Audrey Smith joined the Texas Tech volleyball program as a preferred walk-on following a standout four-year career with the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks. She spent the past three years with the Red Raiders as a setter, appearing in 18 matches.
Now, Smith is bringing her talents closer to home, officially joining the UTSA Roadrunners volleyball program June 26.
Smith joins a program led by longtime head coach, Laura Neugebauer-Groff, who just completed her 19th year at the helm for the Roadrunners.
Neugebauer-Groff has amassed a head coaching record of 580-295 through 24 years, including 308 victories with UTSA, making her the winningest coach in program history.
Rio Grande Valley middle school and high school volleyball athletes will have a chance to learn from Neugebauer-Groff, just like Smith, with UTSA hosting a two-day camp July 8-9 at Cavazos Sports Institute in McAllen, featuring Neugebauer-Groff among others from the Roadrunners’ coaching staff.
The camp marks the second time a Division I volleyball program has hosted an event at CSI, with Texas Tech coming to the Valley in 2019. CSI owner and founder Jaime Cavazos said Smith has been integral in getting both programs to come to the RGV, giving her most of the credit.
Cavazos also believes the rise in talent in RGV athletes has been a huge contributing factor in attracting programs to recruit down South.
“I think they (RGV athletes) are evolving,” Cavazos said. “Their training is evolving. Their dedication is getting to a higher level and the results are showing. Now we are getting our D-I football players here and there. Track is big down here too. Just the athlete in general in the RGV are changing and evolving.”
The camp will feature individual skills training for multiple positions, including transitioning, blocking defense, passing, serve receive, hitting and competitive games. Campers will also be able participate in a free recruiting seminar and a question and answer session with the UTSA coaching staff.
Two training sessions will be offered, with a maximum of 32 athletes per session. Middle school athletes will participate in the first session, taking place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. High school athletes will follow, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m.
Sharyland Pioneer senior setter Natalie Reyes, who took over Smith’s position for the Diamondbacks after her graduation, is one of 21 athletes signed up for the high school session. Reyes said getting the chance to perform in front of Division I coaches is a rare opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
“To be able to showcase my skills and for other athletes as well, it’s a dream,” she said. “It’s something kids want to do. It’s enjoyable and new, especially for kids in the Valley.
“By the grace of God, we’re just lucky for them to come down here and give us their time. For them to show interest in us kiddos down here, we’re just blessed. I’m just glad they’re starting to make their way down here more often.”
Registration for UTSA’s Roadrunner Volleyball Camp at CSI is available at https://csitrain.com/, with only 11 and 12 slots remaining in the middle school and high school sessions as of July 1, respectively.