The LeTourneau University volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2016 ASC Volleyball East Division in a preseason poll released on Thursday. The poll comes as a result of votes by league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
UT Dallas was the preseason favorite in the ASC East Division after receiving 18 out of a possible 20 first-place team votes. Behind the Comets were UT Tyler, followed by East Texas Baptist and the YellowJackets to round out the poll. In the West Division, Mary Hardin-Baylor is the preseason favorite after picking up 15 of the 20 first-place votes. Behind UMHB were Hardin-Simmons, Hardin-Simmons, Concordia, McMurry, Sul Ross State and Howard Payne.
In addition to the preseason poll, each team was able to nominate a pair of players to the Preseason Players to Watch List. On the list of Players to Watch from LeTourneau were seniors Dolores Henson (Sr., Outside Hitter, Twin Falls, Idaho) and Skylar Horan (Sr., Middle Blocker/Right-Side Hitter, Fort Worth, Texas).
Regular season play will begin Thursday, September 1. The ASC Championship is November 3-5, and the West Division No. 1 seed is the host site. An automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship will be on the line.
ASC Volleyball Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
Rank | Team | Pts. | 2015 Record (ASC) |
1. | UT Dallas | 81 (18) | 31-3 (11-0) |
2. | UT Tyler | 61 (2) | 20-12 (6-5) |
3. | East Texas Baptist | 43 | 21-7 (8-3) |
4. | LeTourneau | 26 | 13-18 (2-9) |
Belhaven # | 12-18 (N/A) |
# Ineligible for 2016 ASC Championship/NCAA Tournament (NCAA Div. III Provisional)
West Division
Rank | Team | Pts. | 2015 Record (ASC) |
1. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 115 (15) | 19-12 (10-2) |
2. | Hardin-Simmons | 95 (4) | 13-17 (5-7) |
3. | Concordia Texas | 87 | 14-13 (7-5) |
4. | McMurry % | 68 (1) | 19-11 (N/A) |
5. | Sul Ross State | 37 | 6-17 (2-10) |
6. | Howard Payne | 35 | 5-20 (1-11) |
% Ineligible for 2016 ASC Championship/NCAA Tournament (NCAA Div. III Reclassifying)
ASC Volleyball Players to Watch List
East Division
Name | Cl. | Pos. | Team |
Kelly Aholt | Jr. | S | Belhaven |
Blaykleigh Smythe | Jr. | MB | Belhaven |
Mallory Sanders* E | Sr. | OH | East Texas Baptist |
Morgan Rupp | Sr. | DS | East Texas Baptist |
Dolores Henson | Sr. | OH | LeTourneau |
Skylar Horan | Sr. | MB/RS | LeTourneau |
Michelle Toro* E | Sr. | MB | UT Dallas |
Holyn Handley* E | Sr. | RS | UT Dallas |
Rebecca Floyd* | Sr. | S | UT Tyler |
Samantha Lee E | So. | MB | UT Tyler |
West Division
Name | Cl. | Pos. | Team |
Carly Custer | Jr. | OH | Concordia Texas |
Lexi Perez W | So. | L | Concordia Texas |
Lauren Wish W | Sr. | L | Hardin-Simmons |
Morgan Prince W | So. | S/RS | Hardin-Simmons |
Shelbie Harry W | Sr. | OH | Howard Payne |
Alyssa Beasley | So. | MH | Howard Payne |
Abby Voskuil W | Sr. | OH | Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Natasha Evans W | Jr. | S | Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Katy Headrick | Sr. | MB | McMurry |
Odalis Rodriguez | So. | L | McMurry |
Brittany Serrano W | Sr. | OH | Sul Ross State |
Candice Hugi W | Sr. | OH | Sul Ross State |
2015 All-ASC Selection*
2015 East Division Selection E
2015 West Division Selection W