RICHARDSON, Texas – The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor have been picked to win the 2017 American Southwest Conference Volleyball East and West Division titles, respectively, after a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors the conference office announced Monday (Aug. 14).
UT Dallas (32-3 / 12-0 ASC) led the East Division with 144 points in the preseason poll and received a all 24 first place votes. The Comets set a program record with 32 overall wins last season and finished seventh in the final American Volleyball Coaches Top 25 Poll. Head Coach Marci Allison and the Comets enter the season as the two-time defending ASC champions and are coming off a trip to the NCAA Division III Championship regional finals.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (21-10 / 11-3 ASC) led the West Division with 136 points in the preseason poll and received 18 out of a possible 24 first place votes. Head Coach Rob Frost and the Cru have won the West Division the past two seasons and were the 2014 ASC champions.
Twenty-four players are among those to watch in the 2017 season. Nominated by the head coaches, the watch list includes four players who earned All-Conference honors and 10 All-Division award recipients.
Season Notes
- Louisiana College will enter their first season of varsity play in 2017. The Lady Wildcats will be eligible for the regular season and ASC Championship Tournament titles.
- Regular season play will begin Friday, September 1. The ASC Championship is scheduled for November 2-4 and will be hosted at the site of the East Division No. 1 seed. An automatic berth to NCAA Division III Championship will be on the line.
- Belhaven University and McMurry University will be eligible for the regular season title, but will be ineligible for the ASC Championship Tournament and NCAA Division III Championship Tournament due to NCAA reclassifying rules.
ASC Volleyball Preseason Poll
East Division
| Rank |
Team (1st) |
Pts. |
2016 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
UT Dallas (24) |
144 |
32-3 (12-0) |
| 2. |
UT Tyler |
117 |
18-9 (7-5) |
| 3. |
East Texas Baptist |
96 |
13-14 (5-7) |
| 4. |
Belhaven# |
60 |
13-17 (n/a) |
| 5. |
LeTourneau |
54 |
9-24 (1-11) |
| 6. |
Louisiana College |
31 |
2017 First Varsity Season |
# Eligible for ASC regular-season title, ineligible for ASC Championship/NCAA Division III Championship Tournaments (NCAA Div. III Provisional)
West Division
| Rank |
Team (1st) |
Pts. |
2016 Record (ASC) |
| 1. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor (18) |
136 |
21-10 (11-3) |
| 2. |
Hardin-Simmons |
110 |
16-13 (10-4) |
| 3. |
McMurry (2)% |
103 |
20-12 (8-6) |
| 4. |
Concordia Texas |
70 |
10-15 (5-9) |
| 5. |
Howard Payne |
60 |
11-16 (5-9) |
| 6. |
Sul Ross State |
25 |
3-24 (2-12) |
% Eligible for ASC regular-season title, ineligible for ASC Championship/NCAA Division III Championship Tournaments (NCAA Div. III Reclassifying)
ASC Volleyball Players to Watch List
East Division
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
| Kelly Aholt |
S |
Sr. |
Belhaven |
| Paris Babino |
S |
Fr. |
Louisiana College |
| Dylan Brinkman*E |
OH |
So. |
UT Dallas |
| Brieanne Brown |
RS |
Sr. |
UT Tyler |
| Bailey Byas |
MB |
So. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Olivia Huval |
DS |
Fr. |
Louisiana College |
| Samantha Lee |
MB |
Jr. |
UT Tyler |
| Allison Sevening |
RS |
Jr. |
East Texas Baptist |
| Caroline ShecterleE |
S |
So. |
UT Dallas |
| Savanna Stutts |
RS/MB |
Sr. |
LeTourneau |
West Division
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
Team |
| Zhartaezia BradleyW |
MB |
Jr. |
Howard Payne |
| Carly CusterW |
OH |
Sr. |
Concordia Texas |
| Natasha Evans*W |
S/RS |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Allison KusterW |
OH |
Jr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Cheyanne LoveladyW |
S |
Sr. |
Howard Payne |
| Justice McGowan*W |
MB |
So. |
McMurry |
| Sarah Paolini |
MB |
So. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| Odalis Rodriguez |
L |
Jr. |
McMurry |
| Grace Schulz*W |
MB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
| Marissa Stinson |
MB |
So. |
Concordia Texas |
| Breean Sturges |
OH |
Sr. |
Sul Ross State |
| McKenna ThomasW |
L |
Sr. |
Sul Ross State |
2016 All-ASC Selection*
2016 East Division Selection E
2016 West Division Selection W