Despite finishing second in the Big Sky during the spring season, the conference coaches think Northern Colorado volleyball could drop a spot this fall.

UNC was picked third in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll, which was released Wednesday, behind reigning champion Weber State and Northern Arizona.

The Lumberjacks, however, finished just three points (86) ahead of the Bears (83) in league voting. Weber State was the unanimous No. 1, receiving 10 first place votes.

UNC coach Lyndsey Oates enters her 17th season for the Bears and will have five starters from the spring returning. She has logged the second-most wins in program history and is just 17 wins shy of hitting 300.

Graduate student and 2019 conference MVP Daisy Schultz returns for her fifth year, opting to accept the extra year of eligibility granted due to COVID-19.

Schultz has recorded more than 4,000 assists during her career and is expected to break the program and Division I record for the stat. She is 263 digs away from reaching 1,000 in her career.

Junior Rachel Hickman received All-Big Sky Second Team and Top Newcomer honors in the spring and contributed big numbers for the Bears. She finished second on the team with 184 aces, behind then-senior Taylor Muff, and a .320 attack percentage.

Senior libero Kyndall Feather returns for another season with UNC. She topped the team with 255 digs and was second with 28 service aces.

The Bears lost starters Muff and Lauren Hinrichs, who opted not to accept the extra year of eligibility. Jadyn McCartney also opted to end her UNC career, but she was injured for the season.

UNC's roster features four new players with two freshmen and two transfers.

Oates said at Northern Colorado's fall media day last week that the team has a lot of talent to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament and hopefully win the first round, but knows the Big Sky will be a challenge.

The Bears open at home against Wyoming for an exhibition at 6 p.m. Aug. 20. They begin the regular season a week later at home against Northwestern.

Tickets for the matches are available online at UNCBears.com/tickets or through the ticket office.

Big Sky preseason volleyball poll results

1. Weber State
2. Northern Arizona
3. Northern Colorado
4. Montana State
5. Sacramento State
6. Portland State
T7. Southern Utah
T7. Idaho
9. Eastern Washington
10. Idaho State
11. Montana