The Mavericks were picked third in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll for the fourth consecutive year.
Photo by: Omaha Athletics
Volleyball Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll
Aug 25, 2021 | Volleyball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Omaha volleyball team was selected third in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Wednesday morning.
The Mavericks were picked third in the preseason poll for the fourth consecutive season while Sadie Limback and Sami Clarkson were named to the Summit League Players to Watch List.
Omaha went 13-6 in the spring season, falling to top-seeded Denver in the semifinal of the Summit League Championship.
Limback enters her senior campaign after becoming the second Maverick in the Division I era to be named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region Team. The Waverly, Mo., native finished the season as the Summit League leader with a .404 hitting percentage and third in the conference with 4.08 kills per set.
Limback's .404 hitting percentage is the highest by a Maverick in the Division I era and ranks second all-time in program history. The senior became the first player in Summit League history to be named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week in four consecutive weeks last season. Limback was the only player in the Summit League to have three matches with at least 25 kills on the year.
Clarkson finished last season as the league leader with 10.57 assists per set and second with 761 assists on the year. The Omaha native had 60 assists in a win at North Dakota State, the most assists in a single match by a Summit League player on the season. Clarkson tallied nine double-doubles on the year and had nine matches with 40 or more assists, including three matches with at least 50 assists.
The Mavericks open the season this weekend with a pair of matches at the Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa. Omaha opens the campaign at Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. before taking on Drake on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
2021 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team – Points (First-Place votes)
1. South Dakota - 78 (6)
2. Denver - 76 (4)
3. Omaha - 62
4. Kansas City - 60
5. North Dakota State - 49
6. Oral Roberts - 36
7. South Dakota State - 35
8. North Dakota - 23
9. St. Thomas - 18
10. Western Illinois - 13
Summit League Players to Watch List
Elizabeth Juhnke | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Junior
Sami Slaughter | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Fifth Year
Ellie Anderson | Denver | Setter | Graduate Student
Brianna Green | Denver | Middle Blocker | Junior
Sadie Limback | Omaha | Right Side | Senior
Sami Clarkson | Omaha | Setter | Junior
Melanie Brecka | Kansas City | Right Side | Senior
Alli Schomers | Kansas City | Setter | Graduate Student
Ali Hinze | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Sophomore
Syra Tanchin | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Junior
Aixa Vigil | Oral Roberts | Outside Hitter | Senior
Sarah Thiessen | Oral Roberts | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Redshirt Senior
Crystal Burk | South Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Senior
Tatum Pickar | South Dakota State | Defensive Specialist | Senior
Darian Chwialkowski | North Dakota | Libero | Senior
Lexi Ahrens | North Dakota | Middle Hitter | Senior
Fran Egan | St. Thomas | Senior
Grace Anetipa| St. Thomas | Senior
Peyton Bowman | Western Illinois | Middle | Senior
Aubrey Putman| Western Illinois | Outside Hitter | Junior
The Mavericks were picked third in the preseason poll for the fourth consecutive season while Sadie Limback and Sami Clarkson were named to the Summit League Players to Watch List.
Omaha went 13-6 in the spring season, falling to top-seeded Denver in the semifinal of the Summit League Championship.
Limback enters her senior campaign after becoming the second Maverick in the Division I era to be named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region Team. The Waverly, Mo., native finished the season as the Summit League leader with a .404 hitting percentage and third in the conference with 4.08 kills per set.
Limback's .404 hitting percentage is the highest by a Maverick in the Division I era and ranks second all-time in program history. The senior became the first player in Summit League history to be named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week in four consecutive weeks last season. Limback was the only player in the Summit League to have three matches with at least 25 kills on the year.
Clarkson finished last season as the league leader with 10.57 assists per set and second with 761 assists on the year. The Omaha native had 60 assists in a win at North Dakota State, the most assists in a single match by a Summit League player on the season. Clarkson tallied nine double-doubles on the year and had nine matches with 40 or more assists, including three matches with at least 50 assists.
The Mavericks open the season this weekend with a pair of matches at the Cyclone Challenge in Ames, Iowa. Omaha opens the campaign at Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. before taking on Drake on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
2021 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team – Points (First-Place votes)
1. South Dakota - 78 (6)
2. Denver - 76 (4)
3. Omaha - 62
4. Kansas City - 60
5. North Dakota State - 49
6. Oral Roberts - 36
7. South Dakota State - 35
8. North Dakota - 23
9. St. Thomas - 18
10. Western Illinois - 13
Summit League Players to Watch List
Elizabeth Juhnke | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Junior
Sami Slaughter | South Dakota | Outside Hitter | Fifth Year
Ellie Anderson | Denver | Setter | Graduate Student
Brianna Green | Denver | Middle Blocker | Junior
Sadie Limback | Omaha | Right Side | Senior
Sami Clarkson | Omaha | Setter | Junior
Melanie Brecka | Kansas City | Right Side | Senior
Alli Schomers | Kansas City | Setter | Graduate Student
Ali Hinze | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Sophomore
Syra Tanchin | North Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Junior
Aixa Vigil | Oral Roberts | Outside Hitter | Senior
Sarah Thiessen | Oral Roberts | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Redshirt Senior
Crystal Burk | South Dakota State | Outside Hitter | Senior
Tatum Pickar | South Dakota State | Defensive Specialist | Senior
Darian Chwialkowski | North Dakota | Libero | Senior
Lexi Ahrens | North Dakota | Middle Hitter | Senior
Fran Egan | St. Thomas | Senior
Grace Anetipa| St. Thomas | Senior
Peyton Bowman | Western Illinois | Middle | Senior
Aubrey Putman| Western Illinois | Outside Hitter | Junior
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
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/ VolleyballTuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
