FOUR LADY BRONCS EARN ALL-INDEPENDENT HONORS
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

FORT WAYNE, IN-Four members of The University of Texas-Pan American's volleyball team were honored when the All-Independent Teams for 2003 were announced. The teams were named by vote of the coaches at last weekend's Independent Championships.

Senior outside hitter Jaclyn Muszynski (Walnut, CA/Walnut HS) became the first player ever to be named first team All-Independent for four consecutive seasons when she was named to the first team. Muszynski finished her four-year UTPA career by breaking her own single-season record for kills. She ended the season with 460, breaking the mark of 453 she set last year. She also finished her career with 1627 kills, and is the first Lady Bronc player to break the 1600 barrier. Muszynski is also the Lady Broncs' all-time digs leader with 1387 for her career.

Freshman libero Carol Marcengo (Curitiba, Brazil/SPEI HS) was named second- team All-Independent, and was chosen Libero of the Year. She was also named to the All-Freshman Team. Marcengo, the only freshman to be named first team, second team or honorable mention All-Independent, led the Lady Broncs by averaging 5.09 digs per game. She finished with 641 digs, which established a new UTPA single-season record, and now ranks eighth on Lady Bronc career list. Marcengo currently ranks fifth in digs among NCAA Division I players.

Junior Cathi Netemeyer (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos HS/Iowa) was named second team, Al-Independent for the second consecutive season. Netemeyer led all hitters by hitting hit .270 and averaged 3.55 kills per game last season. Texas-Pan American finished at 19-15 and tied its best record ever during the 2003 season.

Freshman Heather Bravo (Las Vegas, NV/Durango HS) was named to the All-Freshman Team. Bravo averaged 2.49 kills and 2.63 digs per game.

"Jaclyn's being honored four years in a row shows how much she's meant to our program and how much we're going to miss her," said UTPA Head Coach Dave Thorn, "She was here during the four best years in school history. Carol did a great job for us, and she was the only freshman to make first or second team or honorable mention. Cathi was honored for the second year in a row, and Heather was a very consistent player for us, both offensively and defensively. Having so many people honored is a reflection of how well our team did, and having a number of people on the All-Freshman Team two years in a row shows that we're laying a good base for years to come."

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