RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Coming off of their fourth consecutive winning season and third straight appearance in the Great American Conference Tournament, the Southern Arkansas volleyball team enters the upcoming 2014 season picked to finish in a tie for sixth-place according to the GAC Volleyball Preseason Coach's Poll released on Wednesday.
"I think, based on the parity that was shown in the league last year, that our preseason ranking is fair," noted head volleyball coach
Steven Gream. "However, while it is fair coming into the season, I do not believe that is where we will end up at the end of the year based on the talent we will have."
The talent alluded to by Coach Gream is reflected in the fact that his 2014 team returns seven lettermen, three of which were starters and All-GAC honorees, while also bolstering the roster with five quality newcomers that are expected to have an immediate impact.
Headlining that group of returners is a trio of All-GAC players:
Hailey McNee,
Amanda Monge, and
Logan Tolbert. All three earned Honorable Mention plaudits in 2013, and will figure largely into the success of the Lady Muleriders in 2014 as they return as the team's top-three hitters.
McNee, a native of Bentonville, Ark., was the team's top hitter a year ago as she hammered home 331 kills (2.85 k/s) in her true freshman season. Also enjoying a stellar true freshman campaign was Tolbert as her 261 kills (2.27 k/s) ranked second on the team. Monge, a junior transfer last year, was third on the team in kills with 252 (2.17 k/s), but her .313 attack percentage was tops on the team and ranked third in the GAC.
In addition to McNee, Monge, and Tolbert, the Lady Muleriders return the services of
Allie Cecil,
Hannah Rice,
Ally Rodriguez, and
Angela Gaignard. Cecil, Rice, and Rodriguez will be tasked with shoring up a defense that has to replace two-time All-GAC Second-Team libero
Lauren Woods. Gaignard, a native of Sunland, Calif., returns for her senior season and is expected to provide depth at middle and opposite hitter.
Joining the group of returners in 2014 are five newcomers that are likely to see significant playing time. Among those five newcomers, three transfer into the program as juniors, while two will be true freshmen. Of the transfers,
Emilie Aase and
Shelby Lauterbach will bolster the Lady Muleriders offensively as hitters while
Taylor Reaume will help pace the team's offense as a setter.
Alli O'Banion and
Savannah Pillow enter as true freshmen and both are versatile players. O'Banion can play all three frontline hitting positions and Pillow will see time as a setter and outside hitter as well.
The Lady Muleriders will begin their regular season on Friday, September 5 in Winter Park, Fla. as they will take part in the Rollins College Invitational over that weekend. Prior to that, the Lady Muleriders will play a scrimmage match against Paris Junior College at home on Monday, September 1 at 6 p.m.
| 2014 Great American Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
|---|
| Rank | School | Points | First-Place Votes |
| 1. | Arkansas Tech | 93 | 5 |
| 2. | Harding | 89 | 4 |
| 3. | Southern Nazarene | 86 | 1 |
| 4. | Ouachita Baptist | 66 | 1 |
| 5. | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 61 | - |
| T-6. | Southeastern Oklahoma State | 48 | - |
| T-6. | Southern Arkansas | 48 | - |
| 8. | East Central | 45 | - |
| 9. | Northwestern Oklahoma State | 36 | - |
| 10. | Arkansas-Monticello | 23 | - |
| 11. | Henderson State | 10 | - |
