COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. --- The South Dakota Mines women's volleyball team was selected to finish 7th in the conference preseason poll out of 15 teams, and received a total of 98 votes from the coaches around the league and announced on Wednesday by the RMAC.

Coming off of a five-win year, the volleyball team brings back experience as well as a group of newcomers that hope to make a difference early and assist in elevating the program to new heights. 

Returning all of the top 5 women in kills from last season as well as the top 5 in digs, assists, and blocks will lead to higher expectations for the program. 

Head Coach Lauren Torvi Prochazka is excited to work with this group. "The most exciting thing about this particular group is their experience in the game and their experience together, said Lauren. Having such a large group of returners in our program is special, and I am confident that their commitment to our growth and culture will make for a really competitive season for us." 

The Hardrockers are relying on that experience to help the program move to the next step and be an above .500 team for this upcoming season. The SD Mines volleyball team brings back 17 players who were on the roster last season to go with a solid incoming group of four freshmen. The volleyball team will have the opportunity to win a lot of games and be competitive in conference play with Coach Torvi Prochazka stating "this group has grown a lot together and our leadership and maturity is exceptional. Our upperclassmen recognize the responsibility of leading this program and I am excited to watch them put their team on their backs and compete heavily in the RMAC."  

The women's volleyball team starts the season at a tournament in Billings, Montana where they will play four games in two days, with a chance to get some early momentum this season.