Southland Volleyball Tournament Starts Friday
Tournament Field Set
Central Arkansas earned the top seed in the 2010 Comfort Suites Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament, which gets underway Friday at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas.
UCA (26-7, 15-1) enters its first league tournament on the heels of claiming its second consecutive regular-season title. The Sugar Bears will play the No. 8 seed Nicholls (14-15, 6-10) in match three, Friday at 4 p.m. The Colonels make their third consecutive tournament appearance and ninth overall. Nicholls defeated Northwestern State (3-1) to claim the final spot in the tournament in the last match of the season.
UTSA (19-11, 13-3) claimed the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 7 seed McNeese State (14-17, 8-8) in match one, Friday at 11 a.m. UTSA makes its eighth consecutive tournament appearance and 16th overall. The Roadrunners last No. 2 seed ranking was in the 2000 tournament. McNeese returns to the tournament after a one-year absence and ranks second in the league in tournament appearances with 26.
Texas State, the defending tournament champions, are the No. 3 seed and will face the No. 6 seed Lamar in match two, Friday at 1:30 p.m. The Bobcats make their eighth consecutive tournament appearance and 21st overall. Texas State has won four of the last six tournament championships. Lamar, the 2008 champion, makes its sixth consecutive tournament appearance and 16th overall.
UT Arlington (16-14, 10-6), the No. 4 seed, makes its second consecutive and league-leading 27th conference tournament appearance. The Mavs lead the league with 10 tournament crowns and have played in all but one conference tournament dating back to the first postseason event in 1982. UTA will face the No. 5 seed and tournament host Sam Houston State (15-16, 9-7). The Bearkats will be playing in their fourth consecutive tournament and 16th in program history. The last time the tournament was held at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in 1993, the Bearkats won the tournament crown in a 3-1 decision against Stephen F. Austin.
All seven matches of the 2010 tournament will be streamed live for free on SLC NOW and the championship match will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network.
Ticket prices for a day session are $10 for an adult and $7 youths (age 3-18). Tournament passes are $15. There is no charge for Southland Conference students with a valid institutional I.D.
Central Arkansas Wins Southland Regular Season Title
Central Arkansas claims its second consecutive regular-season title posting a 26-7 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference play. Over the last two seasons, the Sugar Bears have been the most dominant team in the Southland. UCA leads the league in overall wins (53) and wins against conference teams (31). They have finished atop the East Division in each of the last three seasons and have an unblemished record in the Farris Center winning its last 25 consecutive matches. Of the last 31 conference wins, UCA has swept league members 21 times.
Southland Tournament Returns to Huntsville
The Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament makes a return trip to Huntsville, Texas, as Sam Houston State hosts its third postseason event. The last time the tournament was held at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in 1993, the Bearkats won the tournament crown in a 3-1 decision against Stephen F. Austin.
Southland TV to Televise Championship
The championship match Sunday at 3 p.m. will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network. Doug Anderson will call play-by-play and Jenny McGhee, the Southland's associate commissioner for external relations, will serve as the color analyst. All seven matches of the 2010 tournament will be streamed for free on SLC NOW on Southland.org., the Southland Conference Web site.
A Look Back at the 2009 Tournament
No. 1 seed Texas State defeated the No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17) in four sets to capture the 2009 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship at the Convocation Center in San Antonio. The Bobcats won their sixth tournament title overall and fourth in the last six years. Junior outside hitter Mo Middleton was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Middleton registered 36 kills in the tournament, including tying her career-high of 18 in the championship match. Joining Middleton on the all-tournament team were senior outside hitter Jessica Weynand and junior right side hitter Melinda Cave. Weynand recorded 12 kills and 15 digs in the match for her ninth double-double of the season. Cave tallied 28 kills and 23 digs throughout the tournament to help the Bobcats to the title.
Chloe Smith Named Player of the Year for Third Time
Central Arkansas senior Chloe Smith, a native of San Diego, Calif., is the first player in Southland history to be named the league's player of the year three times. A four-time all-conference selection, Smith is one of 12 players in conference history to be named first-team all-conference in three consecutive seasons. Smith ranks fourth in the league in kills (388), ninth in hitting percentage (.274), and recently became the all-time kills leader at Central Arkansas (1,644).
Marissa Collins Named Setter and Freshman of the Year
Central Arkansas' Marissa Collins joined Smith in making league history as the first player to be named both the conference freshman and setter of the year. A native of Pearland, Texas, Collins was named first-team all-conference after leading the league in assists (1,291). She ranks 15th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.53). Collins is the fourth UCA freshman of the year selection in the last five years and is the third consecutive setter of the year recipient from UCA.
Kelsey Jewasko Named Libero of the Year for Second Time
UTSA junior Kelsey Jewasko was named libero of the year for the second time in the last three seasons. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, the San Antonio native recorded the most digs in the Southland since 2006 (631) and ranks 19th in the NCAA in digs per set (5.44).
