Two Kats named preseason All-Southland
8/9/2011 5:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Senior outside hitter Carli Kolbe is a first team preseason All-Southland selection and junior outside hitter/libero Kaylee Hawkins was a second team honoree.
Defending regular season league champion Central Arkansas is picked to repeat as 2011 titlists according to the coaches' vote. UTSA, the squad that upset No. 1 seed UCA in the Southland tournament finals last year in Huntsville to represent the league in the NCAA Division I national tournament is tabbed second in a tie with Texas State.
Lamar is the fourth place pick following by UT-Arlington, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, McNeese State, Texas A&M-Corpus Chrisi, Northwestern State, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana.
Carli Kolbe, a two-time first team All-Southland Conference selection from College Station, begins her senior season ranked No. 18 in Sam Houston career kills (1,169). She finished third in the Southland in 2010 in kills (424) and kills per set (3.69), becoming the first Bearkat to post more than 400 kills in back-to-back seasons since 2005.
"Carli is one of the most complete players we've had here at Sam Houston. She defi nitely is a top candidate for Southland Conference player of the year." Sam Houston head coach Brenda Gray said. "She is a fierce competitor who keeps her game at a high level and raises the level of her teammates."
Hawkins also is a two-time All-Southland Conference selection, earning first team honors as a libero in 2009 and honorable mention as both a defensive specialist and outside hitter in 2010. The Dickinson product is a versatile athlete who can play a number of positions.
"Kaylee is a consistent, steady competitor who is a rock for this team," Gray said. "She has started for us at libero and outside hitter. She will do whatever it takes to help her team."
Sam Houston begins the 2011 schedule Friday and Saturday, August 26 and 27, at Johnson Coliseum hosting the annual Bearkat Invitational. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Pan American, Rutgers and Louisiana Tech will participate in the event with the Kats.
Tickets for the tournament and for all other Bearkat home volleyball matches are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the Sam Houston State ticket office.
The ticket office is located inside the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
2011 Southland Conference Volleyball
Preseason Head Coach Poll
Rk. School PTS
|
1. |
Central Arkansas (5) |
112 |
|
2. |
UTSA (3) |
107 |
|
Texas State (2) |
107 |
|
|
4. |
Lamar (2) |
84 |
|
5. |
UT Arlington |
78 |
|
6. |
Sam Houston State |
74 |
|
7. |
Stephen F. Austin |
59 |
|
8. |
McNeese State |
58 |
|
9. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
39 |
|
10. |
Northwestern State |
31 |
|
11. |
Nicholls State |
30 |
|
12. |
Southeastern Louisiana |
13 |
Preseason All-Southland Conference Volleyball Team
First Team
|
Name |
Class |
Pos. |
University |
|
Jessica Hays |
Sr. |
OH |
Central Arkansas |
|
Sr. |
OH |
Sam Houston State |
|
|
Kelsi Jewasko |
Sr. |
L |
UTSA |
|
Marissa Collins |
So. |
S |
Central Arkansas |
|
Kelsey Schwirtlich |
Jr. |
S |
UTSA |
|
Amari Deardorff |
So. |
RS |
Texas State |
|
Amanda Aguilera |
Sr. |
OH |
UT Arlington |
|
Alicia Shaffer |
Sr. |
L |
UT Arlington |
|
Amber Calhoun |
Sr. |
MB |
Texas State |
|
Cristin Curl |
Sr. |
L |
Central Arkansas |
|
MC Bottles |
Sr. |
MB |
Stephen F. Austin |
|
Taylor Hammonds |
Jr. |
MB |
Central Arkansas |
Second Team
|
Name |
Class |
Pos. |
University |
|
Whitney Walls |
Jr. |
RS |
UTSA |
|
Christina Hobbs |
Jr. |
MB |
Lamar |
|
Wendy Krell |
Jr. |
MB |
Lamar |
|
Jessica Nagy |
So. |
MB |
Central Arkansas |
|
Jr. |
UT |
Sam Houston State |
|
|
Becky Bekelja |
Jr. |
S |
McNeese State |
