? Pre-match notes (.pdf)
Matches 8-11: vs. Houston & UTSA Classic
Convocation Center ? San Antonio, Texas
Match 8: Thursday, Sept. 6, vs. Houston, 7 p.m.
Match 9: Friday, Sept. 7, vs. Auburn, 7 p.m.
Match 10: Saturday, Sept. 8, vs. Louisiana Tech, noon
Match 11: Saturday, Sept. 8, vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
Busy weekend on tap for Roadrunners: UTSA (3-4), winners of three of its last four matches, begins a stretch of four contests in three days beginning Thursday when it hosts Houston (2-3) at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners then welcome Auburn (6-2), Louisiana Tech (5-4) and Texas A&M (7-0) to the Convocation Center for the two-day UTSA Classic. UTSA will square of with Auburn at 7 p.m. on Friday before taking on Louisiana Tech (noon) and Texas A&M (7 p.m.) the following day.
On the Web: All four of this weekend’s matches will be streamed live on goUTSA.com (audio & video/Rowdy Zone subscription required). Associate Sports Information Director Brian Hernandez will call the action from courtside on Thursday night, while Sports Information Director Kyle Stephens will handle the call on Friday. Regular play-by-play man Ed Suarez returns for both of Saturday’s matches.
Scouting the Cougars: Houston has lost three of its last four matches after winning its season opener against Texas-Arlington. The Cougars, who were 19-17 a year ago (8-8, C-USA), dropped matches to #6 Texas and New Mexico State at last weekend’s Houston Invitational before beating Cal State Bakersfield in five games on Wednesday night. UH swept UTSA a year ago in Houston and holds a 3-1 edge in the all-time series between the two schools.
Scouting the UTSA Classic field: Auburn, 13-18 overall and 5-15 in SEC play last season, brings a 6-2 mark into this weekend’s tournament and Friday marks the first meeting between the Tigers and Roadrunners. Louisiana Tech, coming off a 2006 campaign that saw it post a 6-28 mark (0-16 in WAC), is off to a 5-4 start this year and has won four of its last five matches. Saturday marks the second year in a row that the Roadrunners have faced the Lady Techsters and UTSA owns a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. Texas A&M is off to a perfect 7-0 start to open the 2007 season. The Aggies were 12-16 overall and 5-15 in Big 12 play last year. UTSA and A&M will meet for the seventh time on Saturday night, but the Aggies have won all six previous matchups between the two schools.
Rowland off to hot start: Freshman outside hitter Kendra Rowland continued her outstanding start to her Roadrunners career, as she earned all-tournament honors for the second consecutive week at last weekend’s North Florida Labor Day Classic. Rowland recorded 34 kills, including a career-high 22 against Southeast Missouri State, in addition to three service aces, 36 digs and three block assists during the two-day tournament. That performance came on the heels of a then-career-high 19 winners (.533 pct.) and 13 digs in last Tuesday’s home-opening sweep of Texas-Pan American. Two weeks ago, she earned All-Tournament honors at the Bronco Invitational after recording 28 kills, 13 digs and a pair of service aces during the two-day event. The Antioch, Calif., native opened her collegiate career with 14 kills (.275 pct.) and seven digs at Boise State and finished the weekend with eight winners against No. 24 Santa Clara and six vs. Cal State Fullerton.
Prior named to SLC’s Preseason First Team: Junior middle hitter Victoria Prior was one of 12 players named to the Southland Conference’s Preseason First Team, the league office announced last month. Prior earned North Florida Labor Day Classic All-Tournament honors last weekend after registering 36 kills (.275 pct.), eight digs, two block solos and a pair of block assists. She opened the 2007 campaign with 20 kills (.196 pct.), five digs and three blocks at the Bronco Invitational and followed that effort with 17 winners (.519 pct.) and seven total blocks (two solo/five assists) last Tuesday against Texas-Pan American.
Preseason accolades: UTSA was picked to finish fourth in the West Division of the Southland Conference this season by both the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. The Roadrunners were slotted behind defending regular season champion Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington and Texas State. Meanwhile, McNeese State was the pick to win the league’s East Division.
Head Coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff: Laura Neugebauer-Groff is in her sixth season at the helm of UTSA?s volleyball program. She led the Roadrunners to a 19-13 record, a 10-3 mark at the Convocation Center and a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament a year ago. Her career ledger stands at 339-144 (.702), including an 83-82 mark at UTSA. In five-plus years as the Roadrunners’ head coach, she has tutored 13 All-SLC players and 11 all-academic honorees, including 2005 SLC Student-Athlete of the Year Meagan Daniel.
