Defending and determined, the Belles were tabbed second in the preseason poll behind West Texas A&M and in front of Texas Woman's. Picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference in 2012, the Angelo State volleyball team went 18-2 en route to its first conference championship since 1992. Click here for official LSC press release

“It is interesting that the two teams that both lose five of seven starters are leading the way in this year's preseason poll,” ASU head coach Chuck Waddington said. “It's great to be near the top, but I know it will serve to motivate my players to earn that LSC Title again.  With all the parity in our league this year, whoever wins will definitely be battle tested and ready for post season play.”

Huth, the LSC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, enters her senior year at middle blocker for ASU following earning AVCA All-America honors as a junior after finishing with 387 kills, a .355 hitting percentage and 131 blocks. She also earned LSC first-team honors along with claiming LSC all-tournament and NCAA DII South Central all-tournament team recognition. For her career, Huth has 757 kills and 272 blocks in 100 matches played as a Belle.

“What I love most about Maddie is that she is always working to make herself better,” Waddington said. “Being a first-team All America last year did not stop her from working her tail off in the spring to be even better for her team.  She is a go-to player for sure and wants to set the tone for all the other players to follow.”

Wilt has solidified herself as the top defensive player in the conference, region and nation after two sensational years at libero for the Belles. A junior now with 72 matches of experience entering the season, she was the LSC's Libero of the Year as a sophomore after recording 649 digs (5.23 per set)and also leading the Belles with 32 aces. With two years of eligibility remaining, the Dalhart native already ranks sixth all-time in digs at ASU with 1,234 and will be on the hunt this season for Jennifer Glass's record of 1,603 this season. Glass set the program record in 1995.

“Shelby is simply a player that makes everyone around her better,” Waddington said. “Her energy and effort level make people want to play harder in practice and in matches.  She makes things happen on the court for us.”

Jordan Neal, a senior from Joshua, was selected for Setter of the Year with 21 votes to top four others.  She averaged 10.50 assists, 2.75 digs, 0.52 kills and 1.14 points per set while hitting .157 to earn All-LSC second team honors.

On the team side of the preseason poll, West Texas A&M celebrated the LSC tournament championship last season at the Junell Center after finishing second to the Belles in the regular-season standings. The Lady Buffs earned 12 first-place votes to the Belles' 10 first-place votes and edged the vote total 211-208. Texas Woman's claimed the remaining three first-place votes and finished third with 161 total points in the preseason poll. Tarleton State is fourth with 155 points, while Texas A&M-Commerce (113), Texas A&M-Kingsville (101), Midwestern State (81), Cameron (62) and Eastern New Mexico (33) rounded out the poll.

The 2013 volleyball season begins in early September, with nine teams set to compete. Angelo State opens its season on Sept. 6 with a pair of matches against Dallas Baptist and Colorado State-Pueblo on the first day of the ASU Invitational. LSC teams will use a one-conference double round-robin scheduling model, in which each team plays a home and away match against each of the other teams.

The LSC champion will be the regular season winner determined by league matches, while the postseason tournament winner is designated as LSC Tournament Champion and earns the conference's automatic qualification.  The top six teams in the final conference standings qualify for the postseason tournament set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 21-22-23, at the No. 1 seed.