The UTRGV women’s volleyball team defeated the Corpus Christi Islanders at their home opener with a 3-1 victory.
Going into the match the team was prepared to play a rivalry like the Islanders. Senior Middle Blocker Luisa Silva Dos Santos explained the preparations junior setter Luanna Emiliano and her made.
“Today was really good,” Dos Santos said. “I was talking to Luanna, we just need to be patient today because they work really good at touching the ball, touching the block. So I was just telling Luanna to be patient.”
During the four sets junior right side Perris Key led the Vaqueros with a total of 12 kills. Key discussed how her role has been early in the season.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Key said. “I’m taking a bigger role this season, but I’m excited, and I think it’s going really well.”
In the first set the Vaqueros were trailing behind with a score of 16-10, but the ladies closed the gap thanks to Junior Libero, Kiaraliz Perez placing her serve in an open corner winning the set 25-23.
The second set went to the Islanders with a score of 25-15.
The next two sets were neck and neck for the two teams, but the vaqueros were victorious with a score of 25-24, and 26-24.
The UTRGV Fieldhouse had a total attendance of 1,704 people. Head Coach Todd Lowery talked about the energy the crowd gave during the match.
“Sometimes you get a point in a volleyball match and you just roll through it emotionally and I thought the solo block by Paris was a big point and you could just feel the crowd erupt from there, and then we score the next three,” Lowery said. “So I think those moments were big.”
The Vaqueros will take on the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals Sep 12. At 12:00 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
For more information visit goutrgv.com.
This is Kevynne Aleman for Vaquero Radio.
