2008 UTSA Roadrunners Media Guide

Quick Facts Table of Contents General Introduction Institution______The University of at San Antonio Media information______2 Nickname______Roadrunners Convocation Center/goUTSA.com______3 Colors______Orange (1665), navy blue (289) & white 2008 season outlook______4-5 Founded______1969 2008 schedule______6 Enrollment______28,534 2008 rosters______7 President______Dr. Ricardo Romo Athletics Director______Lynn Hickey Meet The Roadrunners Athletics phone______210/458-4161 Audrey Hiser______10 Ticket office phone______210/458-UTSA (8872) Rebecca Hrapmann______11 Affiliation______NCAA Division I Gena Rhodes______12 Conference______Southland (West) Briana Mason______13 Valorie Rogers______14 Coaching Staff Kendra Rowland______15 Head coach______Laura Neugebauer-Groff Jordan White______16 Alma mater______Texas, 1987 Ambra Brooks/Stephanie Flores/Elise Huskey/Kelsey Jewasko__ 17 Record at UTSA (years)______93-99 (6) Evelyn Pineda/Stefanie Robbins/Megan Schauffele/Kelsey Schwirtlich__ 18 Career record (years)______349-161 (14) UTSA Volleyball Awards______19 Assistant coach______Howard Wallace Head Coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff______20-21 Alma mater______Washington State, 1981 Assistant Coach Howard Wallace/Support Staff______22 Office phone______210/458-4196 2008 Opponents Team Information Mizuno Invitational at Rice University/Baylor Classic/Georgia__ 24 2007 records______13-21 (5-11/t-4th, West) DePaul Invitational/Texas Pan-American/UT Arlington Starters returning/lost______4+libero/2 Texas State/Prairie View A&M/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi__25 Letterwinners returning/lost______7/6 Lamar/Sam Houston State/McNeese State Newcomers______8 Stephen F. Austin/Northwestern State/Central Arkansas____ 26 Nicholls/Southeastern Louisiana History Southland Conference Tournament______27 Home arena______Convocation Center All-time series results______28 Capacity______4,080 2007 In Review Press row phone______210/458-4566 2007 final results______30 First year of competition______1983 2007 statistics______31 All-time record______441-407 (.520) 2007 Southland Conference review______32 All-time SLC record______159-123 (.564) NCAA Tournament appearances______1 (2000) History Conference championships______2 Career records______34 ______(1999 SLC Regular Season • 2000 SLC Tournament) Single-season records______35 Single-match records______36 Sports Information Southland Conference Championship teams______37 Associate Director (volleyball contact)______Brian Hernandez Honor roll______38-39 [email protected] Year-by-year results______40-45 Office phone______210/458-4907 All-time series results______46-49 Cell phone______210/269-7110 All-time letterwinners______50 Fax______210/458-4569 Mailing address______One UTSA Circle This Is UTSA ______San Antonio, TX 78249 About UTSA______52-54 Web site______goUTSA.com UTSA spirit______55 Student-athlete success______56 The 2008 UTSA Volleyball Media Guide was designed, Roadrunner Athletic Fund______57 written and edited by Associate SID Brian Hernandez. Photos The city of San Antonio______58-59 by Jeff Huehn of Lazy J Photography, Mark McClendon of Community involvement______60 UTSA Photographic Services, the San Antonio Convention President Dr. Ricardo Romo______61 & Visitors Bureau and Stephen F. Austin State University. Athletics Director Lynn Hickey______62 Printing provided by Multicopy Printing of San Antonio. Athletics Department staff______63 Southland Conference______64 PB 2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  Media Information

