Volleyball Olympians

Among most prolific players in UT history

1995 National Freshman of the Year

Earned All-America, all-conference and NCAA all-regional honors all four years at UT

Named to Big 12 “10th Anniversary Team” in 2005

Was UT’s all-time leader in kills, attacks and digs

Led team to 1997 Big 12 title and 1995 NCAA runner-up finish

2000 USA Olympic team member

Became prep teacher and coach

Danny Davis American-Statesman Staff @aasdannyAdvertisement

Throughout Black History Month, the American-Statesman will take a daily look at the black athletes who have had a lasting impact in Texas’ athletic department. Today, we are writing about volleyball player Demetria Sance.

Recruited out of San Antonio, Sance immediately had an impact on the 40 Acres. During her freshman year in 1995, Sance led Texas in both kills and digs and was Volleyball Magazine’s freshman of the year. With Sance emerging as an outside hitter, Texas reached the NCAA championship match.

Sance ended her collegiate career as UT’s all-time leader in kills and digs. Those standards of 2,103 kills and 1,614 digs have respectively been eclipsed by Mira Topic and Cat McCoy, but Sance still stands in elite company as one of the program’s four four-time All-Americans. Voted on an all-century team by the University Interscholastic League and the Big 12’s 10th Anniversary Team, Sance entered the Hall of Honor at Texas in 2007.

In 2000, Sance became the first Longhorn to make the United States’ Olympic volleyball team. After her career concluded, Sance got into education and coaching. She is currently the principal at San Antonio’s Southside High.

HONORS &?AWARDS
• At the time of her graduation, she ranked third all-time at Texas in kills (1,821) and points (2,180), while ranking fourth in block solos (132) and fifth in hitting percentage (.326)
• 2008-09 Big 12 Conference Female Athlete of the Year
• 2009 Volleyball Magazine National Co-Player of the Year
• 2009 AVCA All-America First Team and Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team
• 2009 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player and NCAA Omaha Regional Most Outstanding Player
• 2009 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year
• 2008 and 2009 Honda Award Finalist
• 2008 and 2009 Honda Award Finalist
• 2008 AVCA All-America First Team
• 2008 Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team
• 2008 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team
• Four-time AVCA All-Central Region First Team (2006-09)
• Four-time All-Big 12 First Team (2006-09)
• Two-time NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team (2006, 2008)
• Two-time Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational MVP (2007-08)
• 11-time Big 12 Player of the Week (Aug. 31, 2009; Sept. 21, 2009; Oct. 5, 2009; Nov. 2, 2009; Nov. 23, 2009; Sept. 1, 2008; Sept. 29, 2008; Oct. 6, 2008; Oct. 1, 2007; Oct. 23, 2006 and Oct. 30, 2006)
• 2008 AVCA Showcase All-Tournament Team
• 2008 U.S. Women[apos]s National Training Team member
• 2007 AVCA All-America Second Team
• 2007 Volleyball Magazine All-America Second Team
• AVCA National Player of the Week (Oct. 1, 2007)
• 2006 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America
• 2006 Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Three-time NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion (2006-07, 2009)
• 2009 NCAA Indoor High Jump Champion
• 2009 USTFCCCA Division I South Central Female Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
• 2009 USTFCCCA Division I Women[apos]s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year
• Third place at 2006 and 2007 NCAA Indoor High Jump event
• Third place at 2006 USA Outdoor Championships
• Six-time Big 12 Champion (three indoor and three outdoor)
• Ranked No. 8 recruit nationally by PrepVolleyball.com (2006)

HONORS & AWARDS
• 2011 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
• 2011 Preseason All-Big 12
• 2010 AVCA All-America First Team
• 2010 Volleyball Magazine All-America First Team
• 2010 NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
• 2010 AVCA All-Central Region First Team
•Two-time All-Big 12 First Team (2009, 2010)
• 2010 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
• Big 12 Player of the Week (Oct. 4, Oct. 11 & Nov. 29, 2010)
• 2010 Nike Big Four Classic All-Tournament Team
• 2010 Texas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team
• Ranked No. 3 recruit nationally by PrepVolleyball.com (2008)