Texas Border Business
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball team dropped its final regular-season road match, 2-3 (25-20, 25-27, 27-25, 18-25, 5-15) to the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on Monday at the Icardo Center.
Junior Veronika Jandova led the Vaqueros (13-15, 7-7 WAC) with a career-high 11 blocks and seven kills. The 11 blocks ties for the third-highest single-match total in program history. Ten of the blocks were assisted, tying for the second-highest single-match total. Senior Barbara Silva recorded 11 kills, six digs, and a season-high eight blocks. Senior Talita Oliveira also had a season-high eight blocks to go with six kills. The eight-block assists tie for the ninth-highest single-match total in program history. Sophomore Sarah Cruzrecorded 11 kills with six digs and two aces. Junior Debora Nazario posted her 10th double-double of the season with 37 assists, 12 digs, and a career-high-tying five blocks. Junior Samaret Caraballo recorded a career-high seven kills with 10 digs. Freshman Victoire Nama served up a career-high five aces with four kills, five digs, three blocks, and two assists. Freshman Ioanna Charitonidi posted a career-high 21 digs with four assists.
Brookie Boiseau led the ‘Runners (9-18, 4-11) with 22 kills. Hayley McCluskey recorded 14 kills. Milica Vukobrat finished with 11 kills and 12 digs.
Silva opened the match with four kills and two blocks to help the Vaqueros take a 9-4 lead. The ‘Runners got as close as two five times, including at 14-16 before a Silva kill sparked a 5-0 run to give the Vaqueros a 21-14 lead. Then, on set point, an Oliveira kill gave the Vaqueros a 1-0 lead in the match.
After dropping the second set, the Vaqueros found themselves tied at 3 in the third when Nama served up three aces as part of a 7-0 to give the Vaqueros the lead. The Vaqueros still led by seven at 16-9 on an Oliveira kill before the ‘Runners went on a 13-6 run to tie the set at 22. Cruz responded with a kill and an ace to give the Vaqueros set point, but the ‘Runners won the next two serves. Two serves later, with the set tied at 25, a block by Nama and Jandova and a Nama ace ended the set.
Nama served an ace to start the fifth set, which was also tied at 2 after an error, but the ‘Runners won the next four serves as part of a 9-2 run to push the match out of reach.
UTRGV returns home for Greek Night on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Kansas City at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. UTRGV students receive free admission with a current UTRGV student ID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at UTRGVTickets.com. Fans purchasing their tickets online prior to match day can save up to $2 per ticket. Doors open at 6.
