WALTHAM, Mass. – First-year right-side hitter Lara Verstovsek of Bellaire, Texas, has been named second-team All-Association selection by the University Athletic Association today. She is the first first-year player in team history to be named to the All-UAA Second Team.
"Lara is extremely coachable and truly loves the sport," said head coach Alesia Bennett. "She is a fierce competitor which is a great recipe for improvement, every time she steps on the court. She played six rotations as a first-year, and has proven she can handle a lot. I am excited to see her growth in the off-season and I hope to see her come back even stronger next year."
Verstovsek was the Judges' top offensive weapon this season, leading the team with 2.72 kills per set, good for seventh in the conference, while her 275 total kills were ranked fifth. Verstovsek also led the Judges and ranked among the top five in the UAA in service aces, with 45 total (3rd in the UAA) and 0.45 per set (5th in the UAA). Her team-leading 346.5 points and 3.4 points per set were third and fourth in the UAA, respectively. Verstovsek also finished third on the team with 51 blocks (two solo).
Verstovsek finished with double-digit kills in 15 matches and 10 or more digs in nine matches, giving her six double-doubles on the season. Her season-high in kills came in a 3-2 victory over Emerson on September 9, when she had 19 as the Judges came from behind to win. Verstovsek also had 13 digs in that match. Her top UAA performance came in a 3-2 loss to Carnegie Mellon, when she had 13 kills, 22 digs and a season-high seven blocks.
Verstovsek and the Judges finished with an 8-20 record and placed eighth in the UAA in coach Alesia Bennett's eighth season at the helm. They return three of their top five offensive players next season, including Verstovsek.
Verstovsek is a 2021 graduate of Episcopal High School.
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