SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College volleyball team heads into the 2023 campaign with an eye toward making a splash in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference after finishing last season with a 16-17 overall record, including an 8-8 mark in conference play, as the 'Roos welcome in one of the largest recruiting classes in program history to compete alongside a strong group of returning talent.
Head coach Ed Garza welcomes back a number of last season's top performers, including senior outside hitter and All-Conference performer Riley Abernethy. Last season, Abernethy paced the 'Roos with 232 kills for an average of 2.09 per-set, while also averaging 2.79 digs and leading the team with 43 service aces in 33 matches played. She'll be joined by Victoria Smith, another senior who enters her fourth season with the 'Roos having accumulated 607 digs and 175 total blocks thus far in her time at Austin College.
Along with Abernethy and Smith, fellow senior Olivia Linton will also be called upon to provide an offensive spark for the 'Roos, as she comes into the year with 570 career kills, averaging 2.08 per-set during her first three seasons.
The 'Roos will also have a pair of experienced and talented setters leading the attack this year in Madison Manning and Brianne Tseng. The duo evenly split time last season, with the rising junior Tseng averaging 4.66 assists-per-set while Manning chipped in 4.05, and both players were productive both defensively and in service, as well. Tseng averaged 1.82 digs-per-set while Manning came through with 1.98, and Manning was second on the team with 40 service aces while Tseng finished the year with 20.
Defensively, Austin College will be leaning heavily on Tatum Torres and Alyssa Holloway, who each saw plenty of time as both defensive specialist and libero. During the 2022 campaign, Torres averaged 3.52 digs-per-set, while Holloway added 2.35. Torres also had 35 service aces, with 17 more coming from Holloway. Garza is also looking for first-year libero Laynie Kovacs to make an immediate impact.
Kovacs won't be the only newcomer called upon for early production, with Rita Araya, a 5-foot-11 middle from Richardson, expected to make some noise early on during her Austin College career. Another newcomer to the on-court action, but not Austin College, will be Samantha Graham. Graham, the daughter of 'Roo assistant Anthony Graham, missed her freshman campaign due to an injury but has come back strong and will be one of the team's top choices at right side this season. In addition, Garza is looking for increased productivity from juniors Jaiden Tocquigny, TJ Folse, and Mattie Duncan.
The 'Roos open up the season on Friday, when they take on Lyon and Sul Ross State at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in Hughey Gymnasium.