Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALEY, Texas – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Volleyball Head Coach Todd Lowery announced on Monday the addition of 5-11 middle blocker Margherita Giani, a transfer from Southern Illinois, for the 2022 season.
This past season, Giani averaged 1.81 kills on .294 hitting, 0.87 blocks, 0.47 digs and 0.36 aces in 47 sets across 13 matches. Giani saw action in one set during the 2020-21 season, recording one dig.
Originally from Maissana, Italy, Giani won a U16 national championship with Orago Volley. She played on the Italian B1 and B2 levels with some of the best players in the country. Giani played in Milan with Visette Volley for one season and earned regional honors. She then went to play for Orago before moving up to Series B2 with Normac Genova Volley. Following that season, Giani played for Chieri, where she competed simultaneously for the U18 and Series B2 Championships. In 2019, Giani was called up the Series B1 League with Bionatura Nottolini before returning to La Spezia.
“Margarita is an explosive attacker and is very quick side to side,” Lowery said. “She is going to be a great point scorer right away. One of the things that really set her apart when we were searching for a middle was how available she is to attack in transition. She has a great work ethic and really fit in with the team during her visit.”
Giani joins outside hitter/right side Claudia Lupescu, setter Natalie Reyes, libero Sydney Schoen, and middle blocker Brooke Box as part of the 2022 recruiting class.