Media Coverage lines for visiting radio, SIDs and members 2008 UTSA Broadcast Schedule The UTSA Sports Information office of the print media are available along press assists members of the media with their row and the main press row phone number Date Opponent Time (CT) coverage of all Roadrunners sports by is 210/458-4566. Aug. 29 at Rice 10 a.m. providing player and coach interviews, Practices Aug. 30 vs. Michigan 11 a.m. feature ideas, pregame notes and updated UTSA welcomes all media to attend statistics. In addition to the 2008 volleyball Aug. 30 vs. La.-Lafayette 4:30 p.m. volleyball practices during the season. media guide, media members may Sept. 5 vs. Weber State 4 p.m. Please call Brian Hernandez for practice check UTSA’s official athletics Web site,_ times and requests for interviews. In most Sept. 6 at Baylor 10:30 a.m. goUTSA.com, for the latest information on cases, coaches and student-athletes are all the department’s 16 sports. Sept. 6 vs. San Diego State 5 p.m. available before and after practice. Pre- Sept. 10 Georgia 7 p.m. Interviews match practices are closed to the media. All interviews with coaches and student- Sept. 12 at DePaul 7:30 p.m. Internet Sept. 13 vs. Denver 10 a.m. athletes must be arranged at least 24 hours Fans and media members can keep up in advance by contacting Associate SID with the latest information on all 16 Sept. 13 vs. Ball State 5 p.m. Brian Hernandez. Telephone interviews UTSA sports on the official Web site for Sept. 17 Texas-Pan American 7 p.m. are available to the media on a “call-back” Roadrunners Athletics at goUTSA.com. Sept. 26 UT Arlington 7 p.m. basis at a time that is convenient for the You will find match recaps, box scores, coach or student-athlete. Post-match updated statistics, weekly notes, player Sept. 27 Texas State 4 p.m. interviews with coaches and players will be and coach biographies, schedules, rosters, Sept. 30 Prairie View A&M 6 p.m. conducted courtside following a 10-minute archives, photos and play-by-play coverage Oct. 3 at A&M-Corpus Christi 7 p.m. “cooling off” period. The Roadrunners of most volleyball matches. locker room is closed to the media. Oct. 4 at Texas-Pan American 4 p.m. Internet Audio Broadcasts Oct. 10 at Lamar 7 p.m. Media Services Audio of all of UTSA’s volleyball matches Media members are encouraged to contact will be carried live on goUTSA.com this Oct. 11 at Sam Houston State 4 p.m. the UTSA Sports Information Department season. To the right is a list of this season’s Oct. 15 at McNeese State 7 p.m. for media credentials at least 24 hours scheduled broadcasts. before a home match. Credentials can be Oct. 18 Stephen F. Austin 2 p.m. picked up with proper photo identification Live Video & Statistics Oct. 23 at Northwestern State 7 p.m. at the ticket pass gate located in the main Live video and statistics for all UTSA home Oct. 25 at Central Arkansas noon lobby of the Convocation Center. Phone matches can been viewed at goUTSA.com. Oct. 30 Sam Houston State 7 p.m. The Paisano Nov. 1 Lamar 2 p.m. Phone: 210/690-9301 Nov. 4 A&M-Corpus Christi 7 p.m. Fax: 210/690-3423 Email: [email protected] Nov. 7 Nicholls 7 p.m. Nov. 8 Southeastern La. 2 p.m. KABB (FOX TV) Nov. 13 at Texas State 7 p.m. Phone: 210/442-6304 Fax: 210/442-6333 Nov. 15 at UT Arlington 4 p.m. Nov. 21-23 at SLC Tournament TBA KENS (CBS TV) Brian Hernandez Phone: 210/366-5001 broadcast schedule subject to change Associate SID/Volleyball Contact Fax: 210/377-8757 Email: [email protected] We Are UTSA Office: 210/458-4907 KSAT (ABC TV) When referencing University of Texas Cell: 210/269-7110 Phone: 210/351-1270 at San Antonio Athletics, please use the Fax: 210/458-4569 Fax: 210/351-1310 acronym UTSA and the nickname Roadrunners. Please refrain from using KWEX (Spanish TV) Texas-San Antonio, UT-San Antonio, UTSA Media Outlets Phone: 210/227-4141 UT-SA or any other variations. Fax: 210/226-0131 San Antonio Express-News Phone: 210/250-3373 WOAI (NBC TV) Fax: 210/250-3351 Phone: 210/223-4742 Email: [email protected] Fax: 210/476-1088  2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  UTSA Convocation Center

