1998 Volleyball Pre-Season Poll

RICHARDSON, Texas – In its first year of eligibility for the American Southwest Conference Volleyball Championship, East Texas Baptist University has been selected to win the East Division according to a vote taken by East Division Volleyball Coaches.

East Texas Baptist was ineligible for the conference championship last year as it phased out its athletics scholarships. The Tigers recorded a 19-11 overall record in 1998 and received four first-place of votes to top the poll with 29 points. Following at a close second in Austin College with 26 points. The defending East Division Champion Kangaroos had a 21-10, 9-2 ASC record last season and will be a strong contender again this year. Austin College advance to the post season tournament but lost to McMurry in three games in the semifinals.

Austin College’s Ginger Dunlap has been named Pre-Season Hitter of the Year in the East Division and teammate Michelle Alexander has been named Pre-Season Setter of the Year. Dunlap ranked 6^th in kills last season with 3.10 per game and 2^nd in digs with 3.83 per game. Alexander led the conference with 10.56 assists per game and ranked 6^th in service aces with 0.55 per game.

Conference newcomer Concordia University at Austin is picked to finish third in the East Division with 18 points and is followed by University of Dallas (15 points), LeTourneau University (13 points) and Mississippi College (8 points).

RICHARDSON, Texas – Schreiner College was ineligible for the conference championship last season as it continued to phase out its athletics scholarships. But this year, the Mountaineers are picked just ahead of McMurry University of the West Division Championship, according to a vote taken by West Division Volleyball Coaches.

Schreiner College comes off a 14-9 season and is a real threat to capture the conference championship The Mountaineers received two first-place votes and 21 points. McMurry received 20 points and is picked second. The defending co-champion of the West Division advanced to the championship game of the post-season tournament but lost to Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-1. The Indians, despite a 14-15 overall record in 1998, finished 10-2 in the conference.

McMurry senior Sabrina Griffin has been selected West Division Pre-Season Hitter of the Year and sophomore teammate Hollie Smith has been named West Division Pre-Season Setter of the Year. Griffin ranked 6^th in hitting percentage with a .249 average, 2^nd in kills with 3.59 per game, 3^rd in digs with 3.73 per game and 7^th in service aces with 0.54 per game. Smith ranked 4^th in assists as a freshman with 8.46 per game.

Defending ASC Champion Mary Hardin-Baylor is picked third in the West Division with 19 points. The Crusaders hosted the post-season tournament and defeated LeTourneau 3-0, and McMurry 3-1 en route to the title. Howard Payne University (14 points), Hardin-Simmons University (9 points) and Sul Ross State (4 points) round out the West Division Pre-Season Poll.

1998 ASC Pre-Season Volleyball Poll
(Number of votes for predicted place to finish)

East Division

Rank	1	2	3	4	5		Points
1. East Texas Baptist	4	1	-	-	-	-	29
2. Austin College	1	4	-	-	-	-	26
3. Concordia-Austin	-	-	3	-	2	-	18
4. University of Dallas	-	-	1	-	1	-	15
5. LeTourneau	-	-	-	2	2	1	13
6. Mississippi College	-	-	1	-	-	4	8

West Division

Rank	1	2	3	4	5	6	Points
1. Schreiner College	2	1	1	-	-	-	21
2. McMurry	1	2	1	-	-	-	20
3. Mary Hardin-Baylor	1	1	2	-	-	-	19
4. Howard Payne	-	-	-	3	1	-	14
5. Hardin-simmons	-	-	-	1	3	-	9
6. Sul Ross State	-	-	-	-	-	4	4

ASC Volleyball Coaches Pre-Season Poll