Bernhardt earns pre-season honor
Senior outside hitter named division's top player
RICHARDSON – Abilene Christian senior outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt on Thursday was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Pre-Season Player of the Year in voting by league coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.
Bernhardt, a first team all-LSC South selection each of the last two seasons and an honorable mention NCAA all-Southwest Region pick last year, picked up eight of 16 votes for the honor. Her teammate, senior middle blocker Amanda Slate, garnered seven votes to just miss out on the honor. Slate was the LSC South Division MVP last year and a first team all-region pick, the first Wildcat volleyball player to earn those honors.
Bernhardt, a 5-8 senior from Hereford, was selected the South's top player entering the season after a strong junior campaign in which she averaged 4.45 kills and 3.37 digs per game. Last year she led the Wildcats to a 28-8 campaign that included an LSC South title, LSC overall championship and the school's first-ever NCAA postseason appearance.
Last week, ACU was picked to win the LSC South Division championship, garnering every first-place vote and 102 total points, easily outdistancing second-place pick, West Texas A&M, which had 79 points in the pre-season poll.
Schult, a 6-2 sophomore from Fort Collins, Colo., was named the LSC North's top returning star after bursting onto the LSC scene last fall with 4.44 kills and 0.53 blocks per game. She helped last year's Bronchos to a 21-9 record and LSC North runner-up finish.
