Volleyball

Mary Hardin-Baylor Preseason Favorite for 2022 Volleyball Title; 18 Players to Watch

 
2022 Volleyball Schedules
 
RICHARDSON, Texas --- Mary Hardin-Baylor collected 16 first-place votes in the coaches/sports information directors' preseason poll to lay claim as the favorite for the 2022 American Southwest Conference volleyball title.
 
The Crusaders, who finished last season with 24-2 overall and 17-1 ASC records enroute to earning the league's regular-season title, outdistanced second-place pick UT Dallas by 17 points (160-143). The Comets (18-10, 13-4 ASC) totaled two first-place votes in the preseason poll.
 
East Texas Baptist (114), Concordia Texas (84) and LeTourneau (78) were predicted to finish in the top half of the conference. Rounding out the preseason poll are Sul Ross State (75), Hardin-Simmons (67), McMurry (59) and Howard Payne (21).
 
A total of 18 players, including 12 returning all-conference honorees, were named by their respective head coaches to the preseason Players to Watch list. Two-time ASC Most Valuable Player Annika Canaba and 2021 Freshman of the Year Avery Reid headline the list of preseason players. A middle hitter/setter, Canaba is a three-time all-conference honoree while Reid, an outside hitter, averaged 3.38 kills and 2.65 digs, completing her first East Texas Baptist season ranked among the top 5 in points and kills.
 
ASC teams get the 2022 season started on September 1 which includes one conference contest  – Howard Payne at Mary Hardin-Baylor – and follows with a full Labor Day weekend of games and tournaments. The ASC Volleyball Championship Tournament is scheduled November 3-4-5 and hosted by the No. 1 seeded team.  
 
2022 ASC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rank Team (1st votes) Pts. 2021 Record (ASC)
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (16) 160 24-2 (17-1)
2. UT Dallas (2) 143 18-10 (13-4)
3. East Texas Baptist 114 13-11 (11-7)
4. Concordia Texas 84 10-15 (10-8)
5. LeTourneau 78 17-10 (11-7)
6. Sul Ross State 75 15-10 (10-7)
7. Hardin-Simmons 67 8-11 (7-11)
8. McMurry 59 9-12 (7-11)
9. Howard Payne 21 4-21 (2-16)
 
 
2022 ASC Volleyball Players to Watch
Name Pos. Cl. Team Hometown
Alicia Becerra * OH Sr. Hardin-Simmons Round Rock, Texas
Annika Canaba * M MH/S Sr. Sul Ross State Alpine, Texas
Catherine Croft * OH/RS Sr. UT Dallas Buda, Texas
Kaitlyn Elsten S Sr. Howard Payne Rockwall, Texas
Hannah Frasca * OH Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Spring, Texas
Bri Garcia MH So. McMurry Abilene, Texas
Sarah Ghormley * OH Sr. Concordia Texas Bastrop, Texas
Taryn Griner * MH So. Sul Ross State Monahans, Texas
Lillie Hill * L Jr. East Texas Baptist Schertz, Texas
Hannah Langerman * MH/RS Sr. Hardin-Simmons Waco, Texas
Adile Leal * L Sr. McMurry Clute, Texas
Jaya McCarty MB Sr. Concordia Texas Arlington, Texas
Kaci Monk * MB So. LeTourneau Euless, Texas
Hannah Payan OH So. LeTourneau El Paso, Texas
Avery Reid * F OH So. East Texas Baptist Fulshear, Texas
Mitsue Rodriguez OH Sr. Howard Payne San Antonio, Texas
Emma Sevening S Jr. UT Dallas San Antonio, Texas
Kaylie Vasil * OH Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Midlothian, Texas
 
2021 All-ASC Selection *
2021 ASC Most Valuable Player M
2021 ASC Freshman of the Year F
 
Molten is the official volleyball of American Southwest Conference and used by all 9 members throughout the season and during the ASC tournament.