Aug. 20, 2008

2008 Southland Conference Preseason Polls and All-Conference Selections

ARLINGTON, Texas- The Southland Conference announced its 2008 volleyball preseason coaches and sports information directors polls and preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday, as the Mavericks were ranked fifth in both polls among 12 SLC programs.

Both polls featured UT Arlington in third place among western division teams, receiving 75 votes from the coaches and 72 votes from the SIDs. "I'm pleased with where we are ranked," fifth-year head coach Diane Seymour said. "After graduating five seniors and losing all six starters, to see us in third-place in the west division is a good situation for us."

The SLC preseason favorite is Texas State, who last season won its third SLC Tournament championship in the last four years. The Bobcats became only the second fifth-seed to win the tourney in SLC history. Texas State received 114 total votes (eight first place) from the coaches and 111 votes (seven first place) from the SIDs. In addition, Texas State had three preseason first team All-SLC picks and four second team selections.

Three-time defending conference champion Stephen F. Austin will make the move to the Eastern Division this season after tallying a 15-1 league record a year ago, while sharing the regular season title with Lamar. Stephen F. Austin received the most votes in the Eastern Division (113 - coaches poll; 111 - SID poll) while receiving three first-place votes in the coaches poll and four first-place votes from the SIDs.

Lamar, who was tabbed No. 2 in the Western Division, was the only other team to receive a first-place vote, collecting one vote in each poll. Lamar switches to the Western Division this season.

"This (ranking) is something we can hang our hat on," Seymour said. "It gives us something to work for. It let's our young freshmen know that we need to step up and get our name back to the top when it comes to the end of the season or next year."

UT Arlington leads all SLC programs with 12 regular season championships and 10 SLC Tournament titles. The Mavericks last championship was in 2002, when they claimed the league and post-season championship. The 2002 Mavericks finished 26-7 overall and 18-2 in SLC competition.

CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll Released
Two of UT Arlington's 2008 opponents appeared in the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll that was released on Tuesday. Middle Tennessee State was tabbed No. 15 and Duke was one of 20 programs that received votes. The Mavs will take on both teams on their home court in the UT Arlington-Hilton Invitational, Sept. 12-13 at Texas Hall.
--- (Middle Tennessee State finished 35-3 last season, while Duke posted a 25-7 overall record in 2007)

2008 Southland Conference Preseason Volleyball Polls

Coaches

WESTERN DIVISION
1. Texas State (8) 114
2. Lamar (1) 113
3. UT Arlington 75
4. UTSA 73
5. Sam Houston State 59
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 36

EASTERN DIVISION
1. Stephen F. Austin (3) 113
2. McNeese State 78
3. Central Arkansas 67
4. Northwestern State 46
5. Southeastern Louisiana 16
6. Nicholls 15

Sports Information Directors Poll

WESTERN DIVISION
1. Texas State (7) 111
2. Lamar (1) 101
3. UT Arlington 72
4. UTSA 69
5. Sam Houston State 56
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 31

EASTERN DIVISION
1. Stephen F. Austin (4) 101
2. Central Arkansas 78
3. McNeese State 71
4. Northwestern State 46
5. Nicholls 17
6. Southeastern Louisiana 16