Ferguson named first team preseason All-league
8/23/2009 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FRISCO, Texas - The Texas State Bobcats have been picked to win the 2009 Southland Conference regular-season championship by a vote of the league's head coaches.
Sam Houston State was tabbed to place fourth in the Southland Western division. The Bearkats' senior middle blocker Anna Ferguson earned first team honors on the 2009 preseason All-Southland team also announced by the league office.
Ferguson, a middle blocker from Dallas, led the Bearkats with 356 kills and 37 service aces and also turned in 88 digs and 104 blocks last season.
The head coaches forecast the West Division to finish with Texas State in first place followed by Lamar, UTSA, Sam Houston, UT-Arlington and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Central Arkansas is the pick to win the league's East Division, Stephen F. Austin is tabbed as the East Division runner-up followed by McNeese State, Northwestern State, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana.
Sam Houston State earned the No. 5 seed in last year's Southland Conference post-season tournament. In the first round, the Bearkats came from two sets to one down to defeat knock host Stephen F. Austin out of the tournament . The victory put SHSU in the post-season semifinals for only the second time in 12 years.
Bearkat head coach Brenda Gray looks for the momentum from the Southland tournament to carry over into the 2009 season.
"Last year our young team continued to gain momentum as the year progressed," Gray said. They posted some big wins as the year went along. Now, with a solid group of veteran players plus a strong recruiting class, we're ready to be in the hunt this fall."
Sam Houston begins the 2009 season hosting the Comfort Inn Suites Sam Houston State Classic volleyball tournament at Johnson Coliseum Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28 and 29.
Central Arkansas and Lamar led the Southland in preseason all-league picks, each with three. Central Arkansas junior Chloe Smith was the 2008 Southland Conference Player of the Year.
2009 Southland Head Coaches' Preseason Volleyball Poll
West Division
Texas State (6)............................ 129
Lamar (2).................................... 112
UTSA.......................................... 106
Sam Houston State...................... 75
UT Arlington.................................. 62
A&M-Corpus Christi..................... 30
East Division
Central Arkansas (4)..................... 118
Stephen F. Austin........................... 97
McNeese State.............................. 75
Northwestern State........................ 47
Nicholls.......................................... 38
Southeastern Louisiana.................... 35
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2009 Southland Conference Preseason Volleyball Teams |
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First Team |
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Name Class Pos. School Hometown |
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Chloe Smith Jr. MB Central Arkansas San Diego, Calif. |
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Jessica Weynand Sr. OH Texas State Brenham, Texas |
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Kendra Rowland Jr. OH UTSA Antioch, Calif. |
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Lauren Holdroff Sr. MB Lamar Friendswood, Texas |
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Anna Ferguson Sr. MB Sam Houston State Dallas, Texas |
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Robyn Smith Sr. S Central Arkansas Lubbock, Texas |
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Kelsey Jewasko So. L UTSA San Antonio, Texas |
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Amanda Aguilera So. OH UT Arlington Pearland, Texas |
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Mary Caitlin Bottles So. MB Stephen F. Austin Rowlett, Texas |
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Yelena Enwere Sr. MB Northwestern State Stafford, Texas |
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Chanel Tyler Sr. OH McNeese State San Antonio, Texas |
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Kaci Brewer Sr. OH Lamar Castroville, Texas |
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Second Team |
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Name Class Pos. School Hometown |
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Melinda Cave Jr. OH/S Texas State Placentia, Calif. |
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Adrianne Meengs Sr. S Lamar Friendswood, Texas |
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Ashley Bailey Sr. MB Stephen F. Austin Mesquite, Texas |
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Jessica Hays So. OH Central Arkansas Friendswood, Texas |
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Sarah Cartie Sr. S McNeese State Meadows Place, Texas |
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Bianca Sauls Jr. OH UT Arlington Pflugerville, Texas |
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