RICHARDSON, Texas – Texas A&M – Kingsville's Nicole Murff was selected as the Lone Star Conference's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.   

The Javelinas were also tabbed to finish 10th in the conference preseason poll, three spots higher than the team finished the 2021 campaign.  

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year  
Murff, who holds the top mark in program history for digs/set, sits second all-time in program history for career digs and is set for a strong senior season as the Javelinas libero only trailing current program record holder Kim Martinez by 138 digs.   

The senior from San Antonio is no stranger to conference accolades as she has been named to three previous All-LSC teams. This includes an All-LSC First-Team recognition last season as she recorded 439 digs while not missing a match as the Javelinas libero, and leading the conference with a mark of 5.42 AVG/S.  

Preseason Poll  
TAMUK was voted 10th accumulating a total of 363 points in the process. The Javelinas look to improve on the team's 13-10 record from a season ago and return to their form from the 2021 Spring Season which saw the Javelinas go 12-0 in conference play capturing the South Division title in the process.  

West Texas A&M was picked as preseason favorites in the league receiving 21 of 44 first-place votes and accumulating 707 total points in the poll. The Lady Buffs enter the 2022 season as defending LSC Tournament Champions.   

Last season's Regular Season Champions Angelo State followed the Lady Buffs in second place receiving 11 first-place votes and totaling 699 points in the poll, with UT Tyler rounding out the top three with seven first-place votes and 680 points.   

The league's preseason poll reflects the opinions of LSC head coaches, sports information directors, and various media representatives from throughout the conference and region.

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LSC volleyball preseason poll 

Rank   Team                                      1st       Total 

1         West Texas A&M                   21        707 

2         Angelo State                          11        699 

3         UT Tyler                                 7          680 

4         Lubbock Christian                              586 

5         DBU                                       3          560 

6         UT Permian Basin                  2          491 

7         St. Edward's                                       474 

8         UAFS                                                  460 

9         St. Mary's                                           364 

10       Texas A&M-Kingsville                        363 

11       Oklahoma Christian                           334 

12       Texas Woman's                                 283 

13       Eastern New Mexico                         222 

14       Texas A&M International                  188 

15       Midwestern State                              145 

16       Western New Mexico                        120 

17       Cameron                                            56