MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced its 2013 All-SWAC Preseason Volleyball Teams and three members of the Lady Hornets were named to the first team.
Senior Luiza Griz was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Griz was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and looks to build on her 399 digs from a season ago. Griz was also named to the Preseason First Team All-SWAC list.
ASU had two other players named to the first team. Junior setter Brooke Beasley was named the 2012 SWAC Newcomer of the Year after having 1,039 assists and averaging 8.45 assists per game.
Chelsey Scott was named to the first team as an outside hitter. Scott, a sophomore, received second team honors last season as a freshman. She had 288 kills during her first season and averaged 2.38 kills per game.
“I think it shows how well these girls played last year as to why they were named to the preseason First Team,” Head Coach Penny Lucas-White said. “I am happy they are getting this exposure, but now they need to show it on the court.”
The Lady Hornets return all six starters from last season and have been picked to finish third in the East Division of the SWAC. Last year’s SWAC Champion Jackson State received 86 points and 15 first place votes to lead the division. ASU’s 61 points (1 first place vote) was only five points behind second place Alabama A&M who received 66 points and four first place votes. Mississippi Valley State (46 points) and Alcorn State (31 points) rounded out the East Division voting.
Prairie View A&M picked up 82 points and 12 first place votes to lead the West Division. Texas Southern was second with 78 points and seven first place votes while Arkansas-Pine Bluff was picked third with 51 points. Southern picked up a first place vote and was picked to finish fourth in the division with 47 points and Grambling was picked fifth with 32 points.
“We are not really concerned where we are picked in the preseason poll,” Lucas-White said. “This team knows our goal is to win the SWAC and that is what we are working towards.”
The voting was done by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
