GAC Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
 
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — After finishing second the last two years in the regular season and reaching the Great American Conference Championship finals in its first year of postseason eligibility, Southern Nazarene University was picked to finish third by the coaches in the 2015 GAC Volleyball Preseason Poll.
 
The Crimson Storm earned 97 points and were just ahead of GAC newcomer Oklahoma Baptist who had 87. GAC regular season and tournament champion Arkansas Tech is the preseason favorite as the Golden Suns garnered all 11 possible first-place votes with Harding getting Tech's vote for first place. Tech has 121 points and is followed by Harding who had 104 points.
 
Tech returns Madison Nagel, the 2014 GAC Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and GAC Tournament MVP. She set GAC single-season records with 701 digs and 5.43 digs per set. The Golden Suns also return 2014 All-GAC selections Kaylee Konsella and Katie Huff. Both ranked in the top 10 in GAC in hitting percentage.
 
The Lady Bisons took second in the poll. Head coach Meredith Fear enters her fourth season with a 77-23 record at the helm. She must replace three All-GAC selections from last season, but will return Anna Leigh Cargile, who garnered Honorable Mention All-GAC honors after ranking in the top 10 in service aces and digs.
 
Southern Nazarene placed third following the preseason vote. In their first year eligible for the GAC Championships, the Crimson Storm advanced to the title game. Head coach Kevin Ingram lost 2014 GAC Player of the Year Taylor Jacobs and All-GAC setter Kaylee Piatt to graduation. SNU will return Abbey Bell; she ranked second to Nagel in digs per set.
 
GAC newcomer Oklahoma Baptist landed in the fourth position. The Bison join the GAC following a seven-year run in the NAIA that saw the program go 204-72 with four conference championships, all under head coach Anna Howle.
 
Southern Nazarene gets its season underway Sept. 4-5, at the St. Edwards Hill Topper Classic.