Aug. 7, 2006

FRISCO - Texas State's volleyball squad has been picked second in the Southland Conference's West Division in both the SLC Coaches' and SLC Sports Information Directors' polls, which were released Monday by league offices in Frisco.

Traditional powerhouse Stephen F. Austin is expected to repeat as Southland Conference volleyball champion according to preseason polls, and SFA was also the top pick in the West Division, earning six first place votes from the coaches and eight from the SIDs.

The 2006 SLC volleyball season will have a new look as the league expanded to 12 teams on July 1, adding Central Arkansas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The conference volleyball schedule will feature a West and East Division and host an eight-team tournament as opposed to its traditional six-team format in the past.

In addition to Texas State, teams participating in the West Division will be Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin. The East Division consists of Central Arkansas, Lamar, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana. The two divisions will remain in this format for two years and at the conclusion of the 2007 campaign Stephen F. Austin and Lamar will flip divisions.

SFA blazed thought the league a year ago with a 19-0 SLC record and finished with an impressive 28-3 overall mark. Since 1992, only three SLC teams have produced a perfect league record; SFA in 2005 (19-0); Texas State in 2000 (20-0); and Texas-Arlington in 1999 (9-0).

Last year's regular season crown marked the second straight and fifth overall for SFA, and Stephen F. Austin was the only team in the conference to collect 20-plus regular season wins in 2005. The Ladyjacks also return the bulk of their offense and defense, however, SFA was eliminated from the conference tournament in the semifinals by eventual tournament champion Bobcats.

Texas State claimed the second spot in the West with four (coaches) and two (SID) first-place votes. The Bobcats became one of three teams in the Southland Conference to ever win back-to-back SLC Tournament titles. With the tournament crown, the Bobcats made their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Texas State returns five of its six starters to the court this season, including two all-conference honorees from 2005.

The league voters expect Texas-San Antonio to finish third in the West behind the offensive powers of Meagan Daniel, defensive presence of Connie Picard and one of the league's top setters in DeeDee Strickland. UTSA collected two first-place votes in both polls.

The Roadrunners finished the 2005 campaign at 18-11 overall and 12-6 in the league. Daniel was named the 2005 Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year. UTSA returns three All-SLC performers from a year ago.

After finishing second in the league a year ago, Sam Houston State was voted to place fourth in the West this season, followed by Texas-Arlington and newcomer Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

McNesse State is expected to win the East Division, as the Cowgirls return three starts from a squad that finished fifth at 10-6 in the SLC and 15-11 overall last season.

After finishing eighth a year ago, Lamar is expected to be an improved team as preseason polls have the Lady Cardinals No. 2 in the East. LU returns one of the conference's top offensive players in senior Buchi Okoh as well as three other starts. Lamar posted a 6-10 SLC record and went 8-21 in 2005.

Northwestern State rounds out the top three in the East. NSU is under new leadership with first-year head coach Britany Uffelman. Uffelman was promoted to the top position in February after serving two years as an assistant coach for the Demons.

Rounding out the 2006 East preseason poll are Southeastern Louisiana (fourth), Nicholls State (fifth) and newcomer Central Arkansas (sixth).

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams but the SIDs were able to place their squads atop the list.

Numerous teams in the Southland Conference kick off their 2006 campaign on August 25 at various tournaments. For a composite SLC volleyball schedule please visit the conference's official website at www.southland.org. For more information on Bobcat Volleyball, which opens camp today in San Marcos, log on to www.txstatebobcats.com.