[August 6, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas has been picked to finish fifth in the Gulf South Conference West Division, according to the 2008 GSC volleyball pre-season coaches’ poll released Wednesday. The Lady Muleriders received three fourth-place votes, one for fifth and two for sixth for a total of 13 points, equaling the point total for Christian Brothers.

Six-time defending West Division champion Harding collected four first-place votes on its way to 34 points in being picked again to win the division. Arkansas Tech (31) garnered two votes for the top spot in being picked second, and Henderson State picked up the other first-place vote and finished with 28 points for third place.

Arkansas-Monticello (16) is fourth in the poll, and Ouachita Baptist received 12 points in placing behind SAU and Christian Brothers.

West Florida ended North Alabama’s 11-year stranglehold on the East Division championship last year and the Argonauts are picked to repeat again this season, garnering five first-place votes and 35 points. North Alabama, which has won the overall GSC championship for 10 of the past 12 years, picked up the other top two votes and 32 points for second. Defending overall champion West Georgia (23) is third, Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama received 19 points each for fourth, and Valdosta State (10) and Montevallo (9) round out the East.

For the overall championship West Florida received nine votes, and Harding and North Alabama two each.

A total of 17 athletes were named to the two division pre-season All-GSC team, including 10 first team selections from a year ago. Harding and Arkansas Tech each have three members, while West Florida, North Alabama and West Georgia placed two apiece.

Southern Arkansas doesn’t have a member on the pre-season team, but has two named to the 2008 top newcomers list, Michaela Scroggins and Danielle Sneed. Scroggins is a 5-7 sophomore setter from The Colony, Texas, who transfers in from Manatee (Fla.) Community College, and Sneed is a 5-6 junior outside hitter out of Duncanville, Texas and Brookhaven (Texas) College.

The Lady Muleriders report August 10 and open their 2008 season August 29-30 in Commerce, Texas, at the Texas A&M-Commerce Classic. SAU’s home opener is slated for Monday, September 1 against East Texas Baptist, while their GSC opener is September 23 at Harding.