Volleyball team picked to finish 5th in Southland
8/11/2010 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Kolbe, a junior from College Station, led the Bearkats in kills with 461 and ranked third in the league in kills with 3.67 per set. She was a first team All-Southland selection last year. During her two years as a Bearkat, Kolbe has totaled 745 kills and 601 digs.
Hawkins, a sophomore from Dickinson, was a first team All-Southland honoree as the Bearkats' libero. She set a Southland Conference and school record with 44 digs in Sam Houston's five-set victory over McNeese State. Hawkins ranked second in the Southland in digs per set (4.35). Hawkins' 522 digs this year rank as the fifth highest single season total in Sam Houston history.
Defending league champion Texas State is the favorite to win again in 2010 according to the poll of the Southland Conference head volleyball coaches. The coaches also selected the preseason all-league team.
Texas State received nine of the 12 coaches' first place votes. Central Arkansas was the pick for the runner-up spot. UCA, which has been granted full NCAA Division I status this year, will be competing for the league title for the first time in 2010. During the Sugar Bears' four-year move up from Division II membership, the team was not eligible for post-season play.
Stephen F. Austin and Lamar were selected third and fourth in the coaches' rankings. Sam Houston was voted fifth followed by UT-Arlington, UTSA, A&M-Corpus Christi, McNeese State, Northwestern State, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana.
Sam Houston returns eight letter winners from its 2009 team that rolled up a 20-14 record. The 20 victories were the most wins for Sam Houston volleyball since 1996. The Kats finished Southland Conference play as runners-up in the West Division with a 12-4 league mark. Sam Houston went undefeated at home in Johnson Coliseum in conference play.
The Bearkats open the 2010 season on Friday and Saturday August 27-28 when Sam Houston hosts the annual Comfort Suites Sam Houston Volleyball Classic at Johnson Coliseum.
2010 Southland Conference Preseason Volleyball Teams and Polls
|
First Team |
|||
|
Name |
University |
Class |
Pos. |
|
Chloe Smith |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
MB |
|
Amber Calhoun |
Texas State |
Jr. |
MB |
|
Sam Houston State |
Jr. |
OH |
|
|
Emma Ridley |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
OH |
|
Sam Houston State |
So. |
L |
|
|
Tara Frantz |
UT Arlington |
Jr. |
OH |
|
Cristin Curl |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
L |
|
MC Bottles |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
MB |
|
Wendy Krell |
Lamar |
So. |
MB |
|
Mo Middleton |
Texas State |
Sr. |
OH |
|
Emily Shearin |
UT Arlington |
Jr. |
MB |
|
Whitney Walls |
UTSA |
So. |
OH |
|
Second Team |
|||
|
AJ Watlington |
Texas State |
Jr. |
RS |
|
Jessica Hays |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
OH |
|
Melinda Cave |
Texas State |
Jr. |
MB |
|
Bianca Sauls |
UT Arlington |
Sr. |
OH |
|
Kelsey Owens |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
OH |
|
Kendra Rowland |
UTSA |
Sr. |
OH |
2010 Preseason All-Southland Conference Volleyball Coaches Poll
Team Points
1. Texas State (9) 118
2. Central Arkansas (3) 111
3. Stephen F. Austin 99
4. Lamar 83
5. Sam Houston State 78
T6. UT Arlington 70
T6. UTSA 70
8. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 50
9. McNeese State 46
10. Northwestern State 25
11. Nicholls 22
12. Southeastern Louisiana 20
