The Angelo State volleyball team received its highest preseason ranking in four years as the Lone Star Conference released its 2008 preseason poll on Thursday afternoon.

The 'Belles, under first-year head coach Chuck Waddington, came in ninth in the poll with 208 points.  The poll reflects the opinion of the LSC's head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives throughout the region.

West Texas A&M, who has advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in each of the last two seasons, was tabbed as the near-unanimous choice to defend its regular season title which it won with a perfect 12-0 record in 2007.  The Buffaloes garnered 35 of the 37 first-place votes and 515 points to out-distance Central Oklahoma, who received one first-place vote and 448 points for the No. 2-spot in the poll.  Midwestern State finished third in the poll with the remaining first-place vote and 446 points.

Rounding out the top eight in the poll were Abilene Christian with 397 points, Texas Woman's with 339 points, Texas A&M-Kingsville with 305 points, Cameron with 279 points and Tarleton State with 202 points.

Coming in behind ASU was Southwestern Oklahoma in 10th with 189 points, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma in 11th with 166 points, Texas A&M-Commerce in 12th with 159 points, Eastern New Mexico in 13th with 93 points and first-year program East Central in 14th with 69 points.

The league also handed out its preseason individual honors and West Texas A&M swept all three categories.  Junior Laura Prinsen was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year while senior Sara Contreras was named the Defensive Player of the Year and junior Katie Rickwartz earned the Setter of the Year.

The 'Belles are on the road for the first 13 matches of the season before opening their home schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 16, against Huston-Tillotson.