High School Sports

The third annual East Texas Kick-Off Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday at the UT Tyler Ornelas Activity Center.

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and is presented by Azalea Orthopedics and Texas Spine and Joint Hospital. It is sponsored by SPORTyler and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sports radio host David Smoak will emcee.

The guest speaker will be Larry Lacewell, Dallas Cowboys Director of Personnel Evaluation and former Director of College and Pro Scouting.

Thirty-seven East Texas area football programs are expected to be in attendance, including schools from Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Palestine, Gladewater, Van, and Kilgore, among others.

A student athlete from each school will receive a $250 scholarship.

"Supporting our young athletes is a key focus of SPORTyler," said Cindy Smoak, assistant vice president SPORTyler.

"We are excited once again to kickoff the 2008-09 football season with this special awards luncheon."

The "East Texas Team Community Service Award" will be presented to the football program with the most outstanding display of community service, and whose cumulative volunteer projects are determined to be the most impacting to their community. Last year's winner was the Longview Lobos.

"It is very important to SPORTyler that we recognize student athletes for their community involvement," Mrs. Smoak added.

The luncheon is open to the public and tickets are $20. For ticket reservations, please call 903-592-1661 x223.

Team Sponsors are Austin Bank, Arp State Bank, First State Bank Frankston, Firstbank, Quick N'Easy Car Wash, Ewert Law Firm, Henry & Peters, P.C., Prothro Wilhelmi and Company, Carter BloodCare, Allied Waste Services, Inc., Capital One Bank, TCMC, Inc., Hudnall & Hudnall, Smith Barney -- Michael Harrison and Don's TV and Appliance.

Invited Schools include: All Saints Episcopal, Arp, Athens, Big Sandy, Bullard Brook Hill, Brownsboro, Bullard, Canton, Chapel Hill, Frankston, Gilmer, Grace Community, Henderson, Jacksonville, John Tyler, Kilgore College, Kilgore, King's Academy Christian School,

Also, Lindale, Longview, Navarro College, Palestine, Palestine Westwood, Pine Tree, Rusk, Robert E. Lee, Spring Hill, T.K. Gorman, Tatum, Texas College, Trinity Valley Community College, Troup, Tyler Junior College, Van, Whitehouse and Winona.

The UT Tyler volleyball team has been picked to finish in fifth place by American Southwest Conference East Division head coaches and sports information directors.

The poll, released on Monday, has defending ASC East Champion Texas-Dallas picked to repeat again this year.

East Texas Baptist finished one point behind UT Dallas in the voting for second place. Rounding out the poll was Mary Hardin-Baylor in third, Mississippi College in fourth and LeTourneau in sixth.

The 2007 ASC Champion, Texas Lutheran, was selected to win the West Division of the conference.

Hardin - Simmons, who shared the ASC West crown last year with Texas Lutheran, was in second place. McMurry, Concordia, Schreiner, Howard Payne and Sul Ross round out the poll in third through seventh places, respectively.

In the individual awards, East Texas Baptist's Katie Graves received East Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors. Defensively, Mary Hardin-Baylor's Erin Maenius took home the East's top preseason prize.

In the West Division, Hardin-Simmons' Kaela Parnell won the offensive award, while Concordia's Sara Keithley earned the defensive honor.

The Patriots will launch their 2008 campaign on Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the Rhodes College Invitational.

On Friday, UT Tyler will take on Randolph and ASC West rival, Concordia. On Sunday, the Patriots will face Piedmont and St. Catharine (Ky.).

CORSICANA -- John Tyler will look to go over the .500 mark today when the Lady Lions visit Corsicana for a non-district volleyball match.

The varsity contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

JT evened its record at 6-6 after beating Kilgore and Waskom to win consolation last week at the Marshall/ETBU Invitational.

GILMER -- Robert E. Lee will face Pine Tree and Gilmer today in a dual volleyball match slated to begin at 5 p.m. at Gilmer High School. Lee will play a doubleheader of sorts. Being the team that travels the furthest distance, REL will play host Gilmer at 5 p.m. and follow it up with a match against Pine Tree at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The Lady Raiders (11-1) are fresh off winning the Marshall Tournament and are enjoying a five-match win streak.

Lee will host the Tyler Invitational Tournament, beginning Thursday at 12:30 p.m. as 32 teams will invade REL Varsity Gymnasium and the Lions Den at John Tyler. Lee is in Pool A, along with Kilgore, Mabank and T.K. Gorman. Other notables in the tournament are co-host JT, Jewitt-Leon, Richardson, McKinney Boyd, Grace Community and Whitehouse.