Hoppe, Bolden earn All-Conference, State picked second in West

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Texas State Volleyball

Texas State was pegged to finish second in the West Division Monday afternoon when the Sun Belt Conference revealed its 2017 Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Bobcats nabbed one first-place vote to Arkansas State’s 11 in the annual projections. The Red Wolves tallied 71 total points to Texas State’s 57 with UTA coming in third with 50 points. Arkansas State was the number one seed in last season’s conference tournament before falling to champion Coastal Carolina in the title game 3-1.

The defending champion Chanticleers were unanimously picked to win the East Division receiving all 12 first-place votes and earning 72 total points with South Alabama pegged to come in second. Georgia Southern was picked third with 43 points.

In addition to their second-place projection, Texas State also landed two players on the Preseason All-Conference Team in senior middle blocker Jaliyah Bolden and senior setter Erin Hoppe. It’s the first time Texas State landed two players on the All-Conference team since joining the Sun Belt in 2013.

Bolden finished last season with a team-high 322 kills and second in blocks with 108. She played in 33 matches and made 28 starts helping lead Texas State to the conference semifinals where she recorded a season-high 21 kills against Coastal Carolina on November 19. Bolden was named to the 2017 SBC All-Tournament Team in 2016.

Hoppe was also named Preseason Setter of the Year in addition to her All-Conference selection. She made 2016 All-Sun Belt Second Team and ended 2016 posting the highest assist-count in the conference in a single game twice with 54 against CSU Bakersfield and UTA. Hoppe was third in the conference in total assists (1,101).

She finished second on the team in digs with 214 and also tallied 64 blocks.

Texas State’s season begins August 25 in College Station in the Texas A&M Invitational against Sam Houston State at 11 a.m. and VCU at 4 p.m.

 

WEST DIVISION
1. Arkansas State (11) 71
2. Texas State (1) 57
3. UTA 50
4. Little Rock 34
5. Louisiana 28
6. ULM 12

EAST DIVISION
1. Coastal Carolina (12) 72
2. South Alabama 51
3. Georgia Southern 43
4. Georgia State 37
5. Appalachian State 30
6. Troy 19

 

2017 Preseason All-Sun Belt Volleyball Team
Emma Longley (Appalachian State, So., OH)
Kenzie Fields (Arkansas State, So., OH)
Carlisa May (Arkansas State, Jr., OH)
Jessica Uke (Arkansas State, Sr., MB)
Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Sr., OH)
Stacey Reilly (Louisiana, Sr., OH)
Jessica Bartczyszyn (Louisiana, Sr., S)
Kacey Leblanc (ULM, Sr., LIB/DS)
Qiana Cañete (UTA, Sr., OH)
Zhanelle Geathers (UTA, Jr., MB)
Erin Hoppe (Texas State, Sr., S)
Jaliyah Bolden (Texas State, Sr., MB)

 2017 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Sr., OH)

2017 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kacey Leblanc (ULM, Sr., LIB/DS)

2017 Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year
Erin Hoppe (Texas State, Sr., S)

San Marcos Daily Record

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