2013 ASC Volleyball Composite Schedule
Interview with HSU head coach Sabrina Bingham
RICHARDSON, Texas ––
Hardin-Simmons has been predicted to win the 2013 American Southwest Conference volleyball title, it was announced by the league office on Thursday (Aug. 16) after a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches and sports information directors. HSU’s
Christine Sas and East Texas Baptist’s
Kolby Sharp earned preseason player of the year honors.
Three-time defending conference champion
Hardin-Simmons, which went 29-4 overall and 16-0 ASC West Division play, was picked to win another league title with 198 points and all but two of the 20 possible first-place votes in the annual poll. Head coach Sabrina Bingham’s Cowgirls put together a 25-match winning streak, led the ASC in service aces (213) and reached the first round of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship last season. HSU also hoisted the conference trophy in 2006.
Two-time league champion Texas-Dallas (27-7, 14-2 ASC East Division) was the second-place pick with 179 points and the two remaining first-place votes. Head coach Marci Sanders’ Comets led the conference with 12.99 kills per set last year. UTD (2008-09) was the last team to win the ASC title other than HSU.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (22-8, 12-4 ASC East) received 151 points to be the choice for third place, just two points more than fourth-place selection East Texas Baptist (19-12, 12-4 ASC East). Texas-Tyler (13-17, 5-11 ASC East) was picked to finish fifth, followed by Concordia Texas (10-18, 5-11 ASC West) to round out what would be the six teams to qualify for the ASC Championship Tournament.
Mississippi College was predicted for a seventh-place finish with 81 points. Howard Payne (74 pts.) was the choice in the eighth spot, followed by LeTourneau (49 pts.) and Sul Ross State (24 pts.).
Sas (
Cedar Park, Texas / Vista Ridge HS), a 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter, was named ASC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after averaging 2.99 kills per set and totaling 47 service aces last season. She also averaged 3.73 digs per set and racked up 38 blocks.
Sharp (
Pearland, Texas / Lutheran South Academy), a 5-foot-11 sophomore middle blocker, was named ASC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 103 blocks – 38 of the solo variety – in 2012. She also led the league with a .373 hitting percentage and added 43 digs.
Sas and Sharp were both first-team all-conference selections. Sharp was also earned freshman of the year honors.
The 2013 ASC season – the 18th in league history – begins as early as Aug. 30. The six-team, double-elimination ASC tournament is slated for Nov. 7-9 at the site of the regular season champion and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament will be on the line.
NOTES: After 15 years of having East and West Divisions, the ASC will return to playing in one division. . . . New head coaches in the conference are Concordia Texas’
Christy Clawson-Diver and Sul Ross State’s
Marilyn McReavy-Nolen. . . . Texas Lutheran (15-13, 12-4 ASC West) and Schreiner (12-15, 8-8 ASC West) are no longer members of the conference . . . . Hardin-Simmons is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll. . . . To talk about ASC Volleyball on Twitter this season, use the hashtag:
#ASCvb.
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2013 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL |
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[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors] |
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Team (first-place votes) |
Points |
2012 Record |
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1 |
Hardin-Simmons (18) |
198 |
29-4, 16-0 ASC (1st West) |
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2 |
Texas-Dallas (2) |
179 |
27-7, 14-2 ASC (1st East) |
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3 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
151 |
22-8, 12-4 ASC (T2nd East) |
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4 |
East Texas Baptist |
149 |
19-12, 12-4 ASC (T2nd East) |
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5 |
Texas-Tyler |
111 |
13-17, 5-11 ASC (T4th East) |
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6 |
Concordia Texas |
84 |
10-18, 5-11 ASC (T4th West) |
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7 |
Mississippi College |
81 |
12-18, 5-11 ASC (T4th East) |
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8 |
Howard Payne |
74 |
10-16, 5-11 ASC (T4th East) |
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9 |
LeTourneau |
49 |
7-25, 1-15 ASC (6th East) |
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10 |
Sul Ross State |
24 |
3-19, 1-15 ASC (6th West) |
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* A single division format will be used this season instead of East and West; Former league members’ records last season: Schreiner (12-15, 8-8 ASC West), Texas Lutheran (15-13, 12-4 ASC West). |
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2013 ASC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR |
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[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors] |
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Offensive |
Christine Sas, OH, Sr., Hardin-Simmons |
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Defensive |
Kolby Sharp, MB, So., East Texas Baptist |
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ALL-TIME ASC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS |
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2012 |
Hardin-Simmons |
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2011 |
Hardin-Simmons |
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2010 |
Hardin-Simmons |
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2009 |
Texas-Dallas |
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2008 |
Texas-Dallas |
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2007 |
Texas Lutheran |
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2006 |
Hardin-Simmons |
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2005 |
Austin College |
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2004 |
Texas Lutheran |
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2003 |
East Texas Baptist |
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2002 |
East Texas Baptist |
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2001 |
East Texas Baptist |
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2000 |
Austin College |
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1999 |
Concordia-Austin |
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1998 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
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1997 |
McMurry |
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1996 |
Howard Payne |