The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers volleyball team will begin their 2019 season in only a few weeks. The Rangers were picked No. 8 overall according to the Great American Conference preseason poll.

Northwestern is coming back from a tough season, after finishing the year ranked eighth in the GAC. The Black and Red finished their past season with an overall record of 18-14, with a 7-9 conference record.

“The preseason poll is what we consider a starting point and I love it,” head coach Fred Aubuchon stated after being asked about the poll. “For us, it is something that we should acknowledge, but it does not define who we are as a team. Once the season starts the poll loses it’s impact and the outcome are placed solely into our hands.”

The Lady Rangers, with 59 points, are only ten points below No. 7 ranked Oklahoma Baptist and almost 24 points higher than both Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas who are tied at No. 9 with 35 points.

The inner state rivalry will continue as Southwestern Oklahoma State sits as the preseason favorite with 109 points and 3 of the 12 first place votes making them the toughest match-up the Rangers will face this season based off the conference poll. The Rangers will travel to Weatherford on Oct. 8.

Harding (Arkansas) and Henderson (Arkansas) follow closely with 106 points and 105 points and four first place votes in each. Arkansas Tech is in the mix in fourth with 95 points and the final first place vote.

Ouachita Baptist (Arkansas), Southern Nazarene, and Oklahoma Baptist all sit within four points of each other in the fifth, sixth, and seventh spots respectively.

Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello and East Central round out the conference poll.

Northwestern volleyball begins the season with a four-game tournament at the Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational in San Angelo, Texas. First game is scheduled for Sept. 6 against Texas A&M University-Kingsville followed by a contest later in the evening against Fort Lewis College.