LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team was ranked 13^th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Preseason Poll, it was revealed on Wednesday.

The Golden Bears amassed 632 points in the poll, leading 14^th-ranked Grand Valley State by 137 points and trailing 12^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney by 24 points. Defending national champion Lynn University was tabbed the nation's top team with 1,171 points and 45 of the 47 possible first-place votes.

CSP is one of five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference representatives in the preseason poll with St. Cloud State (3), Southwest Minnesota State (15), Wayne State (21), and Northern State (25) also appearing in the first edition of the rankings.

Concordia has been a mainstay near the top of the poll for nearly two decades as they have ranked outside the top 10 for just eight weeks since 2003, never ranking below #15. The Golden Bears have ranked #1 at least once in 16 of the past 20 seasons. In total, CSP has spent an incredible 84 weeks at the top team in the country since debuting there in the 2004 preseason poll.

The Golden Bears finished the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 24-7, including a mark of 16-2 in conference play.

Concordia will open the 2025 season with three matches at the UIndy Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 5 and 6.