Patterson, Darley, Uskokovic earn All-C-USA volleyball honors

Serena Patterson arrived at UTEP four years ago when the program was at the bottom of Conference USA, an afterthought on any kind of national landscape.

She helped change that, and after one of the great seasons in program history that will continue this weekend at the conference tournament as a second seed from the West Division, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter was named to the All-Conference USA first team.

More: C-USA volleyball tournament

More: UTEP volleyball looks to continue special season at Conference USA tournament

This follows Patterson making the second team last season.

Junior outside hitter and middle blocker Alianza Darley is now following in Patterson's footsteps, as she was named to the All-C-USA second team. Freshman outside hitter Ema Uskokovic made the eight-member all-freshman team.

Patterson, the daughter of former UTEP football player Frederick Patterson and UTEP women's basketball player Paige Patterson, was the team leader for the 20-6 Miners, who play Florida International at 5 p.m. Mountain time Friday in Norfolk, Va. UTEP believes it needs two wins in the tournament to reach the NCAA tournament.

Patterson led UTEP with 305 kills and 344 points, hitting .269, the third consecutive year she's led the team in kills and points.

Darley, who earned her first all-conference mention, led the Miners with 90 total blocks. She also posted 206 kills and 254 points while hitting .306. Uskokovic had 201 kills and notched 238 points with a hitting percentage of .277.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Patterson, Darley, Uskokovic earn All-CU-SA volleyball honors