Aug. 25, 2009
Head coach Jerritt Elliott's 2009 UT Volleyball team has a talented duo of setters that includes 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Michelle Kocher and Ashley Engle, a two-time All-American at opposite hitter. The Longhorns two setters leave Texas with a variety of lineup options as it makes a bid to return to the NCAA Championships for the second straight season. Review what the Horns' setters did in 2008 and see what Elliott is saying about the trio.
RETURNERS
Ashley Engle
2008 Highlights
• 2008 AVCA All-America First Team
• Two-time Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team (2006, 2008)
• Two-time AVCA All-Central Region First Team (2006, 2008)
• Three-time All-Big 12 First Team (2006-08)
• started all 33 matches and played in 116 sets
• ranked second on the UT squad with 2.90 kills and 2.22 digs per-set
• ranked eighth in the Big 12 with a .303 attack mark
Elliott on Engle: "Ashley is one of the players that every coach likes to have on their team because she has the ability to perform each skill at a very high level. She is our big ball control pin-attacker right now, but she also has the ability to set for this team. Ashley truly has the ability to take over a match at any given time. Her leadership is also very important to this team as one of our captains."
Michelle Kocher
2008 Highlights
• 2008 NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
• 2008 Big 12 Freshman of the Year
• started 31 of 33 matches and played in all 118 sets as a true freshman
• paced Texas to the NCAA's second-best Division I season team hitting percentage (.335)
• ranked third in the Big 12 in assists per-set (11.08) and second in league play (11.73)
Elliott on Kocher: "Michelle came in last year with low expectations and was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. As a coaching staff we knew she was very special when we recruited her and she surpassed all of our expectations last season. Now she has to continue to develop as opponents now understand her a little more. We are working on her leadership, growth and maturity, but we are very pleased with her progress so far."