Christina Hobbs Named Newcomer of the Year
Lamar sophomore Christina Hobbs was named newcomer of the year. A native of Humble, Texas, Hobbs is the fourth Lamar newcomer of the year selection and first since Shalayne Blythe (2007). Hobbs ranks 12th in the league in hitting percentage (.260) and has also contributed 199 kills, 67 blocks, including five solo and 32 digs.
Steven McRoberts Named Coach of the Year for Third Time
Steven McRoberts was named coach of the year after leading UCA to its second consecutive regular-season title and first No. 1 seed in the school's first Southland tournament. Central Arkansas posted a 26-7 overall record and went 15-1 against conference opponents. McRoberts is the first coach to receive league honors in three consecutive seasons since former UT Arlington coach Lisa Love won four straight (1984-87).
A Look at the 2010 Tournament Field...
No. 1 Central Arkansas
In its first season of Division I play, Central Arkansas enters its first Southland tournament as the No. 1 seed. Winners of the last two regular-season titles, the Sugar Bears lead the league with a 31-1 record against Southland teams and 51 overall wins in the last two years. The most dominant team in the league this season, UCA enters the tournament leading the conference in four of the seven team categories. UCA leads the conference in kills per set (13.64), assists per set (12.79), service aces (216), opponent hitting percentage (.155) and rank second in hitting percentage (.249). Three of the top nine hitting percentage marks are held by Sugar Bears. Freshman Jessica Nagy led the Southland with a .343 mark and sophomore Taylor Hammonds is a close second at .342. League player of the year senior Chloe Smith ranks ninth at .274 and ranks fourth in the league in kills (388). Junior Jessica Hays is the second UCA player in the last two years to lead the league in kills (434). Her 69 service aces are the most in the Southland since 2001 and rank fourth in the NCAA in aces per set (0.62). Freshman Marissa Collins continues a streak of four consecutive years a UCA player has led the league in assists. Former UCA standout Robyn Smith led the league from 2007-09. Collins led the conference in assists (1,291) and ranks 15th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.53).
Junior Cristin Curl led the team in digs for the second consecutive season (505) and has 991 in the last two years.
No. 2 UTSA
UTSA makes its eighth consecutive tournament appearance and 16th overall. The Roadrunners are 8-15 in tournament play with one tournament title in 2000 and were the runner-up in 2003. The No. 2 seed ranking is UTSA's highest seed since 2000 when they won the tournament. The only team to defeat Central Arkansas in the last two years, UTSA had its best season in conference play with 13 wins, matching its 2003 total. As a team, UTSA led the conference in assists (1,436), kills (1,542), blocks (260) and digs (1,994). UTSA tied Central Arkansas with three first-team all-conference selections. Junior Kelsey Jewasko was named libero of the year for the second time in the last three seasons. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, she recorded the most digs in the Southland since 2006 (631) and ranks 19th in the NCAA in digs per set (5.44). Joining Jewasko from UTSA on the first team are teammates junior Kendra Rowland and sophomore Kelsey Schwirtlich. Rowland, in her third career all-conference appearance, ranks fifth in the league in kills (361) and sixth in kills per set (3.17). Schwirtlich ranks third in assists per set (9.78) and is one-of-six league players with more than 1,000 assists this season (1,066) which ranks fourth.
No. 3 Texas State
Texas State, the defending tournament champions, make their eighth consecutive tournament appearance and are one of four league teams with more than 20 tournament appearances (21). Texas State has won six tournament championships, four in the last six seasons. The Bobcats are second in the league in tournament play with a 31-14 record and 11 title game appearances. A Bobcat player currently holds five of the eight tournament records and in the last three tournaments, Texas State has been seeded no lower than third. Texas State Coach Karen Chisum is the career wins leader in the Southland (716) and has won 10-or-more games against league opponents in each of the last eight seasons. As a team, Texas State ranks in the top three in four league categories. The Bobcats lead the conference in hitting percentage (.257), rank second in opponent hitting percentage (.165) and rank third in assists per set (12.13) and kills (13.20). The Bobcats enter the tournament with the experience of two former tournament MVPs on their roster - senior A.J. Watlington (2007) and senior Mo Middleton (2009). Texas State received two first-team all-conference selections for the second consecutive season. Watlington and freshman Amari Deardorff each make their first career first-team all-conference appearance. Watlington leads a hard-hitting Bobcat team in kills (272) and had 191 digs and 47 blocks, including four solo. Deardorff ranks fourth in the league in hitting percentage (.328). She also has contributed with 200 kills, 59 digs and 52 blocks. Junior Amber Calhoun, a second-team all-conference selection, ranks third in the league in hitting percentage (.336) and fourth in blocks per set (1.15).
