Ladyjacks Tabbed Fifth In SLC Preseason Polls
8/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women’s volleyball team was picked fifth in the Southland Conference preseason polls conducted by coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Thursday.
SFA earned 103 votes in the SID poll and 99 points in the coaches poll.
“We are extremely excited about the 2014 season,” head coach Debbie Humphreys said. “It is nice to have 10 upperclassmen on the squad who understand what it takes to be successful. The girls are in a great place mentally and I’m looking forward to watching them progress throughout the season. Our pre-season schedule will challenge us to make sure we are prepared for the start of SLC play.”
The Ladyjacks finished the 2013 season with a 16-16 overall record and 8-10 mark in conference. SFA entered the SLC tournament as a ninth seed and was eliminated by Central Arkansas, the regular season and eventual tournament champion, to close the season.
The Ladyjacks return 10 letterwinners from last year’s squad, highlighted by preseason All-SLC selections OJ Olson and Jill Ivy. Olson finished fourth in the SLC in 2013 in service aces (35), second in digs (645), 11th in aces per set (.28) and 28th in the nation in digs per set (5.12). Ivy, a two-time all-conference selection, finished 10th in the conference last year in kills (311) and 12th in kills per set (3.02).
Olson and Ivy are joined by fellow letterwinners Janet Hill (Sr., DS), Paige Holland (Sr., S), Jacque Allen (Jr., MB), Tori Bates (Jr., OH), Keeley Kainer (Jr., OH), Madison Martin (Jr., OH), Shannon Connell (So., S) and Justice Walker (So., MB). SFA also welcomes Jordan McArdle (Jr., OH), J’Keisha Evans (Jr., OH), Kelsi Bartlett (Fr. OH), Lexus Cain (Fr. DS), Abby McIntyre (Fr., OH) and Lauren Taft (Fr., MB) to the fold for this season.
The Ladyjacks will open the 2014 season at the Arkansas Invitational on Aug. 29-30, before returning for their home opener with North Texas on Sept. 1 inside Shelton Gym.
2014 Southland Conference Volleyball Preseason Polls
COACHES POLL
Rk. School (first-place votes), PTS
1. Central Arkansas (8), 140
2. Northwestern State (5), 135
3. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 118
4. Sam Houston State, 106
5. Stephen F. Austin, 99
6. Houston Baptist, 94
7. UIW, 69
8. McNeese State, 67
9. Lamar, 61
10. Southeastern Louisiana, 49
11. Abilene Christian, 36
12. Nicholls, 28
13. New Orleans, 12
SID POLL
Rk. School (first-place votes), PTS
1. Central Arkansas (10), 140
2. Northwestern State (3), 132
3. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 117
4. Sam Houston State, 105
5. Stephen F. Austin, 103
6t. Houston Baptist, 81
6t. McNeese State, 81
8. Lamar, 66
9. UIW, 62
10. Southeastern Louisiana, 48
11. Abilene Christian, 40
12. Nicholls, 27
13. New Orleans, 12
-SFA-
