DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State volleyball will enter the 2026 season picked ninth in the Frontier Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, released Monday by the conference.
The Blue Hawks received 49 points in the poll, finishing just two points behind eighth-place Valley City State. Providence was selected as the preseason favorite with nine first-place votes and 118 points, narrowly edging Bellevue, which received the remaining three first-place votes and 113 points.
Montana Tech was picked third with 97 points, followed by Dakota State with 87 and Carroll with 80 to round out the top five.
Dickinson State enters the fall looking to build on an eight-win improvement during its first season in the expanded Frontier Conference. The Blue Hawks finished 13-14 overall and 9-13 in conference play in 2025 after going 5-21 the previous season.
Dickinson State finished ninth in the conference standings, just outside the eight-team Frontier Conference Tournament field.
A large portion of last season's production returns for head coach Stormy Owsley in 2026, led by AVCA All-America Honorable Mention setter Rylee Kogolshak and three returning players who earned Frontier Conference postseason honors.
"We're excited about the experience and leadership our returners bring back this season," Owsley said. "We saw tremendous improvement from this group throughout the spring, and we're eager to see that growth carry over into the fall."
Kogolshak headlines the returning group after a decorated junior season in which she earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and AVCA First Team All-North Region honors. She was also a First Team All-Frontier selection after directing the Blue Hawk offense with 1,051 assists, averaging 9.92 per set. Kogolshak added 312 digs, 99 kills, 26 service aces and 65.5 total blocks.
Senior pin hitter Aubrey Allison returns after earning Second Team All-Frontier honors last fall. Allison led Dickinson State with 328 kills at 3.18 per set while also collecting a team-high 346 digs. She appeared in 103 sets and finished the season with 21 service aces and 32 total blocks.
Junior Carmen Pallone gives Dickinson State a third returning All-Conference performer after receiving Frontier honorable mention recognition in 2025. Pallone produced 235 kills with a .267 attack percentage and led the Blue Hawks with 109 total blocks and 33 service aces while appearing in all 106 sets.
The returning group extends beyond Dickinson State's three All-Conference selections. Senior defensive specialists Ashtynn Egan and Geraldyne Fernandez each collected 318 digs last season. Fernandez averaged a team-best 4.24 digs per set.
Sophomore Cate Floy returns after recording 158 kills during her first collegiate season, while junior middle blocker Macie Wheeler contributed 67 kills and 32 total blocks in 53 sets. Senior Taylor Gaer and sophomore Cameron Gouw add additional returning experience.
The Blue Hawks have also added several transfers to the 2026 roster. Defensive specialist Paige Rose joins the program from Gillette College, defensive specialist Haleigh Henschel arrives from Dawson Community College, setter Joleen Jaeger comes to Dickinson State from Yakima Valley and outside hitter Tiara Sands joins the Blue Hawks after previously playing at Webber International.
Dickinson State will be tested early with seven matches over its first two weekends. The Blue Hawks open the season Aug. 21-22 at the Siouxland Invitational in Sioux City, Iowa, with matches against Clarke, McPherson, Hastings and Morningside.
The following weekend sends Dickinson State to Caldwell, Idaho, for three matches at the College of Idaho Tournament. The Blue Hawks face The Master's, College of Idaho, and Eastern Oregon.
Frontier Conference play begins Sept. 2 when Dickinson State hosts Bismarck State at 6 p.m. inside Scott Gymnasium. The Blue Hawks then travel to Dakota State Sept. 4 and preseason No. 2 Bellevue Sept. 5.
Dickinson State will get its first look at preseason favorite Providence Sept. 19 at Scott Gymnasium. Bellevue visits Dickinson Oct. 9, while the Blue Hawks make the return trip to Providence Oct. 23.
The 22-match Frontier schedule concludes with road matches at Carroll Nov. 6 and Rocky Mountain Nov. 7.
The top eight teams in the conference standings will advance to the Frontier Conference Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 12-14 at the PE Center in Helena, Montana. The Frontier will receive two automatic berths to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship, with one going to the regular-season champion and the other to the conference tournament champion.
2026 Frontier Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
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Providence (Mont.) (9) — 118
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Bellevue (Neb.) (3) — 113
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Montana Tech — 97
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Dakota State (S.D.) — 87
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Carroll (Mont.) — 80
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Montana Western — 65
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MSU-Northern — 63
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Valley City State (N.D.) — 51
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Dickinson State (N.D.) — 49
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Bismarck State (N.D.) — 33
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Mayville State (N.D.) — 20
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Rocky Mountain (Mont.) — 16
