Hardin-Simmons and Texas-Dallas have been predicted to win 2011 American Southwest Conference volleyball division titles, it was announced by the ASC office on Wednesday after a vote of each division’s head coaches and sports information directors. Howard Payne was picked to finish 6th in the west division poll.
Defending ASC champion Hardin-Simmons (20-8, 14-4 ASC) was picked to win its third straight ASC West Division title with 92 points and eight of the possible 14 first-place votes in the annual poll. Head coach Sabrina Bingham’s Cowgirls hit .223 and held opponents to a league-low .130 percentage in 2010. HSU, which shared the division crown with Texas Lutheran last year, also hoisted the conference trophy in 2006.
Two-time league champion Texas Lutheran (17-12, 14-4 ASC) was the second-place pick in the West with 85 points and five first-place votes. The Bulldogs reached the ASC title game on their home floor last season but fell in a five-set thriller to HSU. McMurry (16-10, 13-5 ASC) received 71 points and picked up the remaining first-place vote to round out the West’s three teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament. Schreiner (53 pts.) was picked to finish fourth, followed by Concordia Texas (39 pts.), Howard Payne (35 pts.) and Sul Ross State (17 pts.).
Two-time ASC champion Texas-Dallas (24-6, 16-1 ASC) was predicted to take home its sixth straight East Division title with 95 points and 11 of the possible 14 first-place votes. Head coach Marci Sanders’ Comets led the league in hitting percentage (.230), kills per set (13.38) and assists per set (12.55) in 2010. UTD has compiled a 77-8 record in division play over the last five seasons.
Three-time conference champion East Texas Baptist (11-19, 9-8 ASC) was the second-place pick in the poll with 77 points and two first-place votes. Texas-Tyler (16-17, 8-9 ASC) received 67 points and the final first-place vote to round out the East’s three teams to make the ASC tournament. New league member Centenary (49 pts.) was fourth, followed by Mississippi College (45 pts.), Mary Hardin-Baylor (31 pts.) and LeTourneau (28 pts.).
The 2011 ASC season – the 16th in league history – begins as early as September 1. The six-team, single-elimination ASC tournament is slated for November 3-5 at the site of the East Division champion and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship will be on the line.
NOTES: New head coaches in the league include Rob Frost (Mary Hardin-Baylor), Scott Peluso (LeTourneau) and Suzanne Truitt (Texas-Tyler). . . . Centenary is ineligible for ASC and NCAA postseason play as a reclassifying Division III member.
2011 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
(Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors)
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2010 Record
1. Hardin-Simmons (8) 92 20-8, 14-4 ASC
2. Texas Lutheran (5) 85 17-12, 14-4 ASC
3. McMurry (1) 71 16-10, 13-5 ASC
4. Schreiner 53 11-18, 9-9 ASC
5. Concordia Texas 39 12-15, 8-10 ASC
6. Howard Payne 35 12-15, 6-11 ASC
7. Sul Ross State 17 1-25, 0-18 ASC
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2010 Record
1. Texas-Dallas (11) 95 24-6, 16-1 ASC
2. East Texas Baptist (2) 77 11-19, 9-8 ASC
3. Texas-Tyler (1) 67 16-17, 8-9 ASC
4. Centenary 49 3-23, 0-18 Summit League
5. Mississippi College 45 14-17, 7-10 ASC
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor 31 10-21, 4-13 ASC
7. LeTourneau 28 13-15, 7-10 ASC
2011 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
WEST DIVISION
Offensive Madison Reyes, OH, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
Defensive Kalynn White, MB, Sr., Concordia Texas
EAST DIVISION
Offensive Dana Hilzendager, OH, Jr., Texas-Dallas
Defensive Nicole Vanderlaan, LIB, Sr., East Texas Baptist
