FRISCO — UTSA senior defender Ezinne Okpo was earned preseason first-team All-Southland Conference honors, while the Roadrunners were picked to finish third in the Southland Coaches and SIDs polls, the league office announced on Tuesday.
Okpo, who was second-team All-SLC a year ago, anchored UTSA’s defense to a school-record nine shutouts in 2008. The Denton native also picked up first-team Southland All-Academic honors.
In the preseason polls, UTSA was picked to finish third after collecting 69 points the in the coaches poll and 71 points in the SIDs rankings, while Texas State and Stephen F. Austin were tabbed first and second in both polls, respectively.
McNeese State and Northwestern State were tied for fourth place with 61 points collected in the coaches ranking. Southeastern Louisiana tallied 51 points and occupied the sixth spot and Lamar and Sam Houston State shared the seventh position with 39 points. Rounding out the final two slots were Central Arkansas and Nicholls.
In the SIDs polls, the Lady Demons, who garnered a first-place vote, were selected to finish fourth, while the Cowgirls were picked fifth. SLU held on to the sixth spot after collecting 56 points, followed by the Lady Bearkats, who logged in 40 points. In the final three places, the Lady Cardinals finished ahead of UCA and Nicholls.
