Friday, September 9
San Antonio, Texas
10 AM
University of Texas Arlington
vs
South Florida
Photo by: Gregg Ellman
9/8/2022 4:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UTA to face McNeese, South Florida and UTSA
SAN ANTONIO, Texas --- The UT Arlington volleyball team (2-4) will hit the road this weekend to participate in the UTSA Invitational with a trio of matches on Friday and Saturday. The match against UTSA will be streamed on the Conference USA platform (CUSA.tv).
Â
Â
TOWNSEND ASCENDS CAREER KILLS LIST
Fifth-year senior Brooke Townsend became the 19th Maverick to reach 1,000 kills last year, and she moved into the top 15 of the program's career list last weekend. Her 1,109 total ranks 52nd among all active NCAA Division I players, and she is 65th in career sets played with 409.
Â
Â
WELLS MAKING HISTORY DEFENSIVELY
Third-year libero Alli Wells currently ranks among the top 15 all-time in program history in total digs with 1,291. She ranks 19th among active NCAA Division I players in career digs per set with 4.55 while checking in at No. 44 in total digs. This season alone, Wells ranks 28th nationally in total digs (117) and 39th in digs per set (4.88). She also checks in at No. 77 in aces (11).
Â
Â
BLANK REACHES MILESTONE
Third-year setter Mollie Blank notched her 1,000th career assist against North Dakota on Aug. 27. She enters this weekend with 1,052, and her double-double against Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 2 (38 assists, 13 digs) gives her a team-best 15 career double-doubles, just ahead of Brianna Ford, who has 14.
STUFFING IT
Brianna Ford surpassed 100 career blocks in the team's season opener and has pushed her total to 122 through six matches. In fact, she has 24 this year, which is already 41 percent of her career-best total of 58 from all of last year.
Â
BIG WEEKEND
The duo of Brianna Ford and Jalie Tritt was named to the UTA Classic All-Tourney team on Sept. 3. Ford, who produced a pair of double-doubles over the three matches, totaled 31 kills, 31 digs and 14 blocks. Tritt, who is in her rookie campaign, totaled 42 kills, 28 digs, seven blocks and three aces while pushing her current streak of consecutive matches with double-digit kills to four. In fact, she's also notched at least nine digs in each of those outings, as well.
Â
SKINNER BREAKS OUT
Rookie setter Sophie Skinner recorded her first career 30-assist performance (39) in the team's five-set victory over Providence on Sept. 3. She followed that up with 26 against North Texas on Sept. 3 and has produced at least 13 in four of her five matches. On top of that, she's notched 16 digs this year while adding six kills and four aces.
Â
Skinner competed in the Under Armour All-America Game this past December, which recognizes the most skilled high school players in the country. She was named MVP among the 24 players selected to participate.
Â
EXPERIENCE RETURNS
The Mavericks have three players who scored over 270 points last season (Briana Brown, Brooke Townsend, Brianna Ford), returning 76 percent of their total points from a season ago overall. Furthermore, two all-conference selections from a season ago in Briana Brown (First Team All-SBC) and Alli Wells (Second Team All-SBC) are back, as well as former All-SBC selections in Brooke Townsend (2019, 2020) and Brianna Ford (2020).
NEW FACES
The Mavericks brought in four new faces to the program this season - Sophie Ocampo (Humble, Texas; Kingwood HS), Jalie Tritt (Little Rock, Ark.; Episcopal Collegiate School), Ava Burroughs (Quitman, Texas; Quitman HS), and Sophie Skinner (Hot Springs, Ark.; Fountain Lake HS). Three of the four have seen significant action this year.
Â
FORD SPENDS 20TH IN EUROPE
Brianna Ford spent her 20th birthday in Europe as she participated in the 2022 Global Challenge in Croatia, helping lead her team to a 1st place finish and being named to the all-tournament team.
50/50
There is nearly a 50 percent chance that a Maverick win will be a sweep as almost half (37) of head coach J.T. Wenger's 76 career wins have come from sweeps.
Â
BACK IN THE WAC
UTA returns to the WAC following an eight-year stint in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mavericks spent one season in the WAC (2012), finishing 5-13 in conference play.
Â
The Mavericks were voted to finish eighth in the WAC this year. New Mexico State, which won the West Division of the WAC last year, was selected as the preseason favorite ahead of Utah Valley, which won the WAC tourney a year ago.
