FRISCO — Sophomore Paola Valerio was named the 2010-11 Southland Conference Women's Golfer of the Year to headline a league-record four UTSA players that earned all-conference accolades, the league office announced on Monday.
In addition to Valerio, Fabiola Arriaga took home Freshman of the Year honors, while Carrie Parnaby was named Coach of the Year, marking the first time in program history UTSA captured a major postseason award.
"This year has been a team effort from the beginning," Parnaby said. "To have four student-athletes receive all-conference accolades is a huge honor for our program. At each tournament, I felt like anyone could shoot the low round and, to possess that kind of depth, is a great advantage.
"I'm also pleased to see Paola and Fabiola receive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. They both have been extremely consistent and hard working and I'm honored they are a part of our program."
Valerio, the first two-time first-team selection in school history, leads the league with a 74.9 stroke average in 29 rounds of play. The Mexico City native recorded five top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Islander Classic, and she tied for fifth at last week's Southland Championship in Corpus Christi. Valerio set a school record and recorded the lowest single round score of any league golfer with a 66 in the final round of October's Mercedes Benz Championship.
Meanwhile, Arriaga ranks fifth in the conference with a 75.9 stroke average and she led four UTSA players that finished in the top five at the Southland Championship. The Torreon, Mexico, native tied for the top spot on the individual leaderboard before falling on the third hole of a playoff.
In her third season at the helm, Parnaby led the Roadrunners to six top-five finishes this season, including five consecutive this spring capped by the program's first-ever conference championship. UTSA will be making its first NCAA Regional appearance thanks to its seven-stroke victory over Lamar. Under Parnaby's tutelage the last two seasons, seven players have earned all-Southland honors, which is a league-record.
Also garnering honors were junior Summer Batiste and freshman Taylor Newlin, who both were named to the second team.
Batiste notched her second all-conference award after being named to the second team last season. She leads the team with three eagles and shot a low-round of 71 at the Alamo Invitational.
Newlin recorded a pair of top-five finishes (fourth at the Chip-N Club Invitational & Southland Championship) and she has shot a low round of 69.
UTSA will learn its NCAA Regional destination at 6 p.m. on Monday.
