INDIANAPOLIS — The Oakland volleyball team was projected to finish fifth in the 2021 Horizon League preseason coaches poll, the league announced Thursday. The Golden Grizzlies tabbed 66 points overall in the poll, which was voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. 

Defending HL champion Wright State (112) was picked to win the conference and tallied a league-high five first-place votes. Northern Kentucky (111), Milwaukee (94), and Green Bay (66) rounded out the top five in front of Oakland. Slotted in the last six spots were UIC (62), Purdue Fort Wayne (57), Cleveland State (52), Robert Morris (43), IUPUI (22), and Youngstown State (17). 

Oakland is under the direction of 14th-year head coach Rob Beam, who guided the Golden Grizzlies to an 8-8 mark in conference play and an overall record of 15-14 in 2019. Beam has helped OU finish fourth or higher in the league standings in eight of the last 10 seasons. In 2014, Beam led Oakland to its first-ever berth to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. 

OU returns a pair of 2019 Honorable Mention All-League selections in Jamie Walling and Lindsay Wightman. Walling, a middle hitter, ranked inside the HL's top-10 in points per set (third / 3.97), kills per set (fourth / 3.31), and hitting percentage (eighth / .280), while Wightman was second in the conference in digs per set (5.31) and first on the team in total digs (478). Other key returners include 2019 All-Freshman team recipient Brittany Welch, along with Jessica Riedl and Annabelle Tomei. 

The Golden Grizzlies open their long-awaited season on January 25 and 26 in Moon Township, Pennsylvania against Robert Morris, which enters its inaugural year in the HL. The Golden Grizzlies' home opener will be on Feb. 8 against defending regular-season HL champion, Wright State.

2021 HORIZON LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

1. Wright State– 112 (5)
2. Northern Kentucky – 111 (3)
3. Milwaukee – 94
4. Green Bay – 90 (2)
5. Oakland – 66
6. UIC – 62 (1)
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 57
8. Cleveland State – 52
9. Robert Morris– 43
10. IUPUI – 22
11. Youngstown State – 17

Horizon League Release