University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Picked Seventh In Sun Belt Preseason Polls
8/26/2013 5:52:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin' Cajuns open season Friday at Marriott Houston Westchase Classic
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team was picked to finish seventh as the Sun Belt Conference released its 2013 Preseason All-Conference Team and Preseason Poll on Monday.
Louisiana, which finished 16-16 overall last season, earned 46 points in voting by the league's head coaches. The Ragin' Cajuns finished one point behind league newcomer UT Arlington in the 10-team field.
Two-time defending champion WKU was the overwhelming choice to capture the regular-season title, receiving all 10 first-place votes, with UALR and Troy picked to finish in a second-place tie. Arkansas State and newcomer Texas State were picked to finish fourth overall followed by UTA, Louisiana, South Alabama, newcomer Georgia State and ULM.
Louisiana will open the season on Friday (Aug. 30) as it travels to Houston, Texas to compete in the Marriott Houston Westchase Classic. The Ragin' Cajuns will open the two-day, four-team event against UT Pan American at 4:30 p.m. before facing host Houston Baptist on Saturday (Aug. 31) at noon and Nebraska-Omaha at 5 p.m.
The Ragin Cajuns' return 10 letterwinners for sixth-year coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot, including four of their top five hitters from the 2012 campaign. Seniors Lavinia Tataran, Tonice White, Taylor Meade and Kristen Armstrong are returning members of a team that captured a pair of tournaments last season, including the Ragin' Cajuns first tournament victory on the road since 2002.
The 2013 SBC volleyball season begins this Friday, Aug. 30 with all 10 teams opening play. The top eight teams in the final league standings will advance to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament that will be held Nov. 21-23 in Troy, Ala.
2013 SBC Volleyball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. WKU (10) – 100 points
2. UALR – 77 points
Troy – 77 points
4. Arkansas State – 64 points
Texas State – 64 points
6. UT Arlington – 47 points
7. Louisiana – 46 points
8. South Alabama – 39 points
9. Georgia State – 24 points
10. ULM – 13 points
