SAN ANTONIO - Midwestern State is picked to finish seventh in the 2012 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll of coaches, sports information and selected media as released Tuesday afternoon at the league's media day.
The Mustangs return three starters off of last season's 15-16 squad which also finished seventh in the league despite closing the year on a seven-game skid culminating with a 3-0 loss to Angelo State in the opening round of the LSC Postseason Tournament.
Senior outside hitter Shelbi Stewart (2.44 kills per set, .243 attack percentage), sophomore setter Kristan Addudell (5.70 assists per set) and junior outside hitter Brandi Flores (1.22 kills per set, 2.79 digs per set) are returning starters.
Junior middle blocker Caitlin Wallace (2.48 kills per set, .297 attack percentage, an All-LSC honorable mention performer last season, leads a talented core of returning players which includes senior defensive specialists Mallory Goon and Taylor Parker, sophomore middle blocker Kasey Decker and sophomore defensive specialist Casey Fletcher.
The team will receive a solid push from incoming transfers in junior setter/outside hitter Courtney Haney (North Central Texas), junior outside hitter Beatriz Villalba (Eastern Arizona) and junior middle blocker Michelle Blount (North Central Texas) and incoming freshmen Destinee Beavers, an outside hitter/middle blocker from Las Vegas, Nev., and Scout Wonsang, a defensive specialist from Prosper.
West Texas A&M received 21 of the 27 first-place votes as the favorite to win the league followed by Angelo State (5 first-place votes), Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, Texas Woman's (1 first-place vote), Cameron, MSU, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas A&M-Commerce, Incarnate Word and Eastern New Mexico.
Texas Woman's Viktorija Jablonska garnered top offensive honors while West Texas A&M's duo of Erin Dougherty and Lacy Hayes were named defensive and setter of the year, respectively.
Midwestern State opens its 2012 campaign at St. Mary's (Texas) in the Rattler-Hilltopper Classic on Aug. 31 in San Antonio.
2012 LSC Preseason Poll
Offensive Player of the Year
Viktorija Jablonska, Texas Woman's
Defensive Player of the Year
Erin Dougherty, West Texas A&M
Setter of the Year
Lacy Hayes, West Texas A&M
|
Place |
Team (1st votes) |
Points |
|
1 |
West Texas A&M (21) |
291 |
|
2 |
Angelo State (5) |
269 |
|
3 |
Abilene Christian |
227 |
|
4 |
Tarleton State |
206 |
|
5 |
Texas Woman's (1) |
203 |
|
6 |
Cameron |
130 |
|
7 |
Midwestern State |
125 |
|
8 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
112 |
|
9 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
96 |
|
10 |
Incarnate Word |
93 |
|
11 |
Eastern New Mexico |
30 |
