Two-time defending American Southwest Conference champion Hardin-Simmons is the preseason choice to win the ASC West Division and HSU senior Madison Reyes and junior Christine Sas have been named the preseason offensive and defensive players of the year in the division.
The Cowgirls went 29-6 in 2011 and won the ASC title. HSU received 11 of the 12 votes in the poll of the leagues head coaches and sports information directors and had 71 total poll points. Texas Lutheran received the only other first-place vote and was a distant second with 60 points.
Concordia, Schreiner, Howard Payne and Sul Ross State rounded out the poll.
Reyes, who was the league MVP as a junior outside hitter, led the ASC with 3.84 kills per set a year ago. She was also the MVP of the ASC tournament.
“It is an honor, I think preparation is a lot of what went into,” said Reyes. “I want to work hard for my team to keep the honor.”
Sas, who is also an outside hitter, averaged 3.77 digs per set and also had 2.84 kills per set and led the league with 58 aces.
“It is really exciting, because I take a lot of pride in my defense,” said Sas. “As a non-defensive player, it is nice to be recognized.”
Texas-Dallas was the preseason pick to win the ASC East. UTD’s Dana Hilzendager was the preseason offensive player of the year in the ASC East and Texas-Tyler’s Emily Wood was the preseason defensive player of the year.
The 2012 ASC season – the 17th in league history – begins as early as Sept. 1. The six-team, double-elimination ASC tournament is slated for Nov. 1-3 at the site of the West Division champion and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship will be on the line.
2012 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Hardin-Simmons (11) 71 28-6, 15-3 ASC (2nd)
2. Texas Lutheran (1) 60 15-7, 11-7 ASC (3rd)
3. Concordia Texas 46 13-17, 9-9 ASC (4th)
4. Schreiner 32 7-22, 6-12 ASC (5th)
5. Howard Payne 29 9-22, 5-13 ASC (6th)
6. Sul Ross State 14 1-23, 0-17 ASC (7th)
*Former league member McMurry was 28-4, 16-2 ASC West (1st) last season.
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2011 Record
1. Texas-Dallas (11) 70 24-8, 15-2 ASC (1st)
2. Texas-Tyler (1) 53 20-12, 11-6 ASC (3rd)
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor 52 21-10, 13-4 ASC (2nd)
4. East Texas Baptist 37 10-20, 6-11 ASC (4th)
5. Mississippi College 26 11-21, 5-12 ASC (5th)
6. LeTourneau 14 1-28, 1-14 ASC (6th)
*Former league member Centenary was 12-14, 0-0 ASC East last season.
2012 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]
WEST DIVISION
Offensive Madison Reyes, OH, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Defensive Christine Sas, OH, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
EAST DIVISION
Offensive Dana Hilzendager, OH, Sr., Texas-Dallas
Defensive Emily Wood, LIB, So., Texas-Tyler
ALL-TIME ASC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS
Conference
2011 Hardin-Simmons
2010 Hardin-Simmons
2009 Texas-Dallas
2008 Texas-Dallas
2007 Texas Lutheran
2006 Hardin-Simmons
2005 Austin College
2004 Texas Lutheran
2003 East Texas Baptist
2002 East Texas Baptist
2001 East Texas Baptist
2000 Austin College
1999 Concordia-Austin
1998 Mary Hardin-Baylor
1997 McMurry
1996 Howard Payne
Information provided by HSU athletics department.
