| Aug. 30, 2005
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907 UTSA opens 2005 campaign at Charlotte/SpringHill Suites Invitational Live Audio | Live Stats | Complete Release
SAN ANTONIO - The UTSA volleyball team opens the 2005 season with three matches at the Charlotte/SpringHill Suites Invitational this Friday-Saturday, Sept. 2-3, at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C. The Roadrunners face Delaware on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Central time, Charlotte on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Quick Hitters
• This will be the first meeting for UTSA with all three Charlotte/SpringHill Suites Invitational opponents
• Head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff needs one victory to reach 300 for her career
• UTSA has lost two straight season openers but won three-of-four debuts before the 2003 season Scouting The Opponents
Delaware went 1-2 at its season-opening Delaware Invitational last weekend. The Blue Hens return four starters from a 23-9 squad in 2004. Head coach Bonnie Kenny owns a 44-48 record in four seasons at Delaware and has a 384-273 career record.
Charlotte dropped its season opener at Georgia, 3-0, and plays Milwaukee Thursday night at home before the SpringHill Suites Invitational. The 49ers posted a 19-14 overall record in 2004 and return five starters this fall. Seventh-year head coach Lisa Marston is 74-87 at Charlotte.
Middle Tennessee State is 3-1 this season after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season in a 3-2 victory over Georgia on Aug. 27. The Blue Raiders welcome back five starters from last year’s 17-14 squad. Head coach Matt Peck is in his second season in Murfreesboro and totes a 563-211 career record.
Closing In On 300
Fourth-year head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff is closing in on 300 career victories as the former All-American at Texas brings a 299-116 career mark into this weekend’s Charlotte/SpringHill Suites Invitational. Groff posted a 256-62 (.805) record at St. Mary’s, a Division II school in San Antonio, before taking over as UTSA’s head coach in 2002.
Preseason Accolades
In the Southland Conference Preseason Polls, UTSA is picked to finish third by the head coaches and fourth by the sports information directors. Stephen F. Austin is the favorite in both lists. Junior outside hitter Meagan Daniel, a two-time first team all-conference selection and SLC Player of the Year candidate, earned a spot on the Preseason All-SLC First Team, the only Roadrunner mentioned on the first or second teams.
NCAA Host Institution
The University of Texas at San Antonio continues its proud tradition of hosting NCAA Championship events with the 2005 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship coming to the Alamodome on Dec. 15 and 17. It will mark the first time UTSA, host for the 1998 and 2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours and the 2002 Women’s Final Four, has hosted the volleyball championship. The Alamodome will be the largest venue to ever host a volleyball match when the UTSA Dome Rally, a precursor to the NCAA Championship, is held on Sept. 9-11, featuring Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Rice, Southern California, Texas A&M and UTSA. Taking the Next Step - 2005 UTSA Season Outlook
|
