KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Bellevue University volleyball team, under head coach Trish Siedlik, enters the 2018 season at No. 21 in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll announced today. Defending national champion Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is ranked No. 1 in the poll.
The Bruins return three letterwinners and two starters from last season's squad that finished with a 30-13 overall record, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the 10th time in school history after finishing second in the NSAA Post-season Tournament. All-American Shayla Scanlan returns on the rightside along with starting outside hitter Andrea Carson and defensive specialist Fabiola Aviles. The trio have been named captains for the 2018 season. Bellevue has 10 newcomers on the 2018 roster, including nine freshmen.
Conference rival Viterbo University enters the pre-season poll at No. 4 after reaching the NAIA National Tournament semifinals last season while capturing the North Star Athletic Association regular-season and conference titles.
Bellevue will begin the 2018 season at the Silver Dollar City Tournament on Aug. 23-24 in Point Lookout, Mo. The Bruins will host the 26-team GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic on Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Aside from the NAIA National Tournament, it is the single largest tournament in the country and features nine teams ranked in the top 25 poll.
