UNC Volleyball Team Picked To Finish 3rd In The Big Sky Conference This Season

A year after representing the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Tournament, the UNC Bears volleyball team was picked by the league's coaches to finish third in the 2013 season. Northern Colorado is picked behind Portland State and Idaho State. Rounding out the top-five were North Dakota and Northern Arizona.

The Bears lost top producers in outside hitter Kelley Arnold and setter Marissa Hughes to graduation and outside hitter Tambre Haddock in a transfer to Brigham Young University. UNC also lost setter Allie Hutcheson who left the program but is not playing elsewhere. Despite the talent lost, the Bears still boast arguably one of the better middle blocking duos in the Big Sky with juniors Andrea Spaustat and Bri Strong, who both finished in the top four of hitting percentage in the conference last season.

The full poll is listed below:

1. Portland State

2. Idaho State

3. Northern Colorado

4. North Dakota

5. Northern Arizona

6. E. Washington

7. Sacramento State

8. Montana State

9. Southern Utah

10. Weber State

11. Montana