Stephen F. Austin Picked to Repeat Regular-Season Volleyball Title

8/20/2018 10:00:00 AM

Southland Conference

FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin is the favorite to lift the 2018 Southland Conference regular-season championship trophy, the league announced Monday through its poll via on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

The Ladyjacks are coming into the new season as defending champions, claiming a 14-2 record in the 2017 league season to win their first championship since 2014. SFA returns 13 letterwinners from last season, including three Southland Preseason All-Conference First Team selections in Haley Coleman, Danae Daron and Makenzee Hanna. Junior setter Ann Hollas also earned a preseason second-team accolade for the 'Jacks to lead the league in preseason all-conference honorees.

With 14 first-place votes, SFA (276 total points) edges Central Arkansas (270) by six total points in the poll. The Sugar Bears picked up 11 first-place votes following a 2017 season that saw them claim the Southland Tournament title as the No. 2 seed. UCA's season ended last year with a 3-1 loss at No. 10 USC in the NCAA First Round.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (208), who earned the regular season and tournament championships in 2015 and 2016, holds a seven-point advantage over Houston Baptist (201) for the No. 3 spot in the predicted order of finish. HBU just beat out Abilene Christian (197) for the four-slot by four total points. The Wildcats made a Southland Tournament championship appearance in their first season eligible last year, also becoming the first No. 8 seed in tournament history to make the final.

Northwestern State (196) received a first-place vote and is just one point behind Abilene Christian in the poll. Sam Houston State (182) is expected to place seventh in the league while McNeese rounds out the top-eight with 156 total points.

UIW (97), New Orleans (90), Lamar University (69), Nicholls (54) and Southeastern Louisiana (32) are tabbed to place ninth through 13th, respectively.

The preseason poll is voted on by head coaches and SIDs from each Southland volleyball school. Voting for one's own team is not permitted.

2018 Southland Conference Coaches' and Sports Information Directors Preseason Poll

Pl. Team (First-place votes)	Total
Stephen F. Austin (14)	276
Central Arkansas (11)	270
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	208
Houston Baptist	201
Abilene Christian	197
Northwestern State (1)	196
Sam Houston State	182
McNeese	156
UIW	97
New Orleans	90
Lamar University	69
Nicholls	54
Southeastern Louisiana	32