Tulsa Picked Fourth in Preseason Volleyball Poll
8/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 4, 2006
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa volleyball squad posted the most conference victories in school history during the 2005 season. For its efforts, the Golden Hurricane has been picked fourth by the Conference USA coaches in their 2006 preseason poll. In addition, juniors Julia Silva and Kassiana Urnau have been voted onto the Preseason All-Conference Team.
The Golden Hurricane will be under new leadership in 2006 as Ed Allen was named the program's fifth head coach in May. Allen brings 14 years of experience as a collegiate head coach, with a career record of 365-146 and zero losing seasons.
Silva was one of three players to be a unanimous choice for the 2006 preseason squad. She was an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention in 2005 after setting a single-season record with 1,339 assists for the Hurricane. She was also the first player to post multiple triple-doubles in the same season, since 1998. Silva also posted a .332 hitting percentage last year from her setter position.
A two-year starter, Urnau led the team in kills for the season with 374 kills for a 3.56 per game average, including 217 kills during league play for a 3.95 average. Not only was Urnau one of the offensive stars for the Golden Hurricane, she was a defensive gem for TU as well. She was one of three TU players to post over 300 digs for the year.
Tulsa returns four starters and nine letterwinners from a 2005 team that finished 23-8 overall and with a 10-5 C-USA mark. The Golden Hurricane finished third overall in the final league standings last season.
