux Falls	133
7	Winona State	132
8	Minnesota Duluth	130
9	Minnesota State	123
10	Augustana	110
11	Jamestown	84
12	MSU Moorhead	77
13	Bemidji State	53
14	University of Mary	42
15	Minnesota Crookston	40
16	Minot State	16