Quick Facts • Built in 1975, the Convocation Center features a new permanent maple hardwood court that measures 17,900 square feet and seating that accommodates 4,080 spectators. • It has been the home of UTSA’s men’s and women’s teams since 1981 and volleyball since ’89. • It hosted the 1993 Olympic Festival Volleyball Tournament, 1998 NORCECA World Volleyball Championships, 2002 WBCA All-Star Game and 2004 Nike Hoop Summit.

Home Cookin’ Dating back to 1989, the Roadrunners have won more than 61 Ticket Prices percent of their matches at the Convocation Center (156-99). Six Single game: $5 adult • $3 junior (ages 3-18)/senior (ages of the top 10 volleyball crowds in Convocation Center history have 60+)/military • free for UTSA students with valid ID come during head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff’s tenure. Groups (15+ people): $4 adult • $2 junior/senior/military

Top 10 Convocation Center Volleyball Crowds 1,150______vs. Florida______Nov. 13, 1999 696______vs. Texas A&M______Sept. 8, 2007 863______vs. Texas State______Nov. 22, 2003 627______vs. Texas State______Nov. 5, 2006 750______vs. Texas______Sept. 1, 1993 625______vs. Texas State______Oct. 11, 2007 726______vs. Texas State______Sept. 16, 2003 620______vs. UT Arlington______Sept. 14, 1999 725______vs. Texas State______Oct. 11, 2005 600______vs. Stephen F. Austin______Nov. 5, 1999 bold denotes matches under Laura Neugebauer-Groff

Official UTSA Athletics Web site goUTSA.com— n January 2007, UTSA Athletics launched a new Web site created through a partnership with Jump TV SportsI (formerly XOS Technologies). The leading technology partner for maximizing the value of content, commerce and services for sports organizations and fans, Jump TV Sports serves more than 400 clients representing more than 750 teams in the NCAA, NAIA, NFL, AFL, CFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL and MLS. For the latest information on all of UTSA’s 16 sports, log on to goUTSA. com. There you can find game recaps, box scores, updated statistics, weekly notes, player and coach biographies, schedules, rosters, photos and archives. Live stats also are available for nearly every game and, for just $5.95 a month or $49.95 a year, Rowdy Zone premium subscribers have access to live audio for selected volleyball, basketball, baseball and games, live video streaming for home volleyball and basketball games, video highlights and much more.

