LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association released the 2023 AVCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll and Concordia-St. Paul was selected to finish second in the poll.
 
CSP made it 19 consecutive seasons inside the top-10 in the preseason poll as they have ranked sixth or better in every season since 2003. Heading into the season, the Golden Bears have ranked #1 at least once in 15 of the past 17 seasons. In total, CSP has spent an incredible 83 weeks at the top team in the country since debuting there in the 2004 preseason poll.
 
The Golden Bears garnered 1,096 points in the poll, trailing only West Texas A&M, the reigning national champions, who collected 1,139 points to claim the top spot. The Lady Buffs picked up 42 of 47 first place votes while Concordia claimed the other five. MSU Denver, Wayne State and Tampa rounded out the top-five.
 
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference once again had a strong presence on the list as CSP and WSC were joined by St. Cloud State in seventh, Minnesota Duluth in eighth and Southwest Minnesota State in 11^th, giving the league five in the top-11 slots.
 
In total, the Golden Bears have seven matches scheduled against ranked opponents and two more against schools receiving votes. The first ranked matchup is set for Sept. 8 at the Colorado Premier Challenge against #15 Western Washington before CSP hosts #7 St. Cloud State in the home opener on Sept. 12. NSIC play gets underway at #4 Wayne State on Sept 15.