RICHARDSON, Texas – The Lone Star Conference Volleyball Preseason poll was released on Wednesday, and the Aggie squad was picked to finish the 2018 season ranked No. 10.
Angelo State claimed the top spot in the preseason rankings, receiving 304 total votes, including eight first place nods. West Texas A&M ranked second with 10 top votes to finish with 282 points, followed by Tarleton State, the defending LSC regular season and tournament champions, in third with 277 points and seven first-place nods.
Texas A&M-Commerce was fourth with 263 points and four top votes, while Texas Woman's was fifth (197), and Texas A&M-Kingsville sixth (191). Eastern New Mexico (133), Midwestern State (100), Western New Mexico (98), Cameron (80), and UT Permian Basin (55 and the remaining first-place vote) rounded out the poll.
Additionally, TAMUK's Madison Brabham was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, TAMUC's Shelley Capron was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and ASU's Meghan Parker was tabbed the LSC's Preseason Setter of the Year.
The league's preseason polls and awards reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region.
Cameron is coming off of a 7-22 overall record and 3-17 conference mark in head coach
Tatiana Booth's first season at the helm. However, the return eight key players from a year ago, including outside hitter
Paige Dixon, middle blocker
Brandy Carr, and libero
Brittnee Altic.
Dixon, a senior from Paris, Texas, led CU with 3.32 digs per set and is one of the top returning attackers in the conference. Carr led CU at the net last season, recording 1.22 blocks per set, while Altic had great floor coverage and a killer serve, racking up 461 digs and 35 services aces in 2017.
They along with the rest of the returning Aggies, will be joined by new faces including junior college transfers
Amina Olajuwon and
Peyton Little and freshmen
Bailee Smith,
Kirsten Evans,
Sarah Wright, and
Shantalle Demirjian.
Cameron will have two more scrimmage dates before their first match of the season. They host Oklahoma City, Frank Phillips College, and Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, Aug. 15 starting at 10 a.m. and then Central Christian College on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. The season starts on Aug. 24 as they face Quincy and Mississippi College at the Southern Arkansas Tournament.
