Aug. 19, 2005

RICHARDSON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' volleyball team was picked fourth in the preseason American Southwest Conference coaches poll, however the Cowgirls were three votes out of second place.

Defending conference and West Division champion Texas Lutheran University and defending East Division champion Austin College have been selected as the favorites in the 2005 American Southwest Conference volleyball race by vote of the league's 14 head coaches.

While Texas Lutheran ran away with the top spot in the ASC West predictions, just three points separated the coaches' picks for second, third and fourth places. McMurry University earned one first-place vote and 46 points to claim second while ASC West runner-up Sul Ross State University was third (45 pts.) and Hardin-Simmons University fourth (43 pts.).

Lower division finishes were predicted for Concordia University at Austin (fifth, 35 pts.), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (sixth, 21 pts.), Howard Payne University (seventh, 19 pts.) and Schreiner University (eighth, 17 pts.).

The Cowgirls will open their season on September 2 at the Austin College Tournament.