Troy University Athletics
Volleyball Picked to Finish Second; Alexander, Winston Named All-SBC
8/26/2013 11:52:00 AM | Volleyball
2013 Schedule | @TroyAthletics on Twitter
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Sun Belt Conference announced its Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Sun Belt team on Monday with Troy being well represented in both. The conference's 10 head coaches picked the Trojans to finish second and named Alexandra Alexander and Blair Winston to the Preseason All-Sun Belt team.
Troy was tied with UALR for the second place nod, with each receiving 77 points. WKU was a unanimous selection for the top spot, receiving all 10 first-place votes.
Winston and Alexander, who both earned second team All-Sun Belt selections last season, were two of eight players named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt team. They are the first two Preseason All-Sun Belt selections in Troy's history.
The Trojans finished second in the Sun Belt in 2012 with a 21-12 overall record and a 10-5 mark in conference play. The 10 Sun Belt wins and second place finish were both program bests as the Trojans also won their first Sun Belt Championships game in program history.
Alexander, a senior setter, led the Sun Belt with 11.20 assists/set in conference games a year ago. Her 1,215 assists in 2012 ranked as the sixth most in a single season in Troy history. The Austin, Texas, native went over the 40-assist mark eight times in 15 Sun Belt games and posted 22 double-doubles on the season.
Winston, a sophomore outside hitter, became the first freshman in Troy history to earn All-Sun Belt honors in 2012. She recorded a team-high 356 kills, averaging 3.24 kills/set, the sixth best average in the Sun Belt. The Marietta, Ga., native recorded double-digit kills in 12 of 15 Sun Belt matches and was also the first Troy freshman to ever win a Sun Belt Player of the Week award.
The Trojans open the 2013 season on Friday against Stephen F. Austin at the Southern Miss Invitational. Troy will play Jackson State and Southern Miss on Saturday to close out the weekend.
Troy will play its first home match next Monday, September 2, against Georgia Southern. First serve is set for 2 p.m. as the Labor Day match will mark Troy's first match inside Trojan Arena.
For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter or Instagram at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
2013 SBC Preseason All-Conference Team
Edina Begic (UALR, Junior, OH)
Amari Deardorff (Texas State, Senior, RS)
Alexandra Alexander (Troy, Senior, S)
Blair Winston (Troy, Sophomore, OH)
Heather Boyan (WKU, Junior, MH)
Ashley Potts (WKU, Senior, DS)
Melanie Stutsman (WKU, Senior, S)
Paige Wessel (WKU, RS-Senior, OH)
2013 SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Edina Begic (UALR, Junior, OH)
2013 SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Ashley Potts (WKU, Senior, DS)
2013 SBC Preseason Setter Player of the Year
Melanie Stutsman (WKU, Senior, S)
2013 SBC Volleyball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1.    Western Kentucky (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-Lafayette – 46 points
8.    South Alabama – 39 points
9.    Georgia State – 24 points
10. Louisiana-Monroe – 13 points
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