Black Hills State

Nickname: Yellow Jackets.

2006 record: 20-10 overall, 9-5 DAC, third place; lost to Dickinson State 3-0 in DAC championship.

Coach: Jhett Albers, eighth year, 102-123.

Coaches' poll:32 points, fourth.

Key returnees: Kristin Engle, so., MH, second-team All-DAC. Mandy Brumfield, so., S. Mindy Mayer, sr., MH. Carly Benz, sr., RH. Jennifer Wetzel, sr., L.

Notes: Mandy Brumfield, a Dickinson High graduate, led the DAC in assists at 11.6 per game.

Dakota State

Nickname: Trojans.

2006 record: 9-18 overall, 1-13 DAC, eighth place; did not qualify for DAC tournament.

Coach: Cindy Henning, eighth year, 101-106.

Coaches' poll:12 points, eighth.

Key returnees: Jenna Kostelecky, sr., OH-DS. Laura Lenoue, jr., L. Rachael Jensen, so., OH. Katie Bassett, jr., S.

Dickinson State

Nickname: Blue Hawks.

2006 record: 28-8 overall, 14-0 DAC, first place; defeated Black Hills State 3-0 in DAC championship; lost to National American, S.D., 3-1 in Region 3 championship; lost to Concordia, Calif., 3-1 in NAIA national tournament quarterfinals.

Coach: Dave Moody, 18th year, 436-152.

Coaches' poll:48 points, first.

Key returnees: Elizabeth Rodriguez, sr., MB, first-team All-American, first-team all-region, DAC player of the year, first-team All-DAC. Elizabeth Castillo, sr., OH, second-team All-American, first-team all-region, first-team All-DAC. Nancy Nyongesa, sr., OH, honorable mention All-American, first-team all-region, first-team All-DAC. KateLynn Stiefel, sr., S, second-team all-region, first-team All-DAC, DAC setter of the year.

Notes: The Blue Hawks are ranked fifth in the NAIA preseason poll. - DSU has won 12 straight conference titles. … Rodriguez led the DAC in hitting percentage (.392) and blocks (1.37 per game). - Nyongesa led the DAC in kills (4.11 per game). She was the DAC player of the year in 2005. - Stiefel, a Beulah native, is a former Miss Volleyball.

Jamestown College

Nickname: Jimmies.

2006 record: 24-7 overall, 10-4 DAC, second place; lost to Black Hills State 3-2 in DAC semifinals.

Coach: Chris Mahoney, 10th year, 173-149.

Coaches' poll:44 points, second.

Key returnees: Kristi Senfnter, sr., S, second-team All-DAC. Megan Dooley, sr., MB. Darci Purath, jr., OH. Ali Edwards, so., OH.

Mayville State

Nickname: Comets.

2006 record: 13-16 overall, 5-9 DAC, fifth place; lost to Black Hills State 3-0 in DAC quarterfinals.

Coach: Maxine Mehus, second year, 13-16.

Coaches' poll:18 points, sixth.

Key returnees: Ashley Nelson, jr., OH. Betsy Winkler, so., S. Alyssa Clancy, 5-11, so., MB. Becky Evans, jr., OH. Brianna Gebeke, so., RS.

Minot State

Nickname: Beavers.

2006 record: 7-15 overall, 3-11 DAC, seventh place; did not qualify for DAC tournament.

Coach: Johnna Lewis, first year.

Coaches' poll:13 points, seventh.

Key returnees: Whitney Stobbs, sr., OH-MH. Rachel McCauley, sr., OH. Ashley Henry, sr., S. Tracee Tesch, so., S. Suzy Paradine, sr., RH.

South Dakota Tech

Nickname: Hardrockers.

2006 record: 15-10 overall, 6-8 DAC, fifth place; lost to Valley City State 3-2 in DAC quarterfinals.

Coach: Beth Honaker, first year.

Coaches' poll:24 points, fifth.

Key returnees: Jennie Malone, sr., MH. Jenny Hiykel, jr., L. Amanda Cammack, jr., MH. Stephanie Carpio, jr., OH. Tessa Howe, jr., S. Katherine Hanson, so., MH.

Valley City State

Nickname: Vikings.

2006 record: 16-15 overall, 8-6 NSIC, fourth place; lost to Dickinson State 3-0 in DAC semifinals.

Coach: Craig Case, second year, 18-16.

Coaches' poll:33 points, third.

Key returnees: Heidi Larson, jr., RS, first-team All-DAC, DAC freshman of the year. Megan Floerke, jr., S, second-team All-DAC. Amy Morrison, sr., MH. Karissas Fahlman, jr., OH.

- Compiled by Lou Babiarz