ASC Predictions (2024)

The ASC released their predictions for the upcoming season and the coaches and sports information directors have chosen East Texas Baptist as the favorites for the upcoming volleyball season. The Tigers received 7 of the possible 10 first place votes while Mary Hardin-Baylor received the remaining 3. Finishing out the ordering, there was Hardin-Simmons, LeTourneau with Howard Payne brining up the end of the group. One noticeable absence is UT-Dallas, which is moving to DII and is ineligible for the conference title this year. Their matches will count in the standings but not as DIII matches. They will count as in-region matches.

In my Top 25, ETBU was the only ASC team that I had ranked so I obviously agree with the conference. I also like Mary Hardin-Baylor and they could surprise this season. My only problem with the program over the years is their scheduling but the new NCAA Power Index likes what they do so I can no longer complain about it. (Narrator’s Voice: But, yet, he will.) From the point totals, ETBU and UMHB were the 1 and 2 choices, in some order, by every voter.

Statistics loss to graduation was kind to each of the five remaining schools so I like the ordering the conference had but with the caveat that the entire conference will be better than last year. That means no easy matches during conference.

The ASC article also includes players to watch, which is basically the coaches nominating two players from each of their team.

Here is their preseason poll:

2024 ASC Volleyball Preseason Poll

$ – Ineligible for ASC and NCAA Championships