 2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  2008 Season Outlook

ompetitive, cohesiveness and confidence. Those are the her inaugural season and three words that seventh-year head coach head coach she responded by earning SLC Preseason Polls Laura Neugebauer-Groff says describe this year’s edition second-team All-Southland Head Coaches of the UTSA Roadrunners. Conference honors. The C West Antioch, Calif., native enters 1. Texas State (8) With a talented group of nine newcomers — six true freshmen and her second year as a preseason 2. Lamar (1) three transfers — joining a cast of seven returning letterwinners first-team All-SLC pick. 3. UT Arlington who saw significant playing time a year ago, nearly every position 4. UTSA will be up for grabs when the squad begins preseason practice She started every match, 5. Sam Houston State in mid-August. ranked fourth in the league 6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in kills per game (3.81) and With the campaign set to begin on Aug. 29, at the Mizuno led the squad in attacks East Invitational at Rice University, Neugebauer-Groff knows the (1,285) and service aces (28) 1. Stephen F. Austin (3) two-and-a-half weeks leading up to the opening match will be in addition to being second in 2. McNeese State critical in determining who will be on the court for the first digs (386). 3. Central Arkansas serve of the 2008 season. 4. Northwestern State “Kendra carried a big load 5. Southeastern Louisiana “This should be one of the most competitive groups I’ve ever had for us last year,” Neugebauer- 6. Nicholls because we’re going to have so much depth at each position,” she said. Groff said. “The fun part for “I think that will bring out the best in all our players. Competition her is that she can do it again Sports Information Directors day in and day out on the court makes everyone better.” if we need her to, but she’s West going to have a lot of help this 1. Texas State (7) Winners of 13 games last fall, UTSA was struck by the injury season.” 2. Lamar (1) bug throughout the 2007 campaign, but that opened up playing 3. UT Arlington time for the Roadrunners’ freshmen. Senior Gena Rhodes is back 4. UTSA for her second season. She 5. Sam Houston State Neugebauer-Groff expects the experience that those four players saw action in the team’s first 6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi — Briana Mason, Valorie Rogers, Kendra Rowland and Jordan 22 matches (19 starts) before White — gained a year ago to go a long way in their continued an ankle injury shelved her East development this fall. for the remainder of the 1. Stephen F. Austin (4) campaign. Rhodes had 139 2. Central Arkansas “Even though the number of wins weren’t what we wanted a year kills in addition to collecting 3. McNeese State ago, I thought we were exciting to watch and competed really 24 total blocks a year ago. 4. Northwestern State well,” she said. “With the experience our freshman from a year 5. Nicholls ago gained, we have the chance to be more successful.” “Gena played quite a bit for us 6. Southeastern Louisiana before getting hurt last year,” How quickly the newcomers adjust to the new level of play and Neugebauer-Groff said. “She came back healthy this spring and develop confidence with their new teammates will go a long way has been working very hard in preparation for this fall.” in determining the Roadrunners’ success this season. A pair of highly-decorated “The most important thing high school players in Elise this group needs to achieve Huskey and Kelsey Jewasko right away is a belief in itself,” should vie for playing time Neugebauer-Groff said. this fall. Both were all-state “When you are confident honorees as prep seniors and in yourself, you’re going to Huskey led her team to the be confident in the person Texas 3A State Tournament. next to you. That’s where the cohesiveness comes in. It’s all “Elise and Kelsey are both about getting the job done as very talented players who a team and believing in one should contribute right away another.” for us,” Neugebauer-Groff said. “The skills they bring to Outside Hitters the table are going to make it Leading the way will be difficult to keep them off the Rowland, who was asked court if they perform to their to fill a number of roles in UTSA returns seven letterwinners from last year’s 13-win squad. abilities.”  2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  2008 Season Outlook

Other newcomers Neugebauer-Groff who could see playing said. “She is a hard time on the right side worker, comes from a include sophomore winning program and Megan Schauffele, knows what it takes to a local product who be successful. That’s transferred from why she was our MVP Hartford, and freshman this spring.” Kelsey Schwirtlich, who was an all-state Schwirtlich also could performer as a senior see action in the at Calallen High School middle in addition to in Corpus Christi. the outside.

“This group should Setters be a our biggest Senior Rebecca strength this season,” Hrapmann, White Kendra Rowland Neugebauer-Groff said. and freshman Amber Rebecca Hrapmann “Between the return of Brooks give the squad Kendra and Gena and the newcomers that are coming in, we plenty of depth at the position. However, it remains to be seen should have incredible depth on both the left and right sides.” who will be on the court when the regular season kicks off.

Middle Hitters By the end of last season, White had established herself as This is another group that has the potential to shine this year, as the quarterback of the offense. She saw action in 28 matches, Rogers and Mason return and junior Stefanie Robbins enters the including a dozen starts to end the season, and finished her first mix after a successful two-year stint at Blinn Junior College. campaign with 444 assists.

