UTRGV saw its program record 11-match winning streak come to an end with a 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 25-21 loss to SMU at the Red Raider Classic on Friday at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.
UTRGV looks to start a new winning streak at 2:30 p.m. today against host Texas Tech.
Senior Sarah Cruz led the Vaqueros (11-2) with 15 kills, nine digs and three blocks. Sophomore Claudia Lupescu posted 13 kills and 10 digs for her second double-double. Sophomore Margherita Giani recorded nine kills on an error-free .474 hitting and three blocks. Sophomore Perris Key posted eight kills. Junior Luisa Silva Dos Santos recorded seven kills with three blocks. Sophomore Luanna Emiliano dished out 42 assists with 15 digs, four kills and two blocks for her ninth double-double. Junior Regina Tijerina finished with 19 digs, five assists and two aces.
UTRGV extended its winning streak earlier in the day by beating Oral Roberts 25-18, 27-25, 15-25, 26-16.
The Vaqueros (11-1) are off to their best start since becoming a Division I program in 1985.
It was the first victory for UTRGV against Oral Roberts, losing the first three meetings, one at home (2010), one on the road (2008) and one at UTSA in 1995, the first time they met.
In a well-balanced attack, Cruz led the Vaqueros with 15 kills and 12 digs for her fourth double-double. Santos recorded 11 kills on an efficient .435 hitting with a career-high eight digs and four blocks. Key posted a career-high nine kills and a season-high five blocks. Lupescu posted eight kills and nine digs.
Emiliano continued her impressive sophomore campaign dishing out 43 assists with a season-high 19 digs for her eighth double-double. Tijerina finished with 19 digs.
UTRGV head coach Todd Lowery now has 28 neutral site wins at UTRGV, breaking the previous program record of 27 held by Dave Thorn (1998-06). The winningest head coach in program history, Lowery now holds 14 different coaching records.
The Vaqueros’ only other loss came in their season opener against UNLV in five sets and UTRGV was one point away from claiming the match in the fourth.