No. 4 UT Arlington
UT Arlington makes its second consecutive and league-leading 27th conference tournament appearance. The Mavs lead the league with 10 tournament crowns and have played in all but one conference tournament dating back to the first postseason event in 1982. UTA leads the conference with a 44-18 record in tournament play and have competed in a league-best 15 championship matches. The Mavs rank in the top four in five league categories. UTA is one of three league teams with more than 1,900 digs on the year (1,901), which ranks third. Defensively, the Mavs rank third in blocks per set (2.18) and fourth overall (246). UTA ranks fourth in kills per set (12.82), hitting percentage (.193) and opponent hitting percentage (.178). UTA received three all-conference selections led by first-team member junior Amanda Aguilera. A two-time first-team selection, Aguilera led UTA in kills (330) which ranks seventh in the league overall and fourth in kills per set (3.51). Junior Alicia Shaffer and senior Bianca Sauls received second-team honors. Shaffer ranks third in the league in digs (580) and digs per set (5.18). Shaffer is the first UTA player and one of four players in conference history to receive three consecutive player of the week awards. Sauls ranks second on the team in kills (253). Her 31 service aces rank tied for fifth and 3.00 digs per set ranks 13th.
No. 5 Sam Houston State
Tournament host Sam Houston State makes its fourth consecutive tournament appearance and 16th in program history. The last time the tournament was held at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in 1993, the Bearkats won the tournament crown in a 3-1 decision against Stephen F. Austin. The Bearkats are 14-14 in tournament play, have won two titles in 1993 and 1996, and have reached the title match four times. In her 24th season, SHSU coach Brenda Gray is one of three coaches in conference history to amass more than 400 wins as a Southland member (435). One of the better defensive squads in the league, Sam Houston leads the Southland in blocks per set (2.28) and ranks third in opponent hitting percentage (.166). Junior Carli Kolbe, a first-team all-conference for a second consecutive season, leads a strong Bearkat team into the tournament. Kolbe ranks third in the league in kills (401) and kills per set (3.61). She is the first Bearkat to post more than 400 kills in a season in consecutive years since Alisha Fowler in 2004-05. Junior Kim Black and sophomore Kaylee Hawkins were named honorable mention. Black leads the league in blocks (137) and ranks second in service aces (37). Hawkins ranks 13th in hitting percentage (.255) and seventh in digs (450).
No. 6 Lamar
Two years removed from its last tournament title (2008), Lamar makes its sixth consecutive tournament appearance and 16th overall. The Cardinals are 25-13 in tournament play and have won three tournament titles and have been runner-up five times. Lamar is led by first-team all-conference selection sophomore Jayme Bazile and sophomore Tina Hobbs, the newcomer of the year. Bazile leads the league in blocks (114) for the second consecutive season and ranks sixth in the conference in hitting percentage (.325). Hobbs is the fourth Lamar newcomer of the year selection and first since Shalayne Blythe (2007). Hobbs ranks 12th in the league in hitting percentage (.260) and has also contributed 199 kills, 67 blocks, including five solo and 32 digs. Sophomore Alex Morford ranks sixth in the league in assists per set (9.05). Sophomore Wendy Krell, the 2009 freshman of the year, ranks second in service aces per set (0.36) and 17th in hitting percentage (.246).
No. 7 McNeese State
McNeese State returns to the Southland tournament after a one-year absence with hopes of claiming its first league tournament title. McNeese ranks second in the league in tournament appearances with 26. The Cowgirls are 13-32 in tournament play and have one title match appearance in 1999. McNeese finished second in the East Division with an 8-8 conference record and are 14-17 overall. Junior Katie Kennedy and sophomore Becky Bekelja were named honorable mention all-conference. Bekelja ranks second in the league in assists (1,136). Kennedy ranks sixth in digs (451) and sophomore Whitney Ellisor ranks ninth in the league in digs (374) giving the Cowgirls a combined 825 digs in their top two players. Four McNeese players have recorded over 200 kills on the year led by sophomore Priscilla Massengale (296).
No. 8 Nicholls
Nicholls makes its third consecutive tournament appearance and ninth overall. The Colonels defeated Northwestern State (3-1) to claim the final spot in the tournament in the last match of the season. Nicholls is 3-10 in tournament play and reached the title match once in program history (2003). In her first season as coach, TeAna Tramel led Nicholls to a fourth-place finish in the East Division with a 14-15 overall record and a 6-10 mark against league opponents. Nicholls is led by second-team all-conference selection junior Danielle Daigle. Daigle led the league in digs per set (5.70) and ranks eighth in the NCAA. Over the last two seasons, Daigle leads the Southland with 1,133 digs. Four Colonels enter the tournament with more than 200 kills led by sophomore Jennifer Brandt (294). Sophomore Jessica Addicks ranks eighth in hitting percentage (.282) and freshman Jordan Karst recorded 900 assists on the year and ranks eighth in the league in assists per set (8.91).