IRVING, Texas— On Tuesday, the 2023 American Athletic Conference Postseason Awards and Honors were announced, with sophomore Mia Soerensen receiving recognition from the AAC after a stellar season for the Roadrunners.
She accomplished the feat in her first season donning navy and orange, as she transferred to UTSA following a Mid-American Conference All-Freshman season at Kent State. Additionally, Soerensen represents the first UTSA volleyball player to receive an all-conference designation since joining the AAC and the first to achieve a second-team distinction since three made the All-Conference USA second team in 2018.
The Meadville, Pennsylvania native started 28 matches for the Roadrunners as an opposite hitter, playing in 106 sets and posting a team-high 386.0 points. She also led the ‘Runners in kills, logging 337 terminations for an average of 3.18 per set, converting attacks at a .249 clip. Her four kills per set mark ranks her ninth in the AAC, while her 3.64 points per set slotted her 10th at the conclusion of the season. Defensively, her 93 blocks sit second on the team, just behind senior Alicia Coppedge.
Soerensen delivered many standout performances across the campaign, smashing a season-high 22 kills against Campbell on Sep. 8 and working an eight-block match on Nov. 10 in a road bout with Wichita State.
The full American Athletic Conference Volleyball Postseason Awards and Honors can be found below:
Player of the Year
Emma Clothier, Gr., MB, SMU
Libero of the Year
Sina Uluave, Gr., SMU
Setter of the Year
Celia Cullen, Sr., SMU
Freshman of the Year
Avery Burks, OH, Tulane
Coach of the Year
Sam Erger, SMU
First Team All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, So., OH, East Carolina
Sh’Diamond, Holly, Sr., MB, North Texas
Emilia Weske, Gr., RS, Rice*
Maria Clara Andrade, So., OH, South Florida
Buse Hazan, So., OH, South Florida
Emma Clothier, Gr., MB, SMU*
Celia Cullen, Sr., S, SMU*
Sina Uluave, Sr., L, SMU
Jamison Wheeler, Jr., OH, SMU*
Kayley Cassaday, Gr., OH, Tulsa
Natalie Foster, Jr., MB, Wichita State*
Sophia Rohling, Sr., OPP, Wichita State
*denotes unanimous selection
Second Team All-Conference
Valeria Rosado, Jr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic
Danyle Courtley, Sr., OH, Rice
Nia McCardell, Sr., L, Rice
Caroline Dykes, Jr., S, South Florida
Natalie Perdue, Sr., OH, SMU
Mia Soerensen, So., OPP, UTSA
Morgan Stout, R-Jr., MB, Wichita State
Izzi Strand, Sr., S, Wichita State
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
-UTSA-