Wildcats picked to win LSC South

ACU a unanimous selection to win second straight crown

RICHARDSON – Defending Lone Star Conference champion Abilene Christian is a unanimous pick to repeat its LSC South Division volleyball race, according to the league’s annual preseason poll that was released Friday.

ACU collected every first-place vote on the 17 ballots cast and totaled 102 points to earn the undisputed top spot in the balloting of LSC South coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives. Longtime power West Texas A&M led all teams with eight second-place votes, and the Lady Buffs were second in the poll with 73 points.

Angelo State had five second-place votes and was third with 60 points, followed by Eastern New Mexico with four second-place votes and 59 points. Texas A&M-Kingsville had 39 points to finish fifth in the poll, while Tarleton State was sixth with 24 points. \

ACU, under seventh-year coach Brek Horn, returns four starters and four other letterwinners from last year’s 28-8 team that won the LSC championship en route to making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA postseason tournament.

"It's exciting, and it's an honor, but it doesn't mean anything yet," Horn said.  "All it does is put the target on our back.  We knew it would be there after winning the title last year.  But it's nice to know it was unanimous and that others expect us to do well.  But it's just a prediction and nothing is certain until we get out on the court."

Other than ACU, West Texas A&M was the only team picked to finish no worse than fourth on any of the ballots. Perhaps that is because the Lady Buffs -- prior to last year’s 3-7 South Division record -- had posted a 75-1 mark against South Division opponents since 1997.  This year marks the first time that West Texas A&M has not been the pre-season pick to win the LSC South title.

In the LSC North preseason poll, Central Oklahoma is picked to win a fourth divisional title in five years.