Islanders Lead 2017 Southland Preseason All-Conference Volleyball Teams
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leads the 2017 Southland Conference Preseason-All Conference volleyball teams with four selections, the league announced Tuesday.
The Islanders’ Brittany Gilpin is the standout on the teams following a 2016 season that saw her claim the Southland’s Player of the Year award. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi earned back-to-back Southland regular-season championships in 2015 and 2016. Gilpin – who is one of 11 Southland student-athletes automatically selected to the teams - also guided the Islanders to consecutive Southland tournament titles the last two years en route to being honored Tournament MVP in 2016.
Also on the preseason all-conference first team as automatic selections are teammates senior setter Kristyn Nicholson and junior middle blocker Madison Fitzsimmons. Senior middle blocker Madeleine Doud was voted onto the second team.
Houston Baptist, Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State each earned three spots on the teams.
The Huskies’ senior outside hitter Bailey Banks headlines the Houston Baptist trio with senior middle blocker Blair Gillard garnering a first team spot and senior outside hitter Jessica Wooten securing a second-team selection.
Senior middle blocker Megan Nash of Central Arkansas was an automatic selection to the first team while junior outside hitters Haley Tippett and Samantha Anderson were picked to the second team. All three of the Bearkats’ preseason all-conference members – senior outside hitters Jordyn Vaughn and Brooke White and junior outside hitter Taylor Cunningham – were automatic first-team selections.
UIW placed a pair on the preseason teams in outside hitter Autumn Lockley and senior middle blocker Bryaunea Hall. Senior libero Lexus Cain and 2016 Southland Freshman of the Year Ann Hollas represent Stephen F. Austin.
Abilene Christian’s Jacey Smith is a first-team automatic selection.
The 2017 Southland season is set to begin Aug. 25 with New Orleans hosting Alcorn State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi taking on Rice in Dallas at 10 a.m.
First Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Brittany Gilpin1 |
Sr. |
OH |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Houston, Texas |
| Bailey Banks1 |
Sr. |
OH |
Houston Baptist |
Missouri City, Texas |
| Kristyn Nicholson1 |
Sr. |
S |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Lewisville, Texas |
| Megan Nash1 |
Sr. |
MB |
Central Arkansas |
Oakville, Ontario |
| Autumn Lockley1 |
Jr. |
OH |
UIW |
Leander, Texas |
| Jordyn Vaughn1 |
Sr. |
OH |
Sam Houston State |
Huntsville, Texas |
| Brooke White1 |
Sr. |
OH |
Sam Houston State |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Jacey Smith1 |
Jr. |
OH |
Abilene Christian |
Wimberley, Texas |
| Madison Fitzsimmons1 |
Jr. |
MB |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Murphy, Texas |
| Taylor Cunningham1 |
Jr. |
OH/MB |
Sam Houston State |
Huntsville, Texas |
| Blair Gillard1 |
Sr. |
MB |
Houston Baptist |
La Grange, Texas |
| Lexus Cain1 |
Sr. |
L |
Stephen F. Austin |
Amarillo, Texas |
Second Team
| Name |
Cl. |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown |
| Bryaunea Hall1 |
Sr. |
MB |
UIW |
Copperas Cove, Texas |
| Madeleine Doud |
Sr. |
MB |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Alameda, Calif. |
| Ann Hollas |
So. |
S |
Stephen F. Austin |
Longview, Texas |
| Jessica Wooten |
Sr. |
OH |
Houston Baptist |
Humble, Texas |
| Haley Tippett |
Jr. |
OH |
Central Arkansas |
Roanoke, Texas |
| Samantha Anderson |
Jr. |
OH |
Central Arkansas |
Tyler, Texas |
1 – 2016 All-Conference Selection