Bison Slotted Second in Preseason Coaches Poll

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced its Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday and Oklahoma Baptist found itself ranked second. It marks the third straight year that OBU was slotted either first or second.
 
Checking in at No. 1 is Harding, a team that garnered 118 votes and nine 1st-place votes. The Bison followed with 107 total votes and a pair of first-place nods. Rounding out the top three was Southwestern Oklahoma State.
 
A season ago, OBU posted a 19-11 record and finished second in the GAC during the regular season with a 13-3 mark.
 
Heading into head coach Anna Howle's 16th season, the Bison return several key frontline players including the GAC Defensive Player of the Year from 2022 Maci Langford, All-GAC First Team selection D'Erricka Frierson as well as All-GAC honorees Avery Hellmuth and Jill Leslie.
 
The team's 2023 campaign starts in four weeks in Mobile, Alabama during the West Florida SpringHill Suites Invitational. Be sure to follow the Bison on Instagram and Twitter.
 

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2023 GAC Preseason Volleyball Poll

1. Harding 118 (9)
2. Oklahoma Baptist 107 (2)
3. Southwestern Oklahoma State 103
4. Ouachita 87 (1)
5. Southern Nazarene 82
6. Arkansas Tech 58
7. East Central 57
8. Northwestern Oklahoma State 57
9. Henderson State 51
10. Southern Arkansas 35
11. Southeastern Oklahoma State 19
12. Arkansas-Monticello 18