PHOTOS COURTESY UTRGV ATHLETICS
Karina Rodriguez | THE RIDER
Two UTRGV volleyball players have been selected to the Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference Team and the university has been picked to finish third, as voted by WAC head coaches.
UTRGV Volleyball Head Coach Todd Lowery said the selection of the players, senior libero Samaret Caraballo and junior outside hitter Sarah Cruz, allows for the program to receive more recognition.
“So, I think we’re excited for them to get, you know, honored or noticed by our coaches,” Lowery said. “And, it’s always great to get kids noticed for individual awards and it’s just growth for our program.”
He also explained how the women were selected for the All-WAC team.
“We nominate our individual players from our team, people that we think are … you know, capable of being All-WAC performers,” Lowery said. “Then, the selection is the coaches’ vote on the All-WAC team. So, we’re allowed to vote for a 14 All-WAC team, and we ranked the kids 1 to 14. And we’re allowed to vote for anybody except for the players on our own team.”
Lowery aims to finish higher than third in the conference.
“Our ultimate goal is to be better once we get to conference tournament than we are right now,” he said. “So, you know, being picked third is nice. I think that’s a tribute to our kids that are coming back that worked hard last year and put us in a position to win some matches. I think the other coaches inside the conference recognize the potential within the roster.”
Caraballo said she plays volleyball for her family.
“Well, I think it’s my family because all I do is for them [and] to make them proud,” she said.
Caraballo was also honored as the All-WAC defensive player of the week.
“That makes me feel good, of course, because I’m showing what I work for,” she said.
Cruz said her parents inspire her to play volleyball.
PHOTO COURTESY UTRGV ATHLETICS
“It would be my parents,” she said. “My father used to play for 10 years on the national team in Cuba because he’s Cuban. So he really pushes me every day. I have to call him before every match to, like, make sure I’m mentally good to go.”
Cruz said her role is to contribute in offense and defense.
“I think my role on the team is to help with defense and also attack to be good, I mean, mentally and physically for everyone,” she said. “So, that way, we are good to go and win and try to win everything.”
