KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2023 volleyball season.
 
Nebraska Kearney finished atop the 2023 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Lopers totaled a league-best 92 points in the poll and four MIAA coaches predicted the team to take home the 2023 regular season title.
 
Nebraska Kearney finished second in the MIAA last season with a league record of 16-4. The Lopers suffered the least losses in the league with an overall record of 28-6.
 
Northwest Missouri, the defending MIAA regular season champion, was picked No. 2 in the poll with 88 total points and three first place selections. The Bearcats ended the 2022 regular season play on an 11-game win streak to capture the program’s first regular season title. Northwest Missouri posted a league record of 17-3 and a 24-7 record overall.
 
Central Oklahoma totaled 80 points and earned a pair of first place votes to come in at No. 3 on the coaches poll. The Bronchos went 24-6 overall last season with all six of their losses coming from MIAA opponents.
 
Washburn occupied the No. 4 spot with 77 points and the remaining first place selections. After finishing 13-7 in the league, the Ichabods entered the 2022 MIAA championship tournament as the No. 5 seed and went on to win the title and the league’s automatic bid into NCAA postseason.
 
Central Missouri completed the coaches’ top-five with 73 points. Pittsburg State was slatted No. 6 with 53 points, Missouri Western was picked No. 7 with 45 points, and Missouri Southern finished No. 8 with 35 points. Fort Hays State was picked No. 9 with 29 points while Emporia State finished No. 11 with 19 points and Newman concluded the poll with 14 points.
 
Nebraska Kearney, Northwest Missouri and Washburn each advanced to the 2022 Central Region Championship tournament where they suffered losses in the regional quarterfinals. Last season with the first time since 2018 the MIAA did not have a team competing for the NCAA Division II National Title.
 
The first official contests for the 2023 season begin Thursday, August 31 with MIAA competition set to begin on Tuesday, September 12. The 2023 MIAA Volleyball Championship will take place November 16-18 at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri. To see the complete schedule for each team in the MIAA, please click here. 
 
2023 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Nebraska Kearney (4) - 92 points
2. Northwest Missouri (3) - 88 points
3. Central Oklahoma (2) - 80 points
4. Washburn (2) - 77 points
5. Central Missouri - 73 points
6. Pittsburg State - 53 points
7. Missouri Western - 45 points
8. Missouri Southern - 35 points
9. Fort Hays State - 29 points
10. Emporia State - 19 points
11. Newman - 14 points