August 9, 2007

Lady Jackets Tabbed Fourth in GNAC Poll

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference released its preseason volleyball coaches’ poll on Thursday, and Montana State University Billings was picked to finish fourth in the 10-team league. 

"It's great to be ranked fourth, especially entering our first year in this very competitive conference,” said first-year Yellowjacket head coach Sara Schaub.  “We are looking forward to a high level of play each night and anticipate long rallies and fun volleyball to play and watch.  I have the utmost respect for each team we will face this year and am excited to start our GNAC schedule." 

The Yellowjackets are coming off a 26-5 season in which they won the Heartland Conference regular season title, the Heartland Conference Tournament title, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.  MSUB advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Southwest Regional.

The 2007 season will be the Jackets’ first in the GNAC, which plays in the NCAA Pacific Region.  MSU Billings was aligned in the Pacific Region when it belonged to the Pacific West Conference.  MSUB spent the last two seasons in the Heartland and the Southwest Region.

Western Washington was picked as the favorite in the GNAC coaches’ poll.  The Vikings were conference runners-up last season and went to the NCAA Tournament.  Seattle Pacific, the two-time defending conference champion, was picked second followed by Central Washington.  The top four teams in the poll were NCAA Tournament participants last year.

The Yellowjackets opened fall camp on Monday and begin the 2007 schedule at a tournament hosted by Nebraska-Omaha on August 24 and 25.  They play two early season tournaments before opening GNAC play on Sept. 6 at Northwest Nazarene.  The Jackets’ 2007 home opener will be Sept. 13 against Saint Martin’s.

2007 GNAC Preseason Volleyball Poll

1. Western Washington (6) 101

2. Seattle Pacific (4) 93

3. Central Washington 73

4. Montana State Billings 64

5. Seattle 60

6. Northwest Nazarene 59

7. Western Oregon 41

8. Alaska Fairbanks 34

9. Alaska Anchorage 20

10. Saint Martin’s 10