Sept. 27, 2005

The University of Texas-Pan American has seen many Lady Bronc volleyball players come and go, but this will be the final season for one of the most successful players to have ever played at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

Danielle Holthe (Covina, CA/Bishop Amat Memorial) has had a remarkable tenure at UTPA, currently appearing in six Lady Broncs' career records. When all is said and done and the ball hits the court for the final time, the Lady Bronc middle blocker will be listed among the Lady Bronc greats that have left their mark, such as Lisa Yanez, Jaclyn Muszynski, Cathi Netemeyer to name a few.

The middle blocker concludes her career this season with the Lady Broncs along side her best friend on the squad in senior Stephanie Redd (Seguin, TX/Seguin H.S.). The duo has been two of the most dominating players in the program's history as their presence on the court can be documented throughout the UTPA record books.

Some of the more notable records that the duo owns are block assists where Holthe is second with 187 and Redd is third with 186 on the list. In total blocks, the two switch places with Redd currently possessing second place with 240 while Holthe is one notch below her teammate with 234 total.

The two have been starting at the middle blocking position since their freshmen season, and even though they play the same position, there have never been any signs of athletic envy among the duo. In fact, it has been the exact opposite as Holthe and Redd have both played an important role in each other's growth both on and off the court since their arrival.

"Of course, Stephanie is my best friend. She and I have been roommates since our freshmen year so we gotten to know each other very well. Even though we grew up in different states and have different backgrounds, we really have grown close to each other over the past four years," said Holthe.

Playing alongside another record-breaker in the UTPA volleyball program, Holthe has also seen her game rise to another level as she is currently ranked sixth in block solos, eighth in matches played, ninth in kills and tenth in total attacks midway through the 2005 season.

Heading into her final season with the Lady Broncs, Holthe set some goals for herself and her fellow Lady Broncs similar to her sophomore season in 2003 where UTPA tied a program-record with 19-15 record.

"I just want to have fun and go out with a bang. When I look at the team, we have a lot of talent, and our main goal is to break the single-season wins record by getting 20 this season. I want to do whatever I can do help us achieve that goal," Holthe commented about her final season at UTPA.

During her four seasons with the Lady Broncs, Holthe has been teammates alongside 24 different players in her tenure. Every new player brings their own attitude and personality to the squad, and Holthe believes that those players are the ones that have made her stay in the Rio Grande Valley more memorable.

"I have had a lot of good experiences meeting new people who have different personalities and backgrounds than I do. It has always been really good. We always get along, and we always try to be open-minded to everyone that comes in," stated Holthe.

While UTPA has seen almost two dozen players come and go in her four seasons, two constants have always remained on the Lady Broncs' roster in head coach Dave Thorn and associate head coach Fabiana de Abreu. Holthe believes that her relationships with Thorn and de Abreu have truly made her a better player on the court, and a better person off of it.

"They have really given me so many words of wisdom that far exceed anything on the court. I don't think my experiences would have been as memorable had it not been for them. It is really a good relationship between us," Thorn added.

Those words of wisdom have truly paid off for the UTPA senior as Thorn believes that Holthe has grown from her freshman year when she was a quiet newcomer and now has blossomed into one of the Lady Broncs' top leaders.

"She came in like so many freshmen who were not as aggressive, really quiet and reserved. Physically, she is much stronger than when she initially came here. It's been great seeing her develop over the last couple of years, and I believe that she is ready for her best year yet," Thorn added.

Since her arrival, Holthe and Redd have each made an immediate impact on the UTPA lineup by helping the Lady Broncs record 50 victories over the past three seasons, which are most triumphs during a three-year span in program history.

Some of the best memories of her Lady Bronc career include tying a program record with 19 victories during the 2003 season, finishing second at the Independent National Championships in her freshman season and being a part of a team that has beaten some of the toughest competition in the nation for the very first time.

"Every moment has been very memorable, but my favorite one was when we beat Texas State in my first season at the Fieldhouse. It was the first time that the program has ever beaten them, and it was just a great match and a great feeling to win it," Holthe said.

All of her memories and experience at UTPA wouldn't have occurred had she not taken the chance to attend a school so far away from home. Holthe believes that attending UTPA has given her a new sense of independence and allowed her the personal growth that she was seeking during her final year of prep schooling.

"When I came here on my recruiting trip, it reminded me so much of California. I came down here, and I really got along well with the coaches and administrators and really thought that this would be the best atmosphere for me. Also, it didn't hurt that the climate reminded me of home either," commented Holthe.

In every situation, there always has to be some kind of motivation and support that comes from somewhere. Holthe believes that volleyball has been an important part of her life; even though she has only been playing it since freshman year in high school. The one thing that has been there alongside her sporting career has been her family.

"My family has been very supportive, and since it's my senior year, they have been coming to a lot of matches. Even since I was little, they have always been to every single one of my games, never missing one. My mom is just a big-hearted woman, and it really makes me admire her a lot," Holthe said.

In her final season, Holthe will be looking to build upon her experiences and expand her memories in a green and orange uniform. While the Lady Broncs are only 3-9 so far this campaign, Holthe believes that the team will be able to turn the table and make a strong run towards the National Independent Tournament.

No matter what the season holds for the Lady Broncs, Holthe's career has already established herself as one of the all-time greats in program history.

Click to view more UTPA BroncBusters

UTPA Sports Information