PORTLAND, Ore. - The GNAC released the results of the 2023 Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday, with Northwest Nazarene picked seventh out of the 10 teams.

NNU earned 38 points in the poll, three ahead of Western Oregon's 35. Central Washington received all 10 first-place votes for a total of 100 points to lead the poll, followed by Western Washington, Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser, and Alaska Anchorage to round out the top five.

Alaska Fairbanks was sixth, just ahead of NNU, while Saint Martin's and Montana State Billings capped the poll in ninth and tenth.

The Nighthawks were also picked seventh a year ago, and improved by one spot with a sixth-place conference finish. NNU went 16-10 overall and 9-9 in GNAC play, improving from the 2021 season by seven wins overall and five conference victories.

NNU will need to replace the productivity of three graduated All-GNAC players from last season in Olivia Wright, Natalie Sullivan, and Mckenzie Lee. Three starters return, including libero Caroline McMahon (second in the GNAC with 4.64 digs per set, 5th with .44 aces per set) and hitters Maren Dent and Miya Koch. 

The Nighthawks will begin their season in Seaside, California, playing four matches on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

 

Rank	Team (FPV)	Points
1	Central Washington (10)	100
2	Western Washington	85
3	Seattle Pacific	72
4	Simon Fraser	71
5	Alaska Anchorage	61
6	Alaska Fairbanks	55
7	Northwest Nazarene	38
8	Western Oregon	35
9	Saint Martin's	20
10	Montana St Billings	13