| Victoria Prior |
FRISCO ? UTSA junior Victoria Prior was one of 12 players named to the Southland Conference's Preseason First Team, the league office announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Galveston native started 28 matches a year ago and set single-season and single-match career highs in nearly every category. She was second on the team with a .231 hitting percentage and 78 total blocks (nine solo/69 assists). Prior also registered 329 kills, which ranked fourth on the squad, and reached double figures in 17 matches, including the last six of the year. The 6-foot-2 middle hitter added 71 digs, 11 assists and a pair of service aces.
“Victoria is one of the best middles in the conference and she’s proved that the last two years,” UTSA head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff said. “She has earned the respect of her peers in the conference and her selection to the first team shows that. We have a lot of confidence that she can continue to take her game to the next level this season.”
UTSA, coming off a 2006 campaign that saw it post a 19-13 (11-5 SLC West) record, was tabbed fourth in both the coaches and sports information directors preseason polls. The Roadrunners return four letterwinners and welcome nine newcomers to the program this year. Defending champion Stephen F. Austin, which owns a 51-match regular season winning streak against SLC foes, was the overwhelming choice to repeat, while McNeese State was the pick to win the league's East Division.
The Roadrunners open the 2007 season on Friday, Aug. 24, when they travel to Boise, Idaho, for the two-day Bronco Invitational.