UTPB Athletics

2008 Volleyball Team

The 2008 University of Texas Permian Basin Volleyball Team authored one of the most memorable seasons in school history, forever changing the trajectory of Falcon Athletics. Under the leadership of Head Coach Steve Aicinena, UTPB captured both the Heartland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships before becoming the first Falcon program to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament as a full-fledged Division II member.

Finishing the season with a 22-14 overall record and an 11-3 mark in conference play, the Falcons combined elite offensive production with one of the nation's top defensive units. Their championship run was fueled by a balanced roster featuring veteran leadership, All-Conference performers, and dominant play on both sides of the net. The team's accomplishments established a new standard for excellence and remain one of the defining moments in UTPB Athletics history.

The Falcons' historic season was highlighted by a dramatic five-set victory over Dallas Baptist in the Heartland Conference Tournament semifinals before sweeping Incarnate Word to capture the conference championship. Their postseason success earned the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance, where they faced Emporia State in the South Central Regional.
 

Team Accomplishments

• 2008 Heartland Conference Regular Season Champions

• 2008 Heartland Conference Tournament Champions

• First NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in program history

• First UTPB athletic program to qualify for an NCAA Division II Tournament as a full-fledged Division II member

• Finished 22-14 overall and 11-3 in Heartland Conference play
   

Program Records & Team Rankings

2008 Team Records

• Program Record: 83 solo blocks

• Led the Heartland Conference in digs per set (17.63)

• Ranked 13th nationally in NCAA Division II in digs per set

Single-Season Totals (Program History)

• 1,639 kills — Third-most

• 5,192 hitting attempts — Third-most

• 1,481 assists — Third-most

• 2,325 digs — Third-most
   

Awards & Honors

Daktronics All-Region

• Amithy Henry – First Team

• Ashley Alba – Second Team

All-Heartland Conference

• Amithy Henry – First Team

• Ashley Alba – First Team

Heartland Conference Libero of the Year

• Ashley Alba

Heartland Conference Tournament Team

• Ashley Alba

• Molly Atnip

• Brianna Ausdenmoore

• Krystal Polk (Tournament MVP)

Heartland Conference Players of the Week

• Ashley Alba (Sept. 27, Oct. 4, Oct. 21, Oct. 28)

• Amithy Henry (Oct. 4)
   

NCAA & Conference Recognition

• Heartland Conference Regular Season Champions

• Heartland Conference Tournament Champions

• NCAA Division II Tournament Qualifier

• Ranked 13th nationally in digs per set (17.63)
   

Season Highlights

Regular Season

• Posted a 22-14 overall record and 11-3 conference record

• Captured the Heartland Conference Regular Season Championship

• Led the conference and ranked among the nation's best defensively with 17.63 digs per set

Heartland Conference Tournament

• Defeated Dallas Baptist 3-2 in the semifinals

• Swept Incarnate Word 3-0 in the championship match

• Claimed the program's first Heartland Conference Tournament Championship

NCAA Tournament

• Earned the first NCAA Division II Tournament berth in UTPB history

• Competed in the South Central Regional against Emporia State
   

Individual Season Leaders

• Amithy Henry

  • 483 kills (Second-most in program history)

  • Daktronics First-Team All-Region

  • First-Team All-Heartland Conference

• Ashley Alba

  • 683 digs

  • Ranked 25th nationally with 4.99 digs per set

  • Heartland Conference Libero of the Year

  • First-Team All-Heartland Conference

• Brianna Ausdenmoore

  • 1,289 assists (Third-most in program history)

• Krystal Polk

  • 27 solo blocks (Program record, still tied)

  • 116 total blocks (Fifth-most in program history)

  • Heartland Conference Tournament MVP

• Diondra Arenas

  • 108 block assists (Program record, tied)

2008 Roster

Ashley Alba, Molly Atnip, Brianna Ausdenmoore, Alexys Dodd, Alex Genung, Amithy Henry, Chassidy Johnson, Mica Lamprecht, Bailey Marcum, Sarah Munoz, Krystal Polk, Sara Torres, and Taylor Zarsky.