Volleyball Defeats Seattle U – UTRGV Athletics

SEATTLE – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball group defeated a relentless Seattle U Redhawks squad 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-22) on Thursday on the Redhawk Center.

The Vaqueros (21-5, 10-1 WAC) are actually one in every of 10 groups with 21 wins within the NCAA, together with Western Kentucky (23-2), Towson (22-1), Houston (22-2), Pittsburgh. (22-2), South Dakota (23-2), Wright State (22-3), San Diego (21-1), Stephen F. Austin (21-3) and UNLV (21-3).

The Vaqueros are actually tied for the second-winningest season in program historical past with the 2016 NCAA Tournament group (21), rating behind solely the 2018 WAC Championship group (22).

The Vaqueros are off to one of the best 26-recreation begin in NCAA Division I program historical past, three video games forward of the 2018 group (18-8) and one of the best 11-recreation convention begin in program historical past, two video games forward of the 2018 and 2017 groups (8-3).

The Vaqueros are 9-2 on the highway, tying this system file for highway wins set in 2018 (9-3) and one recreation forward of the group’s 2018 11-recreation tempo of 8-3. The Vaqueros are 6-0 in WAC highway video games, tying this system file for WAC highway wins set in 2018 (6-2).

Graduate pupil Sarah Cruz led all gamers with 26 kills on .373 hitting and 17 digs. Junior Luisa Silva Dos Santos recorded 10 kills on .438 hitting and tallied three blocks. The second pupil Perry Actuator added 9 kills, sophomore Margherita Giani contributed eight and within the second yr Claudia Lupescu posted seven. Redshirt junior Regina Tijerina tallied a match-excessive 21 digs.

The second pupil Luana Emiljano dished out 51 assists to extend her profession complete to 2,083, passing Marie Velasquez (2,034, 1993-96) for third in program historical past. Next on the record is Dubravka Vukoja (2,961, 2015-18).

Shanice Horn AND Arianna Bilby led the Redhawks (4-15, 0-11 WAC) with 18 and 16 kills, respectively. Bilby and Erin Goya recorded 14 digs. Amaris Carter, Lauren McCabe AND Marley Hardgrave assisted a recreation 9 blocks for Seattle U .


Seattle U got here out chasing a 25-20 Set 1. After the Redhawks went up 8-5 early, again-to-again aces from Tijerina gave the Vaqueros a ten-9 lead. A block by Santos sparked a 3-0 run to increase the lead, however SU fought again. UTRGV went on a 5-0 run began by a Cruz kill and assisted by GIANI scoring a kill and block, however once more SU responded. The Redhawks used a 9-level run to place the group out of attain.


The momentum continued to roll for SU because it took a 9-5 lead into the second. Good protection from Tijerina, who switched from defensive specialist to libero after the primary set, performed a key position in UTRGV’s 4-0 lead and 14-13 lead. Key and Santos have been massive down court docket to increase the lead, then a key kill secured a 25-21 set win to tie the match. After the Vaqueros hit .033 within the first set with solely Cruz recording a couple of kill, Emiliano obtained the remainder of the offense going within the second set and UTRGV hit .375 within the set.


Lupescu was robust to begin the third set to assist UTRGV set the tone for the body. The Vaqueros seemed in full management, with Emiliano spreading the ball round to maintain the Redhawks on their heels. UTRGV led by as many as eight factors. Santos and Giani have been robust to place UTRGV in place for Key to attain one other set-successful kill, ending it at 25-18.


Cruz was dominant to place UTRGV forward 15-11 within the fourth, however once more, the pesky Redhawks got here again. They responded from three offensive miscues to go on two massive scoring runs late within the recreation, reducing UTRGV’s result in 23-21 after 23-16. Key made a block shot to finish the run, then Emiliano knocked in a second-landing shot to seal the win.


UTRGV is again in motion Saturday at 1:00 PM at Utah Valley. Fans can watch domestically ESPN+ or internationally in WAC International.

Support UTRGV Volleyball | Become a Facebook Fan | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube