BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) has announced its preseason coaches' poll and players to watch for women's golf. Minnesota State Moorhead was selected to finish 11th in the preseason index while transfer Sydney Miller was noted as the Dragon 'player to watch'.

Moorhead earned their position in the poll thanks to 47 points. Wayne State topped the rankings with 178 points and 11 first-place votes. Minnesota State would earn the other three first-place nods, finishing second in the poll. At last season's NSIC Championships, MSUM finished in 12th place with a school record 54-hole score of 1066. 

"I'm thrilled to get rolling with this group. The team set many program records the past two seasons and I'm eager to get working with them. They are a great group of ladies who are fun to work with," said head coach Brock Ellingson, who enters his fourth season this fall. "They impress me every day and we are excited to compete as a team. Resilience is our motto for the 2026-2027 campaign, Roll Drags!"

Miller, a sophomore from Detroit Lakes, Minn., spent the 2025-26 season competing at the University of Mary. Miller played in 10 tournaments for the Marauders a season ago, holding an 18-hole stroke average of 83. She shot a season best 73 in the first round of the MSU/CSP Fall Brawl. Miller also had two other sub-80 rounds during the season. Miller finished 37th overall at last season's NSIC Golf Championships. She will join a veteran-laden roster led by seniors Regan Braun and Karlee Luneckas. Juniors Aspen Beyer and Kamryn Wesloh, as well as sophomore Adi Houkom, will also be back with the Dragons this fall. 

"We are thrilled to add Sydney Miller to our program! She joins us after a successful freshman campaign at UMary. Sydney is a NSIC player to watch this season because of her relentless work ethic and determination to improve every day. Coming from a prestigious program at Detroit Lakes High School, she understands what it takes to compete at a high level," said Ellingson of the sophomore. "Her dedication on and off the course has positioned her to be another leader for our program this year. Sydney's competitive mindset and positive attitude help set the standard for our team while bringing out the best in her teammates. Expect her to make a significant impact this season as she continues to grow into one of our top performers."

Moorhead opens up the fall portion of its 2026-27 schedule on September 14 as part of the 36-hole Tracy Lane Memorial, hosted by Bemidji State.