July 31, 2008

RICHARDSON , Texas - West Texas A&M is favored to win the Lone Star Conference championship, according to the 2008 LSC preseason volleyball poll announced Thursday. The league's preseason polls reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region.

The Lady Buffs compiled a 36-8 overall and perfect 12-0 LSC record in 2007. WTAMU claimed the LSC Championship, Southwest Regional title and advanced to the national semifinals for the second straight year.

WTAMU earned first-place votes on 35 of the 37 votes cast for a total of 515 points. Central Oklahoma and Midwestern State each picked up one of the remaining first place votes to finish second and third, respectively. UCO edged MSU with 448 total points to 446 for the Mustangs. Abilene Christian was picked third with 397 points, while Texas Woman's was fifth with 339, Texas A&M-Kingsville sixth with 305, Cameron seventh with 279 and Tarleton State eighth with 272. Angelo State (208), Southwestern Oklahoma (189), Southeastern Oklahoma (166), Texas A&M-Commerce (159), Eastern New Mexico (93) and East Central (69) rounded out the poll.

The 2008 volleyball season begins in late August, with 14 teams set to compete in the league including first-year program East Central. LSC teams will use a one-conference, single round-robin scheduling model in 2008, in which each team will play one match against each of the other teams. The LSC regular season title will be determined by conference matches with the champion and runner-up receiving trophies, while the postseason tournament will use an eight-team bracket, taking the top eight teams in the final conference standings. The tournament will be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-15, using the NCAA regional format and be hosted by the No. 1 seed.

2008 LSC Preseason Volleyball Poll:  1-West Texas A&M (35 first place votes) 515, 2-Central Oklahoma (1 first place vote) 448, 3-Midwestern State (1 first place vote) 446, 4-Abilene Christian 397, 5-Texas Woman's 339, 6-Texas A&M-Kingsville 305, 7-Cameron 279, 8-Tarleton State 272, 9-Angelo State 208, 10-Southwestern Oklahoma State 189, 11-Southeastern Oklahoma State 166, 12-Texas A&M-Commerce 159, 13-Eastern New Mexico 93, 14-East Central 69.