Texas Tech University Athletics
Dowdy, Young Earn Preseason All-Big 12 Accolades
August 12, 2010 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 12, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech junior Amanda Dowdy was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, while teammate Justine Young was honored as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year in a vote by the conference coaches, the league announced Thursday.
Dowdy, a Lexington, Texas native, is Tech's top offensive returner as she paced the squad a year ago with a team-leading 316 kills, while also adding 177 digs. A versatile player who can play both the middle and outside positions, Dowdy was named to the All-Big 12 freshman team following the 2008 season.
Young (Sacramento, Calif.) comes to Tech following a successful junior college career at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa where she was ranked as the top junior college middle blocker at the Division II level. The junior earned first-team all-conference, all-district, and all-region accolades during her two seasons, while also adding an honorable mention All-America selection in 2009 after the squad finished the season ranked fifth in the nation.
"I was very pleased to see Amanda and Justine rewarded on the preseason lists," Tech head coach Trish Knight said. "We are counting on both of them to play important roles in our season, so it's nice to see the conference coaches recognize their talents."
The Red Raiders were picked to finish 10th in the 11-team conference. Nebraska was slated as the preseason conference favorite with Texas following in second. Tech opens the season Aug. 27 at the Rice Tournament in Houston, Texas.
