Criminal justice sophomore Jibran Garcia gets ready to spike the ball Sept. 18 in the University Recreation Center on the Edinburg campus. Also shown are kinesiology freshman Vivian Magan (left) and integrated health science freshman Ninia Menguito. Ryan Lugo/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Volleyball Club helps enthusiasts of the sport refine their skills and unite members to step out of their comfort zone while promoting health and fitness.
History sophomore Dylan Ruiz and visual communication design sophomore Cristal Araujo said to not be discouraged if interested. Members will have opportunities to improve with the practices the club hosts.
“Just because you’re not good now doesn’t mean you can’t become good later,” said Ruiz, the volleyball club treasurer. “You can’t just start something and expect to be great at it right away. That’s why we have practices for people to go little by little because one practice makes a difference versus not having any practice.”
This past summer, he coached a high school summer league and is expecting to coach a spring league as well. Recently, he was hired to coach a volleyball club outside of UTRGV.
Araujo, volleyball club co-president, said she met most of her friends through the club after being encouraged and invited by the members last year.
“I feel like, with how everything is like a community, they’ll make really good friends … and, like, they’ll feel welcomed,” she said. “We all start somewhere. So, I would want a lot of people to show up so we can make more friends.”
Ruiz said there are two sides of the club: The competitive side that participates in tournaments throughout the year and the recreational side that practices twice a week on both campuses.
Entrepreneurship junior Lilibeth Zarate has been a member of the Volleyball Club for the past year and said “everyone was so welcoming.”
Addictions studies freshman Josué Peralta de Jesús said he is glad he found the club this year after moving from San Antonio.
“I’ve learned that it’s OK to mess up or not be the best player because … I know eventually everybody is gonna get there,” he said. “We’re going to start, like, a cycle again, you know, over and over where people start to learn how to play volleyball.”
Chavez said she enjoys assisting the organization as its adviser.
“It hasn’t been that easy because … all our students … have [their] jobs and classes and … really heavy workloads,” she said. “So, we try our best to come meet with our students. We want to make sure that everybody who is in it … [has] the best time in school.”
The club is open to any student, faculty or staff member interested. Membership fee is $10.
Tryouts for members who wish to compete will be announced at a later date.
All members are required to pay registration fees and sign a waiver. Most travel and competition dues are covered by club fundraising.
This semester, the Volleyball Club will host practices from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Texas Southmost College Recreation Center in Brownsville and from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at the University Recreation Center on the Edinburg campus.
For more information, contact @clubvolleyballutrgv on Instagram.
