Volleyball picked fourth in WAC preseason poll

ARLINGTON – The Sam Houston Bearkats were picked fourth in the annual WAC Preseason Poll and Hannah Baker was named the Preseason Libero of the Year on Thursday, per a release from league officials.

The Kats are coming off a WAC Southwest Division title in 2021 and were one of four teams to receive a first-place vote in the poll, coming in with 99 total points, four more than rival Stephen F. Austin who was predicted to finish fifth.

NM State is the preseason favorite for the crown, getting six first-place votes and 135 points, while defending WAC Tournament champion Utah Valley earned five first-place votes and 129 points.

Grand Canyon rounded out the top three with 127 total points, getting the final first-place nod.

Sam Houston returns 10 players from its division-title squad, led by Baker who was an all-WAC second team choice last year. She finished second in the WAC in 2021 with an average of 5.11 digs per set and tied an SHSU single-match record with 44 digs in a 5-set win over Tulsa in September.

Baker and the Kats took down UTSA in four sets in an exhibition match on Wednesday night in Huntsville, but officially kick off the 2022 season at the K-State Invitational on August 26 with matches vs Kansas State and Florida A&M.

Volleyball picked fourth in WAC preseason poll

Players Mentioned

Hannah Baker

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