BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced the preseason coaches' poll for women's golf. Minnesota State Moorhead was selected to finish 12th with senior Halle Balluff noted as the Dragon 'player to watch'. 

MSUM earned the number 12 spot behind 37 points. Minnesota State topped the poll with 131 points and nine first-place votes while Augustana, Sioux Falls and Wayne State also earned first-place votes. 

"I'm excited for this crew to get rolling. We have a great team culture and we are eager to get better every day," said MSUM head golf coach Brock Ellingson. "This is a close group and I think we will show some great strides in 2025-2026 season. Let's go Dragons!"

MSUM is set to return four student-athletes to the fold during the 2025-26 season, including Balluff, Aspen Beyer, Regan Braun and Karlee Luneckas. Ellingson also added true freshman Adi Houkom to the roster ahead of the fall season. Balluff earns the 'player to watch' distinction after holding a team-best stroke average of 85.1 a season ago. The Moorhead, Minn., native, had a top 18-hole outing as part of the EverSpring Inn & Suites Mustang Invitational, carding a 77 in her first round. She also recorded her best 36-hole score at the same tournament behind an overall 157, six strokes off her career-best.

"Halle is primed to have a successful final year of her collegiate career. I'm excited to see how she does," said Ellingson of Balluff. "She has been consistently our best player the last two years. She is entering her second year as team captain. She does great in the classroom and works hard to improve."

The Dragons are set to begin the 2025-26 season as part of the Tracy Lane Memorial, hosted by Bemidji State. Tee times are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 8 at Bemidji Town & Country Club.