While most students prepared for their Thanksgiving break, UTRGV athletes were warming up for their games this week.
As the volleyball team wraps up its season toward the Western Athletic Conference Championship, players set off for Orem, Utah, Nov. 19 for a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament that takes place Friday.
The basketball teams continue on their trajectory in the South Texas Showdown, with the women playing against Texas A&M International University at 2 p.m. Saturday in the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The men’s team will host Sam Houston State University at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Mid-America Christian University at 7 p.m. Friday.
Junior point guard Javon Levi is out due to an injury Nov. 15 during the first game of the Islander Invitational in Corpus Christi.
“We weren’t prepared to play without Javon,” said UTRGV Men’s Head Coach Lew Hill. “But what I learned about my team is resiliency. We never quit. We kept fighting. The guys played their butts off, they competed and they gave me what they had.”
Nevertheless, the team needs to figure out how to adapt their strategy to play without their starting point guard.
“We’re gonna play our regular game,” graduate student guard Jordan Jackson said. “We have a week full of practice. A lot of stuff to learn from. We have to work hard and we have to play together. And throughout the course of the season, I think you’ll see that. We’ll jell together and we’ll be playing really good basketball here pretty soon.
In track and field, the men’s and women’s teams will kick off the season with their second annual Orange vs. White competition Dec. 7 at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in Edinburg.
“Really, it’s just an opportunity for us to get out and see where our fall training has put us,” said Track & Field Head Coach Darren Flowers. “I think it’s always good for the kids to get out and compete. You’re gonna see a team with a lot more depth this year.”
