Aug. 18, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons has been picked fourth in the preseason American Southwest Conference West Division poll that was conducted by the league's head coaches. The Cowgirls will be under the tutelage of first-year head coach Hugh Hernesman. Defending conference champion East Texas Baptist University and defending West Division titlist Texas Lutheran University have been selected as the favorites in the 2004 American Southwest Conference volleyball race by vote of the league's 14 head coaches. Texas Lutheran claimed five first-place votes and totaled 60 points for the top position in the ASC West Division. McMurry University finished second with 48 points, followed by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in third (45 pts.) and Hardin-Simmons University fourth (33 pts.). Howard Payne University (30 pts.), Sul Ross State University (28 pts.), Concordia University at Austin (20 pts.) and Schreiner University (13 pts.) were listed in fifth through eighth place, respectively. The Cowgirls will open their season at a McMurry Triangular on Sept. 2. The season culminates in the six-team conference championship tournament scheduled November 5-6-7. The ASC champion earns a berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship.