Spring Break 2021 Recap

Ruben Mohme | THE RIDER

For most of the sports at UTRGV, the season is almost over. On March 13, men’s soccer defeated the University of Nevada at Las Vegas 3-1 at home.

UTRGV posted some serious numbers with seven shots on goal, two saves and three goals, according to goutrgv.com

Senior forward Willam Akio converted a penalty kick to tie the game and later scored another goal by an inbounding pass from senior midfielder Bryce Box. Junior forward Reshaun Walkes secured the game when he scored in the 65th minute. 

Women’s soccer started their break in Las Cruces against New Mexico State University on March 13 with eight shots, including four on goal, two saves and one goal. With a scoreless first half, junior forward Emily Zapata picked up a loose ball and gave UTRGV the lead in the first minutes of the second half. UTRGV’s defense did not let New Mexico State University have any attempt for a shot on goal in the second half, leaving the game 1-0. 

Women’s golf finished 10th at the Houston Baptist University Husky Invitational on March 15, according to goutrgv.com. Redshirt freshman Samantha Garza led UTRGV with a three-round score of 228 and tied for 23rd. UTRGV finished with a three-round score of 943, seven strokes behind UT Arlington. 

On March 15, women’s volleyball lost 3-0 against Utah Valley University at home, according to goutrgv.com. Senior middle blocker Veronika Jandova led with 11 kills and a season-high six blocks. Junior outside hitter/right side hitter Sarah Cruz finished with five kills and a career-high seven blocks. Senior setter Debora Nazario had 37 assists, 10 digs and a season-high four blocks for her first double double of the season. The women’s volleyball team recorded a season-high 13 team blocks and 22 block assists. 

Men’s golf posted a sub-300 round and finished 11th at the Grand Canyon University Invitational on March 16, according to goutrgv.com. Redshirt freshman Rassrikanesh Kanavathi finished 19th, with a three-round score of 217 and also posted a final round 2-over-par 73. Redshirt senior Alex Summers posted UTRGV’s highest round of the day in the final, with 72 and finished 37th. 

UTRGV’s track and field team broke records on March 18 including the women’s discus and men’s 4×100 meter relay during the University of Texas at San Antonio Invitational, according to goutrgv.com.

Graduate student Desira Buerge broke the discus record with a second-place throw of 53.57 meters, beating the previous program record of 53.04 by University of Texas-Pan American hall of famer Delilah Johnson in 1992. 

In the 4×100-meter relay, sophomore Yashawn Hamilton, graduate student Yariel Matute, junior Mariano Hernandez and freshman Jermarrion Stewart finished with a second-place time of 40.62, besting the previous record of 41.12 set in 2018. Sophomore Tamara Woodley won the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.30, the ninth-best in program history.

On March 20, men’s baseball posted an impressive win in St. George, Utah, against Dixie State University in a doubleheader sweep, with the first-game score of 13-3 and ending the series at 18-1, according to goutrgv.com. 

Post-baccalaureate student and infielder Christian Sepulveda had a second-straight, three-hit game, stealing a base and scoring twice. Infielder/pitcher Darian Luper, first baseman Angel De La Cruz, catcher Conrado Diaz and outfielder Coleman Grubbs all finished with two hits. UTRGV ended with 20 hits. Colten Davis pitched a career-high 6.0 innings, striking out five, while allowing one run on four hits and two walks.

Women’s tennis defeated Chicago State University on March 20 in St. George, Utah, for its first Western Athletic Conference win of the season. Redshirt sophomore Katarina Sasaroga and freshman Isabelle Bahr opened in a doubles win of 6-2 at the No. 2 spot. Redshirt freshman Valeria Montero and freshman Lea Karren clinched a win of 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. In singles, Bahr won her game 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 1 spot. Karren secured the win for UTRGV with a 6-4, 6-3 win for the No. 4 spot. UTRGV picked up the last two points by default at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, according to goutrgv.com.