AUSTIN, Texas – Returning five players who started at least 21 games last season, the Concordia Texas volleyball team looks to build off last season's American Southwest Conference Tournament Semifinal performance in 2018.

The Tornados, led by ASC All-Conference performer Marissa Stinson, were picked to finish second in the ASC West in the preseason poll, just behind 2017 ASC West champion Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Concordia Texas volleyball head coach Nicole McCoy feels confident about the Tornados heading into the 2018 season.

"I have high expectations for this season considering we are returning a lot of contributors from last year," McCoy said. "I am looking forward to watching us compete this weekend to see how we stack up against quality competition."

Stinson, a junior from Pearland, Texas, was joined by sophomore setter Georgia Quiroz on the ASC Preseason Players to Watch List.

Last season, Stinson set the CTX single-season total blocks record in the 25-point rally-scoring era with 92. The ASC West Division First Team selection also led the Tornados with 335 kills and now has 527 total kills in just two seasons, which currently ranks ninth in school history.

Quiroz, out of Georgetown, Texas, was phenomenal in her first season with the Tornados finishing with 13 double-doubles. The year was highlighted by a season-high 52 assist, 22 dig performance in the ASC Quarterfinal win over East Texas Baptist University. In her brief career with CTX, Quiroz already ranks fifth all-time in the rally-scoring era career assists with 837.

Also returning for 2018 is ASC West Division Second Team selection Kelly Farina. The junior from Spring, Texas, was second on the team with 280 kills, 330 digs and 26 service aces last season.

The schedule is highlighted by non-conference games against Southwestern and Trinity (Texas), who closed last season ranked ninth and 11th in the AVCA Coaches Poll, respectively.

The Tornados open the season on Friday, August 31 in the Austin College Classic in Sherman, Texas. They will take on Centenary (La.) and Austin College at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Friday and follow it up with two games on Saturday against the University of Dallas at 11:00 a.m. and Millsaps at 3:00 p.m.