What to watch at the 2023 DII women’s volleyball Colorado Premier Challenge

The Colorado Premier Challenge is not just a clever name. Every year, slews of top-25 teams head to Denver for a challenging two days of matches between some of the elite programs of DII women’s volleyball. 

This year is no different, as West Texas A&M — DII women’s volleyball’s defending champions — and Concordia-St. Paul — DII women’s volleyball’s most decorated team in its history — are just two of the headliners.

2023 PREVIEW: 5 storylines for the 2023 DII women’s volleyball season

Let’s take a look at what to watch, but before we do, make sure to check out the full schedule and lineup by clicking or tapping here. 

5 storylines to watch at the Colorado Premier Challenge

1. The stars shine bright on one of DII women’s volleyball’s largest stages. Since the tournament began in 1996, the host schools — Regis and MSU Denver — never fail to stack the field at this event. The two teams themselves are perennial top-25 teams, with Regis opening the season at No. 18 and the Roadrunners coming in at No. 3. In fact, the Roadrunners join the top-four schools in the AVCA preseason poll with No. 1 West Texas A&M, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul and No. 4 Wayne State (Neb) all on the schedule.

Who else is joining in on Denver’s most fun volleyball party of the year? How about two-time national runners-up (and preseason No. 15) Western Washington? Preseason No. 9 Cal State LA and No. 12 West Florida will be on hand ensuring that more than half of the preseason top-15 schools in DII women’s volleyball are represented. All but one of the 12 teams had at least 20 wins last year, and the lone team that didn’t (Central Missouri) was 19-11. Simply put, if you want to see a bunch of DII women’s volleyball championship tournament teams, true national championship contenders, and future postseason All-Americans, tune in this weekend.

2. Wayne State (Neb) looks to repeat as team champion. Since 1996, there have been only two instances when a team won consecutive Colorado Premier Challenges. Both times, perhaps to no one’s surprise, were Concordia-St. Paul, first in 2008-09 and then 2018-2019. Wayne State (Neb) — which swept the Golden Bears in straight sets for the 2022 Colorado Premier Challenge title — looks to etch its name into the history books as just the second school to do just that.

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