UTSA selected third in Western Athletic Conference preseason pollUTSA selected third in Western Athletic Conference preseason poll
Volleyball

UTSA selected third in Western Athletic Conference preseason poll

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — UTSA was selected third in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office on Tuesday.

The Roadrunners received 58 points, nine short of second-place Idaho and 21 behind preseason champion New Mexico State.

The Aggies earned eight of the 10 first place votes to claim the top spot, while the Vandals collected the other two.

UTSA was followed by Utah State (57 points), while I-35 rival and 2011 Southland Conference Champion Texas State was picked fifth with 52 points. Denver (43), San Jose State (34), UT Arlington (27), Seattle (18) and Louisiana Tech (15) rounded out the poll.

The Roadrunners also earned two spots on the 12-player preseason All-WAC team, as junior outside hitter McKenzie Adams and senior outside hitter Whitney Walls both landed on the squad.

Adams tallied 253 kills (2.88 kps) and 117 total blocks (32 solos/85 assists) en route to earning Southland Newcomer of the Year honors last fall, while Walls was a first-team All-Southland selection after amassing 339 winners (2.92 kps) and hitting at a .317 clip a year ago.

New Mexico State sophomore Meredith Hays was named the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

UTSA begins its 2012 campaign on Aug. 24 at the Blue Raider Bash in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Birds open their home slate on Aug. 28 against Rice.

2012 WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. New Mexico State (8) 79
2. Idaho (2) 67
3. UTSA 58
4. Utah State 57
5. Texas State 52
6. Denver 43
7. San Jose State 34
8. UT Arlington 27
9. Seattle 18
10. Louisiana Tech 15

2012 Preseason All-WAC Team
McKenzie Adams, UTSA
Alex Akana, San Jose State
Amari Deardorff, Texas State
Meredith Hays, New Mexico State ^
Faimie Kingsley, Denver
Lauren Loerch, New Mexico State
Desiree Scott, New Mexico State
Alex Sele, Idaho
Shay Sorensen, Utah State
Allison Walker, Idaho
Whitney Walls, UTSA
Joselyn White, Utah State

^ WAC Preseason Player of the Year