Aug. 11, 2010
BEAUMONT - Led by preseason first-team all-conference selection Wendy Krell, the Lamar University volleyball team has been selected fourth in the Southland Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll released by the league office Wednesday.
The 6-2 Krell was the SLC Freshman of the Year last season after hitting .354 in conference matches, the second highest percentage in the league. A middle blocker from Plano, Krell finished her freshman campaign with 201 kills and 75 total blocks.
"Wendy is doing great in early season practice," said sixth-year Lady Cardinal Head Coach Justin Gibert. "We will look to her to be a top 10 offensive performer this year and expand on a great first season.
"Wendy is going to continue to be a big part of our program and what we do, but we have a lot of young talent that will show itself throughout the season."
The Lady Cardinals (83 points) were selected second in the SLC East Division behind defending regular season champion Central Arkansas (111 points). The Sugar Bears received three first place votes in the coaches' poll and are picked to finish second behind preseason favorite Texas State (118 points), which garnered the other nine first place votes.
"I think early season polls are an estimation of each team's talent level," said Gibert. "We're glad to be in the top half, but wins or losses will determine the final poll. We're happy to get that level of respect from the other coaches and we'll look to improve on our fourth place finish from a year ago."
Stephen F. Austin (99 points) was picked to finish third, with Sam Houston State (78 points) selected to place fifth. UT Arlington and UTSA (70 points), both from the SLC West Division, were picked to tie for sixth, with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (50 points) chosen eighth.
The final four teams, McNeese State (46 points), Northwestern State (25 points), Nicholls (22 points) and Southeastern Louisiana (20 points), are all in the SLC East Division with Lamar.
Joining Krell on the preseason all-conference first team are Chloe Smith and Cristin Curl of UCA, Amber Calhoun and Mo Middleton of Texas State, Carli Kolbe and Kaylee Hawkins of SHSU, Emma Ridley of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Tara Frantz and Emily Shearin of UTA, M.C. Bottles of SFA and UTSA's Whitney Walls.
Texas State's A.J. Watlington and Melinda Cave both earned preseason second-team honors, along with UCA's Jessica Hays, Bianca Sauls of UTA, Kelsey Owens of SFA and Kenra Rowland of UTSA.
Preseason Coaches' Poll (First-place votes)
West Division
1. Texas State (9) 118
2. Stephen F. Austin 99
3. Sam Houston State 78
T4. UT Arlington 70
T4. UTSA 70
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 50
East Division
1. Central Arkansas (3) 111
2. Lamar 83
3. McNeese State 46
4. Northwestern State 25
5. Nicholls 22
6. Southeastern Louisiana 20
SID Poll
West Division
1. Texas State (4) 112
2. Stephen F. Austin (2) 105
3. UT Arlington 83
4. Sam Houston State 74
5. UTSA 66
6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 35
East Division
1. Central Arkansas (6) 115
2. Lamar 77
3. McNeese State 49
4. Nicholls 28
T5. Northwestern State 24
T5. Southeastern Louisiana 24
2010 Southland Conference Preseason Volleyball Teams
First Team
Name University Class Pos. Hometown
Chloe Smith* Central Arkansas Sr. RS San Diego, Calif.
Amber Calhoun* Texas State Jr. MB Houston, Texas
Carli Kolbe* Sam Houston State Jr. OH College Station, Texas
Emma Ridley* Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. OH Phoenix, Ariz.
Kaylee Hawkins* Sam Houston State So. L Dickinson, Texas
Tara Frantz* UT Arlington Jr. OH Santa Fe, Texas
Cristin Curl* Central Arkansas Jr. L Amarillo, Texas
M.C. Bottles* Stephen F. Austin Jr. MB Rowlett, Texas
Wendy Krell* Lamar So. MB Plano, Texas
Mo Middleton* Texas State Sr. OH Glendale, Ariz.
Emily Shearin* UT Arlington Jr. MB Dallas, Texas
Whitney Walls* UTSA So. OH Arlington, Texas
Second Team
Name University Class Pos. Hometown
AJ Watlington Texas State Sr. RS Aledo, Texas
Jessica Hays Central Arkansas Jr. OH Friendswood, Texas
Melinda Cave Texas State Sr. RS Placentia, Calif.
Bianca Sauls UT Arlington Sr. OH Pflugerville, Texas
Kelsey Owens Stephen F. Austin Sr. OH The Colony, Texas
Kendra Rowland UTSA Sr. OH Antioch, Calif.
*Returning All-Southland Conference Selection
LAMAR
