In the state capital, UTRGV’s volleyball season came to an end in a 0-3 loss to the No. 4 University of Texas at Austin Longhorns. The loss, during the opening round of the NCAA tournament, eliminated the team from play.
At Gregory Gym in Austin, the host school defeated UTRGV by set scores of 25-14, 25-16 and 25-17.
The Longhorns jumped to a 5-1 run in the first set before UTRGV was able to even the match at 7. Texas responded with an 11-2 run to take control of set one.
Texas strong start in set two gave the home team a 11-4 cushion. UTRGV was only able to get as close as 6 before dropping the frame. The Vaqueras committed 10 errors, which contributed to the 25-16 set loss.
The home team proved too much in set three in a set UTRGV was not able to keep up. Four point differences at 16-12 and 18-14 were the smallest of a gap before Texas ended the Vaqueras’ season.
Sophomore Ragni Knudsen led the team in kills with eight in the loss. Junior Bojana Mitrovic added seven kills and Alisha Watson recorded five kills in her final collegiate game.
The Vaqueras’ 21 wins is the most in NCAA Division 1 program history. They became WAC conference champions on Nov. 19, also the first time UTRGV volleyball has earned that title at the Division 1 level.
Head Coach Todd Lowery will lose five seniors from his roster, including outsider hitter and program veteran Watson. Libero Fatoumata Dacosta will also be a player that does not return next season.
Key contributors to this year’s team like Mitrovic, Knudsen, Barbara Silva and Alexandra Ecker among others will return in 2017.
Texas also defeated Southern Methodist University Saturday and will face Brigham Young University Friday.