Rogers is back after a freshman campaign that saw her play in Meanwhile, Hrapmann brings 81 matches of experience to the every match, starting all but one. She ranked second on the team, and she has racked up 1,349 assists during her career, club with 203 kills, 14 block solos, 71 block assists and 85 total including a team-high 863 a year ago. blocks. Brooks comes to the Alamo City as a four-time first-team all- “Val had a very good first year blocking for us last season, but district honoree at Alvin High School. she needs to continue to grow on offense in order to become an impact player,” Neugebauer-Groff said. “She worked on some “Jordan was the leader of this group by the end of last fall, but things this spring that I think will help her in that area.” she missed the entire spring following surgery,” Neugebauer- Groff said. “Rebecca ran the team during that time and will have Mason saw action in 31 contests last year and was in the starting an opportunity to do so this season based on how she performs lineup 14 times. She collected 125 kills to go along with 35 total in preseason camp. Our plan is to redshirt Amber, but we are blocks from the outside, but she will return not going to make that decision right away. to her natural position in the middle this If she can help us, we will give her the chance fall. to play.”

“Briana has really grown as a player in a little Defensive Specialists over a year,” Neugebauer-Groff said. “We had Senior Audrey Hiser, who posted the fourth- planned to redshirt her last fall, but she was best digs total in school history (541) last forced into action because of injuries. She year, returns for her final season and she will came out this spring and was outstanding. be joined along the back row by Jewasko and Her hard work in both the gym and weight freshman Stephanie Flores. room are starting to pay off.” “Audrey was one of the best liberos in the Robbins, who helped lead Blinn to conference last year, but she missed most consecutive fifth-place national finishes, the spring with an injury,” Neugebauer-Groff should provide an immediate impact in her said. “Stephanie and Kelsey also will see time inaugural season. back there and how each performs during preseason drills will determine who is the “I am expecting big things from Stefanie,” Audrey Hiser libero this fall.”  2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  2008 Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time (CT) Aug. 29 at Rice * Houston, Texas 10 a.m. Aug. 30 vs. Michigan * Houston, Texas 11 a.m. Aug. 30 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette * Houston, Texas 4:30 p.m. Sept. 5 vs. Weber State # Waco, Texas 4 p.m. Sept. 6 at Baylor # Waco, Texas 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 vs. San Diego State # Waco, Texas 5 p.m. Sept. 10 Georgia San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at DePaul % Chicago, Ill. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Denver % Chicago, Ill. 10 a.m. Sept. 13 vs. Ball State % Chicago, Ill. 5 p.m. Sept. 17 Texas-Pan American San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Sept. 26 UT Arlington ^ San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Texas State ^ San Antonio, Texas 4 p.m. Sept. 30 Prairie View A&M San Antonio, Texas 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ^ Corpus Christi, Texas 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Texas-Pan American Edinburg, Texas 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Lamar ^ Beaumont, Texas 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Sam Houston State ^ Huntsville, Texas 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at McNeese State ^ Lake Charles, La. 7 p.m. Oct. 18 Stephen F. Austin ^ San Antonio, Texas 2 p.m. Oct. 23 at Northwestern State ^ Natchitoches, La. 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Central Arkansas ^ Conway, Ark. noon Oct. 30 Sam Houston State ^ San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Nov. 1 Lamar ^ San Antonio, Texas 2 p.m. Nov. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ^ San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Nicholls ^ San Antonio, Texas 7 p.m. Nov. 8 Southeastern Louisiana ^ San Antonio, Texas 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at Texas State ^ San Marcos, Texas 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at UT Arlington ^ Arlington, Texas 4 p.m. Nov. 21-23 at Southland Conference Tournament Nacogdoches, Texas TBA Dec. 4-7 NCAA First & Second Rounds campus sites TBA Dec. 11-14 NCAA Regionals campus sites TBA Dec. 18-20 NCAA Semifinals & Championship Omaha, Neb. TBA

all dates and times subject to change • home matches in bold and played at the UTSA Convocation Center * Mizuno Invitational at Rice University • # Baylor Classic • % DePaul Invitational • ^ Southland Conference match