WAC Preseason Poll
1. New Mexico State (6) - 135
2. Utah Valley (5) - 129
3. Grand Canyon (1) - 127
4. Sam Houston (1) - 99
5. Stephen F. Austin - 95
6. California Baptist - 90
7. UTRGV - 86
8. UT Arlington - 54
9. Tarleton - 50
   Utah Tech - 50
11. Abilene Christian - 37
12. Southern Utah - 32
13. Seattle - 17
Â
WAC Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Katie Birtcil, NM State
Libero of the Year: Hannah Baker, Sam Houston
Setter of the Year: Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon
Â
Preseason All-WAC Team
Hannah Baker, So., L, Sam Houston
Katie Birtcil, Jr., OH, NM State
Melanie Brecka, Grad, RS, Grand Canyon
Sarah Cruz, Sr., OH, UTRGV
Tori Dorius, Sr., OH, Utah Valley
Christine Graf, Sr., OH, California Baptist
Annabelle Kubinski, Grad, MB, Grand Canyon
Klaire Mitchell, Sr., S, Grand Canyon
Lia Mosher, Grad, MB, NM State
Kazna Tanuvasa, Grad, OH, Utah Valley
McKenzie Wise, So., OH, Grand Canyon
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Volleyball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTAMavsVB, on Instagram @UTAMavsVB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsVB.
Â
| Â UTSA Invitational | ||
| Â Opening Serve | Opponent | Match Coverage |
| Â Friday, 10 a.m. | UTA vs South Florida | Live Stats |
| Â Friday, 4 p.m. | UTA vs McNeese | Live Stats |
|  Saturday, 2 p.m. | UTA vs UTSA | Stream | Live Stats |
| UTA Match Notes | ||
TOWNSEND ASCENDS CAREER KILLS LIST
Fifth-year senior Brooke Townsend became the 19th Maverick to reach 1,000 kills last year, and she moved into the top 15 of the program's career list last weekend. Her 1,109 total ranks 52nd among all active NCAA Division I players, and she is 65th in career sets played with 409.
Â
| UTA CAREER KILLS | |||
| 1. | Heather Hoy | Â 1,787 | Â 1994-97 |
| 2. | Ana de Oliveira | Â 1,729 | Â 1985-88 |
| 3. | Amber Pack | Â 1,578 | Â 1999-2002 |
| 4. | Qiana Canete | Â 1,505 | Â 2014-17 |
| 5. | Valeria Whitfield | Â 1,490 | Â 1990-92 |
| 6. | Caley Smith | Â 1,416 | Â 2001-04 |
| 7. | Judith McGill | Â 1,407 | Â 1983-86 |
| 8. | Trisha Walker | Â 1,344 | Â 1997-2000 |
| 9. | Chris Rudiger | Â 1,330 | Â 1986-89 |
| 10. | Teresa Ogden | Â 1,251 | Â 1982-83 |
| 11. | Fannie Burton | Â 1,245 | Â 1991-94 |
| 12. | Amanda Aguilera | Â 1,164 | Â 2008-11 |
| 13. | Shari Parks | Â 1,148 | Â 1984-87 |
| 14. | Zhanelle Geathers | Â 1,132 | Â 2014-18 |
| 15. | Brooke Townsend | Â 1,109 | Â 2018-Pres. |
WELLS MAKING HISTORY DEFENSIVELY
Third-year libero Alli Wells currently ranks among the top 15 all-time in program history in total digs with 1,291. She ranks 19th among active NCAA Division I players in career digs per set with 4.55 while checking in at No. 44 in total digs. This season alone, Wells ranks 28th nationally in total digs (117) and 39th in digs per set (4.88). She also checks in at No. 77 in aces (11).
Â
| UTA CAREER DIGS | |||
| 1. | Alicia Shaffer | Â 2,033 | Â 2008-11 |
| 2. | Ashley Smith | Â 1,921 | Â 2003-06 |
| 3. | Amber Pack | Â 1,887 | Â 1999-02 |
| 4. | Jessica Bowlin | Â 1,728 | Â 1995-98 |
| 5. | Qiana Canete | Â 1,626 | Â 2014-17 |
| 6. | Judith McGill | Â 1,623 | Â 1983-86 |
| 7. | Torie Dacus | Â 1,564 | Â 2004-07 |
| 8. | Ana de Oliveira | Â 1,550 | Â 1985-88 |
| 9. | Trisha Walker | Â 1,455 | Â 1997-00 |
| 10. | Dani Johnson | Â 1,446 | Â 2004-07 |
| 11. | Chris Rudiger | Â 1,413 | Â 1986-89 |
| 12. | Caitlyn Cooney | Â 1,384 | Â 2012-15 |
| 13. | Katie Weismiller | Â 1,370 | Â 1983-86 |
| 14. | Caley Smith | Â 1,318 | Â 2001-04 |
| 15. | Alli Wells | Â 1,291 | Â 2019-present |
BLANK REACHES MILESTONE
Third-year setter Mollie Blank notched her 1,000th career assist against North Dakota on Aug. 27. She enters this weekend with 1,052, and her double-double against Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 2 (38 assists, 13 digs) gives her a team-best 15 career double-doubles, just ahead of Brianna Ford, who has 14.
