| Victoria Prior |
Junior middle hitter Victoria Prior returns for her fourth year in the UTSA volleyball program in 2007 and the campaign got off to a great start last week when she earned preseason first-team All-Southland Conference honors. Prior started 28 matches a year ago and set single-season and single-match career highs in nearly every category. The Galveston native 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. She added 71 digs, 11 assists and a pair of service aces.
This year, Prior is expected to take on a major leadership role on a team that lost seven letterwinners. Following Sunday’s practice, goUTSA.com caught up with her to see how the first week of practices have gone.
Are you excited to be back on the court?
”I’m very excited. I think we’ve been practicing very well and Coach Groff seems very excited. All the newcomers have come in and done a great job so far. We’re excited about this fall and I think we have a chance to do some special things.”
How are the returnees meshing with the newcomers?
“We’ve been staying together at the dorms the last week and hanging out a lot. It’s been great because we have so many new people in the program this year and we are getting to know one another. A few of us worked together at camp a couple weeks ago, so that gave us a chance to work together before we started practicing. It’s important that we develop a bond on and off the court, so we become a better team when the season starts in two weeks.”
You are now in your fourth year with the program, so you are the elder-statesman, so to speak. How have you handled being a leader for this year’s team?
“It is very important that I help lead my teammates this season. I have been looking forward to this all summer long and think I have bonded well with everyone so far. I was a little afraid to take on the role at first, but now I am excited about it.”
What were you thoughts when you found out about being named to the league’s preseason first team?
“I was a little shocked at first to be perfectly honest, but it was an honor to be recognized by the coaches. I am really looking forward to proving that I belong on that team this season.”