Posted: Feb 10, 2021
TLU Volleyball comes in sixth in SCAC Coaches' Poll
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Texas Lutheran Women's Volleyball has been picked to finish sixth in this year's Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship race.
The Bulldogs, coming off a 20-win season in 2019, return nine letter-winners and seven players that appeared in at least 27 matches in 2019. The Bulldogs were 20-17 overall and 9-9 in the SCAC last season.
Junior middle-blocker Peyton Sulak is TLU's returning leader in kills (246) and blocks (93). In 2019, Sulak was second on the team in kills, first in total blocks, and third in hitting percentage (.273).
TLU also welcomes back sophomore outside hitter Paige Day (third in kills, first in aces, third in digs), sophomore libero Lexi Morris (first in digs, second in aces), and junior middle blocker Madison Weisinger (second in kills per set, fourth in hitting percentage).
Last season, Morris recorded the second-most digs for a single-season in school history, with 743. Only Megan Lee in her 2014 season had more. Lee collected 759 that year.
The Bulldogs will be coached by Phyllis Fowler, who starts her third season with the Bulldogs. Fowler and the Bulldogs enjoyed an 11-win improvement over the 2018 season, when the club went 9-21 overall and 6-10 in the SCAC.
The Bulldogs qualified for the 2019 SCAC Championship Tournament, which TLU hosted. Six teams qualified for the 2019 tournament. The Bulldogs tied for fourth in the SCAC regular season and entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed following a tie-breaker to break a three-way tie for fourth.
Defending SCAC tournament champion Trinity University is the preseason favorite to win the 2020-21 SCAC title.
Trinity, a Final Four team in 2019, was voted ahead (in order) of Colorado College, Southwestern, Austin College, St. Thomas (Texas), TLU, University of Dallas, Centenary College, and Schreiner.
Trinity was the unanimous selection to finish first in the poll after collecting all nine first-place votes and totaling 81 points in the preseason balloting.
Trinity (37-5 overall, 17-1 SCAC) returns three first team All-SCAC performers from last year's squad that produced the most single season wins for the program since the 2002 team won 38 matches and advanced to the national semifinal.
Trinity was the unanimous selection to finish first in the poll after collecting all nine first-place votes and totaling 81 points in the preseason balloting.
Trinity (37-5 overall, 17-1 SCAC) returns three first team All-SCAC performers from last year's squad that produced the most single season wins for the program since the 2002 team won 38 matches and advanced to the national semifinal.
Colorado College (32-5, 17-1 SCAC), who finished the regular season as co-SCAC champions and has won two of the last three SCAC tournaments, finished second in the poll with 71 total points.
Southwestern University (21-13, 12-6 SCAC) received 60 points in the preseason balloting and was the coaches' third selection. The Pirates, who are looking to claim the SCAC tournament title for the first time since 2015, will be led by a pair of returning All-SCAC honorees from a year ago.
Southwestern University (21-13, 12-6 SCAC) received 60 points in the preseason balloting and was the coaches' third selection. The Pirates, who are looking to claim the SCAC tournament title for the first time since 2015, will be led by a pair of returning All-SCAC honorees from a year ago.
Austin College (16-21; 9-9 SCAC) received 52 points and is predicted to finish in fourth place. The 'Roos will be led by returning second team All-SCAC left-side hitter junior Mari Prazak. University of St. Thomas (9-20; 5-13 SCAC), which competed in its inaugural SCAC season a year ago, finished with 38 points to round out the top five. The Celts return the league's Backrow Player-of-the-Year in senior Kaylyn Latin.
TLU received 37 points to place sixth in the preseason balloting. The Bulldogs' 20 wins last year tied the 2014 team's total for the most since TLU joined the SCAC in 2013.
The University of Dallas (17-18, 9-9 SCAC), which returns a pair of second team All-SCAC performers in junior outside hitter Abigail Porras and junior middle hitter Dayjah White, is slotted seventh with 33 points.
Rounding out the coaches' preseason poll, Centenary College (11-24, 7-11 SCAC) was picked eighth with 17 points, and Schreiner University (10-23, 4-14 SCAC) was ninth with 16 points.
The 2020-21 SCAC volleyball season is set to tip off with a round robin double-header scheduling format on Friday. Each team will play eight home matches and eight road matches, and upon the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament hosted by Trinity University. The SCAC Championship is set to begin on the weekend of April 16.
2020-21 SCAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)
1.Trinity University (9) 81
2.Colorado College. 71
3.Southwestern University 60
4.Austin College 52
5.University of St. Thomas. 38
6.Texas Lutheran University 37
7.University of Dallas 33
8.Centenary College 17
9.Schreiner University 16
Rounding out the coaches' preseason poll, Centenary College (11-24, 7-11 SCAC) was picked eighth with 17 points, and Schreiner University (10-23, 4-14 SCAC) was ninth with 16 points.
The 2020-21 SCAC volleyball season is set to tip off with a round robin double-header scheduling format on Friday. Each team will play eight home matches and eight road matches, and upon the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament hosted by Trinity University. The SCAC Championship is set to begin on the weekend of April 16.
2020-21 SCAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points)
1.Trinity University (9) 81
2.Colorado College. 71
3.Southwestern University 60
4.Austin College 52
5.University of St. Thomas. 38
6.Texas Lutheran University 37
7.University of Dallas 33
8.Centenary College 17
9.Schreiner University 16