Cruz Earns Preseason All-WAC Honors

Texas Border Business

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced on Thursday that senior outside hitter Sarah Cruz of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team is part of the Preseason All-WAC Team. Additionally, UTRGV was picked to finished seventh in the WAC as voted on by the head coaches.

A 2021 All-WAC First Team selection, Cruz broke the program record for kills per set (4.37) while ranking sixth in total kills (437) and tied for fifth in attacks per set (11.19). She Led UTRGV in kills 22 times, digs twice and blocks three times while recorded 23 matches of 10+ kills, including nine of 20+, and 10 matches of 10+ digs, including one of 20+ en route to 10 double-doubles. She also averaged 2.33 digs, 0.30 aces and 0.55 blocks in 100 sets across 27 matches.

For her career, Cruz ranks fifth in program history in kills per set (3.31), sixth in attacks per set (9.36), and seventh in aces pet set (0.30).

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UTRGV garnered 86 points, finishing 32 points ahead of UT Arlington, which was picked eighth. The top eight teams advance to the WAC Tournament, hosted by UTRGV at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, November 17-19.

New Mexico State (135 points, six first place votes) was picked to finish atop the WAC standings for the fourth-straight season after winning the West Division in 2021 and winning the WAC during the two previous seasons. The only team to win the WAC outright other than New Mexico State during that time is UTRGV, which won the WAC Championship in 2018. Sam Houston (99 points, one first place vote), which was picked to finish fourth, won the Southwest Division in 2021.

Reigning WAC Tournament Champion Utah Valley was picked to finish second with 129 points and five first place votes while Grand Canyon, which fell to Utah Valley in the WAC Tournament Championship Match, was picked third with 127 points and one first place vote.

Stephen F. Austin was picked fifth with 95 points while California Baptist ranks sixth with 90 points.

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Tarleton and Utah Tech were picked to tie for ninth with 50 points each, followed by Abilene Christian (37 points), newcomer Southern Utah (32 points), and Seattle U (17 points).

UTRGV has finished higher than picked in four of head coach Todd Lowery’s first seven seasons. UTRGV was picked to finish fifth in the Southwest Division in 2021 but came in second. UTRGV was picked to finish second in 2018 but came in first. UTRGV was picked to finish sixth and seventh in 2016 and 2015, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

UTRGV plays a closed exhibition match against Texas A&M International on Saturday before opening the regular season Aug. 26-27 against UNLV, Jacksonville, and North Texas at the North Texas Invite.

The home opener is set for Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the UTRGV Fieldhouse as part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union.

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at UTRGVTickets.com or by contacting the UTRGV Athletics Ticket Office team of Ryela Rodriguez (956-329-0884) and Eddie Galvan (956-222-2935) over the phone or through email at tickets@utrgv.edu.

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Preseason All-WAC Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Katie Birtcil, New Mexico State

Preseason Libero of the Year: Hannah Baker, Sam Houston

Preseason Setter of the Year: Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon

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