SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) has announced its 2024 Preseason Volleyball Coaches’ Poll. Midland University was selected third in the annual poll by the conference’s coaches. Northwestern College totaled 121 points with eleven of the twelve first-place votes while Concordia University (111 pts, one first-place vote) was picked second.
Last year, the Warriors went 18-12 (10-6 GPAC) and reached the final site of the NAIA National Championship for the 10th time in 11 years. They advanced out of pool play and reached the quarterfinals for the seventh time under head coach Paul Giesselmann.
Midland will open its 2024 campaign next week at the IWU Invitational. The Warriors will play three matches in Marion, Indiana against three quality opponents. They’ll open with IU Kokomo at noon on Thursday, August 15, and then face Indiana Wesleyan, the reigning national champs, at 4:00 p.m. On Friday, Midland will face Grace at 11:00 a.m. before returning home.
That will be the first test for the Warriors who will be vying to reach the 45th Annual NAIA National Volleyball Championship. The national championship begins with the Opening Round on campus sites on November 23 with winners advancing to the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The final site begins on December 4 with the national championship match set for December 10.
The 2024 GPAC volleyball season will consist of 16 conference matches with 12 teams competing for the conference crown. The conference regular and postseason champions will earn the automatic berth to the NAIA Volleyball Championship.
