GECU PRESENTS: UTEP Volleyball's Serena Patterson Cements Family Legacy

Paige Patterson has sent her daughter Serena the same text message before every game for nine years.

Her self-made acronym – the "Three E's", signifying energy, effort and enthusiasm – are meant to remind the junior outside hitter of her purpose every time she laces up her volleyball shoes.

"(Serena would) get mad, she'd get down on herself and frustrated really easily in high school," Patterson said. "I'd just say, 'Remember the Three E's.' That's something I have consistently said to her since she first started playing seriously (and until) she got to UTEP."

The first two of the "Three E's" – energy and effort – played a huge role for Patterson as the sixth rotation outside hitter her sophomore year, one of the hardest positions in volleyball, according to coach Ben Wallis. As a result of her experience last season, Wallis believes Patterson is poised for a breakout season.

"Having to deal with passing, defending and hitting, and emotionally how you have to deal with that (as a six rotation outside hitter)," Wallis said. "It's an emotional rollercoaster to be an outside hitter that has to stay on the floor and deal with all the intangibles of being a volleyball player. A year later, she's primed to not only be one of our better players, but one of the better players in the conference."

The last of the "Three E's" – enthusiasm – took on added purpose this season for Patterson, now a member of the UTEP volleyball leadership team.

Luckily for Patterson, she had two excellent resources of advice for withstanding the mental fatigue of being a collegiate athlete. Paige Patterson, formerly Paige McKenzie, was a small forward for the then-Lady Miners at UTEP in the early 1990s. Meanwhile her father, and Paige's husband, Fred Patterson played downs on both sides of the line of scrimmage as a wide receiver and defensive back for UTEP football.

Paige was no stranger to hard work under coach Craig Roden her freshman year after relocating from her hometown of Quitman, Mississippi.

"(Roden) did not play at all," Patterson said. "He was very tough."

Paige's fondest memories of playing at UTEP were traveling across the country, especially to California.

On December 8, 1992, McKenzie and the Lady Miners touched down on a rain-soaked LAX runway. Patterson went on to notch a double-double at Loyola Marymount that night with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Waiting for McKenzie back in the Sun City was her boyfriend Fred, whom she met after several stalking occurrences from the UTEP bleachers at her home games, and then got to know after run-ins in the training room.

"We used to always meet at the basketball games," Fred said. "We would watch the girls play and one day I was just like, 'Who's that?'"

The two became newlyweds just a year after they left UTEP in 1993 and had their second daughter Serena in 2000. Thirteen years later, the Patterson's became volleyball superfans driving Serena around the country to club volleyball meets.

Serena recounted hearing stories from her parents' glory days at UTEP.

"It was really cool hearing how my mom and dad played here and how they met each other at UTEP," Patterson said. "And just hearing how they had to run up Cardiac Hill (and) the different things they had to do conditioning wise."

As a junior at Red Oak High School, Patterson began considering playing collegiate volleyball at Stephen F. Austin, Butler, Memphis, San Diego State and UTEP.

UTEP has always held a special place in Patterson's heart, according to her parents who moved to El Paso when Serena turned two years old. Patterson said her mother's love for El Paso played a big part in her choice.

However, it was never Patterson's parents – both proud alumni – who pressed her to make her commitment to the Miners.

"It was really my decision to come here," Patterson said. "They were telling me the memories they have from playing here and how awesome the city is."

Patterson said she made the life choice which was best for her and just so happened to cement a family legacy at UTEP.

"(Serena) could have gone anywhere and played," her father said. "She fell in love with UTEP on her own. We didn't have to press her to go – just her going her own way even though she followed us."

Patterson's mother shared the same sentiment: "I'm just proud of her for overcoming and letting it be her choice."

Now, Paige Patterson finds herself as a part of another Miner team but operating in a different capacity other than as an athlete: a UTEP volleyball mom. Patterson, who now resides with her family in Ovilla, Texas, said she tries to attend every game she can in and around northern Texas and makes it out to at least three UTEP home matches a year.

Whether cheering from the stands in Memorial Gym or through her keyboard on Twitter, Patterson gives encouraging words to both her daughter and teammates.

"(My mom) is like a member of the team," Patterson said. "She likes to be involved in every play."

Twenty-eight years after graduating from UTEP, the Pattersons are reminded of their love for El Paso every time they return to watch their Miner rack up kills.

"There's no place in the United States like El Paso," Paige said. "UTEP and the community of UTEP and the feeling you get when you're in El Paso – it's always a family feeling, whether you know the people or not."

Serena Pattersons Signing Day — Serena Patterson with her mother and father on her signing day

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