 2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com  2008 Rosters

No. Name Position Height Year Hometown (High School/Last School) 1 Amber Brooks S 5-7 Fr.-HS Alvin, Texas (Alvin HS) 2 Kelsey Jewasko OH/DS 5-7 Fr.-HS San Antonio, Texas (East Central HS) 3 Rebecca Hrapmann S 5-9 Sr.-3L New Orleans, La. (Cabrini HS) 4 Stephanie Flores DS 5-3 Fr.-HS San Antonio, Texas (Antonian Prep HS) 5 Audrey Hiser DS 5-7 Sr.-3L San Antonio, Texas (MacArthur HS) 6 Elise Huskey OH 5-11 Fr.-HS Columbus, Texas (Columbus HS) 7 Briana Mason MH 6-0 So.-1L Dallas, Texas (Skyline HS) 8 Jordan White S 5-9 So.-1L Albuquerque, N.M. (El Dorado HS) 10 Stefanie Robbins MH 6-2 Jr.-TR Three Rivers, Texas (Three Rivers HS/Blinn JC) 11 Kelsey Schwirtlich OH/MH 6-0 Fr.-HS Corpus Christi, Texas (Calallen HS) 12 Kendra Rowland OH 5-11 So.-1L Antioch, Calif. (Deer Valley HS) 13 Valorie Rogers MH/OH 6-1 So.-1L Arlington, Texas (Sam Houston HS) 14 Gena Rhodes OH 5-11 Sr.-1L Lake Jackson, Texas (Brazoswood HS/San Jacinto JC) 24 Megan Schauffele OH 5-10 So.-TR Live Oak, Texas (Incarnate Word HS/Hartford) — Evelyn Pineda ^ DS 5-2 Jr.-TR San Antonio, Texas (Holmes HS/Laredo JC) ^ will redshirt this season Head coach: Laura Neugebauer-Groff (seventh season) Assistant coach: Howard Wallace (sixth season) Volunteer assistant coach: Andy Danhof (second season) Student assistant coach: Cristina Almeida (first season)

Alphabetical Roster Name No. Brooks, Amber______1 Flores, Stephanie______4 Hiser, Audrey______5 Hrapmann, Rebecca______3 Huskey, Elise______6 Jewasko, Kelsey______2 Mason, Briana______7 Pineda, Evelyn______— Rhodes, Gena______14 Robbins, Stefanie______10 Rogers, Valorie______13 Rowland, Kendra______12 Schauffele, Megan______24 Schwirtlich, Kelsey______11 White, Jordan______8

By Class Senior (3) Junior (2) Audrey Hiser Evelyn Pineda The 2008 Roadrunners Rebecca Hrapmann Stefanie Robbins Gena Rhodes_ Back row (l-r): Asst. Coach Howard Wallace, Head Coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff, Megan Schauffele, Kendra Rowland, Stefanie Robbins, Valorie Rogers, Briana Mason, Sophomore (5) Freshman (5) Volunteer Asst. Coach Andy Danhof, Athletic Trainer Joseph Hernandez. Briana Mason Amber Brooks Middle row (l-r): Audrey Hiser, Gena Rhodes, Kelsey Schwirtlich, Elise Huskey, Valorie Rogers Stephanie Flores Rebecca Hrapmann, Student Athletic Trainer Daniele Delgado. Kendra Rowland Elise Huskey Jordan White Kelsey jewasko Front row (l-r): Student Asst. Coach Cristina Almeida, Jordan White, Evelyn Pineda, Megan Schauffele Kelsey Schwirtlich Stephanie Flores, Kelsey Jewasko, Amber Brooks, Student Manager Sydney Teuton.

 2008 UTSA Roadrunners Volleyball goUTSA.com