UCAFANS.COM | GO UCA BEARS!

Texas State Picked to Win 2010 Southland Volleyball Title

FRISCO, Texas - Texas State has been picked to win the 2010 Southland Conference regular-season championship by a vote of the league's coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday.

The top rankings in both the head coaches' and sports information directors' polls were split between the Southland tournament champions Texas State and the regular-season champions Central Arkansas.

Texas State received nine first-place votes and 118 points in the coaches' poll, while the sports information directors picked Central Arkansas, which collected six first-place votes and 115 points. The Bobcats received the majority of the first-place votes with 13 out of a possible 24 between the two polls.

Central Arkansas, led by 2009 Southland coach of the year Steven McRoberts, is coming off its best season as a league member, posting a 27-3 overall record and sweeping the conference competition (16-0). Leading the Sugar Bears in defense of the school's first Southland Conference title in any sport is two-time league player of the year senior Chloe Smith and libero of the year junior Cristin Curl. UCA will begin play in 2010 as a fully credited Division I university having completed its four-year transition from Division II and will be eligible to compete in the conference and NCAA tournaments.

Coaches Poll (First-place votes)

West Division

1. Texas State (9) 118
2. Stephen F. Austin 99
3. Sam Houston State 78
T4. UT Arlington 70
T4. UTSA 70
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 50

East Division

1. Central Arkansas (3) 111
2. Lamar 83
3. McNeese State 46
4. Northwestern State 25
5. Nicholls 22
6. Southeastern Louisiana 20

SID Poll

West Division

1. Texas State (4) 112
2. Stephen F. Austin (2) 105
3. UT Arlington 83
4. Sam Houston State 74
5. UTSA 66
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 35

East Division

1. Central Arkansas (6) 115
2. Lamar 77
3. McNeese State 49
4. Nicholls 28
T5. Northwestern State 24
T5. Southeastern Louisiana 24

Southland Conference Announces 2010 Volleyball Preseason Teams

FRISCO, Texas - Central Arkansas senior Chloe Smith, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior Emma Ridley and Lamar sophomore Wendy Krell highlight the list of returning student-athletes on the 2010 All-Southland Conference preseason volleyball teams, which were announced Wednesday by the conference office.

Smith, a native of San Diego, Calif., was the fourth player in Southland history to repeat as league player of the year. Smith led the league in kills per set (4.46), ranked fourth in total attacks (1,121) and overall kills (442). Her .280 hitting percentage ranked ninth and she also collected a league-high four player of the week awards.

Joining Smith from Central Arkansas on the preseason teams is junior Cristin Curl on the first-team and junior Jessica Hays on the second-team. Curl, a libero from Amarillo, Texas, led the Southland in digs per set last season (4.63) and ranked fourth overall (486). Hays, an outside hitter from Friendswood, Texas, ranked third overall in service aces (34) in addition to 294 kills, 289 digs, 37 blocks and 20 assists.

2010 Southland Conference Preseason Volleyball Teams

First Team

Name University Class Pos. Hometown
Chloe Smith* Central Arkansas Sr. RS San Diego, Calif.
Amber Calhoun* Texas State Jr. MB Houston, Texas
Carli Kolbe* Sam Houston State Jr. OH College Station, Texas
Emma Ridley* Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. OH Phoenix, Ariz.
Kaylee Hawkins* Sam Houston State So. L Dickinson, Texas
Tara Frantz* UT Arlington Jr. OH Santa Fe, Texas
Cristin Curl* Central Arkansas Jr. L Amarillo, Texas
M.C. Bottles* Stephen F. Austin Jr. MB Rowlett, Texas
Wendy Krell* Lamar So. MB Plano, Texas
Mo Middleton* Texas State Sr. OH Glendale, Ariz.
Emily Shearin* UT Arlington Jr. MB Dallas, Texas
Whitney Walls* UTSA So. OH Arlington, Texas

Second Team

Name University Class Pos. Hometown

AJ Watlington Texas State Sr. RS Aledo, Texas
Jessica Hays Central Arkansas Jr. OH Friendswood, Texas
Melinda Cave Texas State Sr. RS Placentia, Calif.
Bianca Sauls UT Arlington Sr. OH Pflugerville, Texas
Kelsey Owens Stephen F. Austin Sr. OH The Colony, Texas
Kendra Rowland UTSA Sr. OH Antioch, Calif.

*Returning All-Southland Conference Selection

SUGAR BEARS PICKED FIRST, THREE NAMED PRESEASON ALL-SLC
VOLLEYBALL • Aug 11, 2010

The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team was selected to win the Southland Conference by the league's sports information directors the conference announced on Wednesday. The Sugar Bears, who won the league regular season title with a 16-0 record in 2009, received 115 points with six first votes, while Texas State had 112 points with four first place votes. In the coaches poll, Texas State was the top vote getter (118 pts., 9 first place) and the Sugar Bears were second (111 pts., 3 first place).

more:
http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?action=news&sportid=4&article=3822

This should be a great season for the VolleyBears.....wishing them the best and looking forward to my annual home game...

Congrats to Chloe, Cristin and Jessica - well deserved! I'm really looking forward to seeing the team this year.

BTW, does anyone know if the alumni game and the Purple-Gray scrimmage will be webcast? I sure hope so!!

Courtesy of ucasports via facebook.

WOW!! Looks awesome!!

Big match in late September at Mizzou (actually Bowling Green tourney).....that should help the old strength of schedule....my Mizzou friends think the Tigers will have a cake walk...I told them not to put too much down on the spread....

I think I just $H!+ my briches after seeing that wall. That room looks mean. That is the place where all other volleyball teams go to die!

They did not get my permission to use this likeness of me when I first get up in the morning and look into the mirror. However, I am honored and wish the girls the best of luck in the coming season.