STUFFING IT
Brianna Ford surpassed 100 career blocks in the team's season opener and has pushed her total to 122 through six matches. In fact, she has 24 this year, which is already 41 percent of her career-best total of 58 from all of last year.
Â
BIG WEEKEND
The duo of Brianna Ford and Jalie Tritt was named to the UTA Classic All-Tourney team on Sept. 3. Ford, who produced a pair of double-doubles over the three matches, totaled 31 kills, 31 digs and 14 blocks. Tritt, who is in her rookie campaign, totaled 42 kills, 28 digs, seven blocks and three aces while pushing her current streak of consecutive matches with double-digit kills to four. In fact, she's also notched at least nine digs in each of those outings, as well.
Â
SKINNER BREAKS OUT
Rookie setter Sophie Skinner recorded her first career 30-assist performance (39) in the team's five-set victory over Providence on Sept. 3. She followed that up with 26 against North Texas on Sept. 3 and has produced at least 13 in four of her five matches. On top of that, she's notched 16 digs this year while adding six kills and four aces.
Â
Skinner competed in the Under Armour All-America Game this past December, which recognizes the most skilled high school players in the country. She was named MVP among the 24 players selected to participate.
Â
EXPERIENCE RETURNS
The Mavericks have three players who scored over 270 points last season (Briana Brown, Brooke Townsend, Brianna Ford), returning 76 percent of their total points from a season ago overall. Furthermore, two all-conference selections from a season ago in Briana Brown (First Team All-SBC) and Alli Wells (Second Team All-SBC) are back, as well as former All-SBC selections in Brooke Townsend (2019, 2020) and Brianna Ford (2020).
NEW FACES
The Mavericks brought in four new faces to the program this season - Sophie Ocampo (Humble, Texas; Kingwood HS), Jalie Tritt (Little Rock, Ark.; Episcopal Collegiate School), Ava Burroughs (Quitman, Texas; Quitman HS), and Sophie Skinner (Hot Springs, Ark.; Fountain Lake HS). Three of the four have seen significant action this year.
Â
FORD SPENDS 20TH IN EUROPE
Brianna Ford spent her 20th birthday in Europe as she participated in the 2022 Global Challenge in Croatia, helping lead her team to a 1st place finish and being named to the all-tournament team.
50/50
There is nearly a 50 percent chance that a Maverick win will be a sweep as almost half (37) of head coach J.T. Wenger's 76 career wins have come from sweeps.
Â
BACK IN THE WAC
UTA returns to the WAC following an eight-year stint in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mavericks spent one season in the WAC (2012), finishing 5-13 in conference play.
Â
The Mavericks were voted to finish eighth in the WAC this year. New Mexico State, which won the West Division of the WAC last year, was selected as the preseason favorite ahead of Utah Valley, which won the WAC tourney a year ago.
WAC Preseason Poll
1. New Mexico State (6) - 135
2. Utah Valley (5) - 129
3. Grand Canyon (1) - 127
4. Sam Houston (1) - 99
5. Stephen F. Austin - 95
6. California Baptist - 90
7. UTRGV - 86
8. UT Arlington - 54
9. Tarleton - 50
   Utah Tech - 50
11. Abilene Christian - 37
12. Southern Utah - 32
13. Seattle - 17
Â
WAC Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Katie Birtcil, NM State
Libero of the Year: Hannah Baker, Sam Houston
Setter of the Year: Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon
Â
Preseason All-WAC Team
Hannah Baker, So., L, Sam Houston
Katie Birtcil, Jr., OH, NM State
Melanie Brecka, Grad, RS, Grand Canyon
Sarah Cruz, Sr., OH, UTRGV
Tori Dorius, Sr., OH, Utah Valley
Christine Graf, Sr., OH, California Baptist
Annabelle Kubinski, Grad, MB, Grand Canyon
Klaire Mitchell, Sr., S, Grand Canyon
Lia Mosher, Grad, MB, NM State
Kazna Tanuvasa, Grad, OH, Utah Valley
McKenzie Wise, So., OH, Grand Canyon
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Volleyball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTAMavsVB, on Instagram @UTAMavsVB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsVB.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballThursday, October 22
Thursday, October 22
Wednesday, October 21
Thursday, October 08
