Aug. 17, 2015
By Cassie Logan | @c4ssielogan
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington was predicted to finish fifth in the 2015 Sun Belt Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Monday morning.
"I'm not surprised," UT Arlington coach Diane Seymour said. "Especially if you think about the fact that we've lost four significant starters from last year. I think that it's a good place to be. We can always move up and that's what our intentions are this year."
The Mavericks were picked fourth last season and proved the projection with a 25-9 overall record and 14-6 in conference play, but fell to eventual champions Little Rock in the second round of the SBC Tournament.
The pick follows the team's best season in over a decade, where it saw the highest winning percentage since 2004 and the largest number of wins since 2006.
The effort was lifted by freshman outside hitter Qiana Canete, who was chosen to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. The Copperas Cove product led UT Arlington with 376 kills and notched a second-best 480 digs as the Mavericks' only six-rotation player. Canete tabbed a team-high 18 double-doubles, the most of any freshman in the conference. She finished the 2014 campaign with three Sun Belt Freshman of the Week honors and a Sun Belt All-Conference second-team nod.
The Trojans earned six first place votes and 113 points in the poll with Texas State close behind at four first place bids and 109 points. Arkansas State, who was predicted eighth in 2014, was picked third with 97 votes, followed by Appalachian State with 88. UT Arlington sat fifth in the coaches' poll with 76 points.
Georgia State and Georgia Southern were picked sixth and seventh respectively, though the Eagles were given one first place vote. UL Lafayette came in eighth, followed by South Alabama and Troy as UL Monroe rounded out the poll with 15 points.
The Trojans' Sonja Milanovic earned Preseason Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year after notching the fourth-most kills and kills per set in the league. The senior outside hitter was named to the 2014 Sun Belt First and All-Tournament Teams and led the Trojans with 19 double-double matches.
The Mavericks will open the 2015 slate on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. against Campbell as part of the Maverick Classic. The action continues Aug. 29 when UT Arlington takes on Grambling State at 1:30 p.m. and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets are available for purchase at UTATickets.com or by calling 817-272-9595.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team - Points (First Place Votes)
1. Little Rock- 113 (6)
2. Texas State- 109 (4)
3. Arkansas State- 97
4. Appalachian State- 88
5. UT Arlington- 76
6. Georgia State- 60
7. Georgia Southern- 53 (1)
8. UL Lafayette- 52
9. South Alabama- 43
10. Troy- 19
11. UL Monroe- 15
Preseason Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Sonja Milanovic - Little Rock - Senior - Outside Hitter
Preseason Defensive Student Athlete of the Year
Markie Schaedig - Arkansas State - Junior - Libero
Preseason Setter of the Year
Paige Brown - Appalachian State - Senior - Setter
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Sonja Milanovic - Little Rock - Senior - Outside Hitter
Emily Corrigan - Appalachian State - Senior - Outside Hitter
Edina Selimovic - Little Rock - Junior - Middle Blocker
Markie Schaedig - Arkansas State - Junior - Libero
Deidra Bohannon - Georgia State - Senior - Outside Hitter
Jordan Kohl - Texas State - Sophomore - Right Side Hitter
Qiana Canete - UT Arlington - Sophomore - Outside Hitter
Paige Brown - Appalachian State - Senior - Setter
