Roadrunners sign three volleyball standouts to NLIsRoadrunners sign three volleyball standouts to NLIs
Volleyball

Roadrunners sign three volleyball standouts to NLIs

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA volleyball has signed a trio of athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2021-22 season, it was announced on Thursday afternoon by head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff.
 
The Roadrunners added three Texas athletes for next season, including Houston area defensive specialist/libero Courtney Aulbaugh, Spring, Texas, setter Mekaila Aupiu and Houston outside hitter Tiana Davis. 
 
"We are thrilled to welcome these three ladies into the UTSA family," Neugebauer-Groff said. "They each bring something special to our program and will have the ability to immediately impact our team. We are excited about these future Roadrunners and can't wait to get them in the gym." 

Courtney Aulbaugh, DS/Libero, 5-5, Houston, Texas (Cy-Fair High School)
Star at Cy-Fair High School, where she is coached by Donna Benotti … played club for the Houston Juniors … currently ranks sixth in her district in service aces and seventh in digs … named honorable mention academic all-state as a senior … member of the academic honor roll and the nation honor society … finished 2019 third in service aces (60) in her district … was a candidate for the VYPE preseason libero of the year in 2020 … as a junior, helped lead team to the regional finals in 2019 … was awarded the 110-percent accolade by high school teammates in 2019 … also ran track and field as a freshman, excelling in the long jump, and also played water polo as a freshman in 2018. Personal: Full name is Courtney Brooke Aulbaugh … daughter of Trent and Pamela Aulbaugh … has two sisters, Brittany (22) and Angelica (21) … uncle Dough Powell played football at LSU (1983-86), grandfather Carroll Aulbaugh played basketball at SMU and Lamar and grandfather Kenneth Powell played basketball and ran track at Southwestern Louisiana … interested in a potential career in criminal justice or criminology … active in her community, serving as an alter servant at her church, working with the Best Buddies organization … was a member of the student council for two years … works with a dog fostering organization to care for animals in transit. 
 
Groff on Aulbaugh … 
"Courtney brings an incredible volleyball IQ that will help us in the back court. She's a natural-born leader and is passionate about the game."

Mekaila Aupiu, S, 5-9, Spring, Texas (Klein Collins HS)
Stars at Klein Collins High School for coaches Amanda McMeans and Kasey Price … played club for the Houston Skyline's … A four-year starter at Klein Colins … named all-district second team in 2019-20, won the GHVCA Award, was named all-academic and was an 11-time player of the match … accumulated over 1,000 assists as a junior … during senior season in 2020, has been named player of the match seven times, won the GHVCA award and has totaled over 1,000 assists … named second-team all-district in 2018-19, leading team to the area championship for the first time in school history … with her club in 2019-20, led team to a fifth-place finish in 16 Open in the Girls Junior Nationals … owns the all-time club record with Houston Skyline with over 3,000 assists … as a freshman, earned all-district honorable mention and all-district academic honors … helped lead club team in 2017-18 to a third place finish in the AAU National Volleyball Tournament. Personal: Daughter of the late Lotopeu Aupiu and Lynne Aupiu … born in Beverly, Hills, Calif. … father played football at BYU and was one of the replacement players during the strike for the Los Angeles Rams, also playing for the LA Express in the USFL. 
 
Groff on Aupiu … 
"Mekaila  brings a ton of experience and athleticism to our program. She's has run with two very competitive programs, high school and club, for the last four years and knows how to win."

Tiana Davis, OH, 5-9, Houston, Texas (Ridge Point HS)
Standout at Ridge Point High School, where she is coached by Lauryn Bailey … was on the 2020 Under Armor All-America Watch List … named VYPE honorable mention at outside hitter in 2020 … tabbed to the 2020 GCVA Preseason Team … helped lead Ridge Point to the 2019 6A state semifinals … team finished as the 6A state runner-up in 2018 … led team to the Ford Bend ISD 6A district championship … named 2018 district honorable mention … a three-time district All-Academic  selection … named 2019 first-team all-district … tabbed to the CCISD All-Tournament Team in 2019 … named to the 2019 AVCA Phenom List … member of the GCVA postseason team in 2019 … tabbed to the Prep Volleyball 10-foot club … a top-20 block for the Tour of Texas in 2019. Personal: Daughter of Tyrone and Rhonda Davis … has a younger brother and sister … father played basketball at Southern Arkansas and mother played volleyball at Letourneau University. 
 
Groff on Davis … 
"Tiana is an elite athlete that is still developing into a strong player. She's played at a very competitive level in high school and club and we are looking for great things for her here at UTSA."
 
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