Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team is picked first in the 2021 MIAA preseason coaches' poll.

Head coaches vote on the makeup of the poll and cannot vote for their own team.

UNK, which has won or shared the past four MIAA regular season titles as well as winning the "unofficial" MIAA Spring Invitational this past April, received 96 points and seven first place votes. Washburn (88; two first place) and Northwest Missouri State (86; two first place) are close behind. Rounding out the top five is Central Missouri (75) and Central Oklahoma (62), two more recent mainstays in the AVCA Top 25 poll.

The Lopers posted a 38-1 (20-0 MIAA) mark in 2019 en route to reaching the national title. UNK then went 16-3 in a "non-countable" 2021 spring season while beating Air Force, 3-2, in an exhibition match last Saturday.

Kearney begins the regular season on Friday, Sept. 3, at the Molloy College Invitational just outside of New York City.


Pl.    School                      Points (1st Place)

1.	Nebraska Kearney	96 (7)
2.	Washburn	88 (2)
3.	Northwest Missouri St.	86 (2)
4.	Central Missouri	75
5.	Central Oklahoma	62
6.	Missouri Western St.	48
7.	Missouri Southern St.	47
8.	Pittsburg State	43
9.	Fort Hays State	25
10.	Emporia State	20
11.	Newman	15