EDINBURG — UTRGV swept both Prairie View A&M and the University of Montana on Saturday to go undefeated at their UTRGV Tournament.
The wins improved their record to 10-1, the best record to start a season for the Vaqueros in Division I history. They joined DI in 1985.
It also put them on a program-record 10-match win streak after beating the University of Montana Grizzlies 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 to close out the tournament at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
The previous record was nine straight wins, accomplished Oct. 4-Nov. 2, 2002, and Nov. 3-15, 2001. UTRGV also has won its past 18 sets and 21 of its past 22.
Senior Sarah Cruz led the Vaqueros with 15 kills, two blocks and three digs. Sophomore Claudia Lupescu recorded her first double-double with 14 kills, 10 digs and one ace. Junior Luisa Silva Dos Santos posted 11 kills on an error-free .611 hitting and one block. Sophomore Luanna Emiliano dished out 39 assists with nine digs and two aces.
Lupescu was named the tournament’s most valuable player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Cruz and Dos Santos.
Lupescu averaged 4.00 kills, 2.56 digs, and 0.56 blocks per set. She opened the tournament with 10 kills on .267 hitting, five digs and three blocks during the first Montana match. Lupescu followed that with 12 kills on .458 hitting, eight digs, two blocks and one ace against Prairie View A&M. She closed the tournament with 14 kills on .462 hitting, 10 digs and one ace against Montana.
Freshman Sharyland Pioneer alumna Natalie Reyes got her first career start as UTRGV’s setter in the first match of the day and dished out 33 assists in UTRGV’s 25-22, 25-13, 25-11 victory over Prairie View A&M.
The Vaqueros were paced offensively by Lupescu and Cruz, who recorded 12 and nine kills, respectively, and combined for three aces. Lupescu added two blocks and eight digs. Junior outside hitter Ioanna Charitonidi notched a .545 hitting percentage, putting down seven kills on 11 attempts.
UTRGV opens Texas Tech’s Red Raider Classic at 10 a.m. Friday against Oral Roberts before facing SMU at 5 p.m.