It’s tourney time.
The 2022 Western Athletic Conference champion UTRGV Vaqueros volleyball team tied the single-season program record for conference wins with a 20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 17-25, 15-8 victory over the Tarleton Texans on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
The Vaqueros finished WAC play with a 13-1 mark, the only setback coming to Stephen F. Austin.
Already in the midst of the winningest season in program history, this is UTRGV’s (24-5, 13-1 WAC) highest-conference winning percentage (.929) and the second time the Vaqueros have won 13 conference matches, after going 13-3 en route to the 2018 WAC Championship.
UTRGV is now one of only seven 24-win teams in the NCAA, along with Western Kentucky (26-2), South Dakota (25-2), Towson (25-1), Pittsburgh (25-2), Wright State (25-3), and Houston (24-2).
Graduate student Sarah Cruz led the Vaqueros with 16 kills, eight digs and three blocks. Sophomore Claudia Lupescu recorded 11 kills with two blocks. Sophomore Margherita Giani posted her first-career double-double with 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks. Sophomore Luanna Emiliano recorded her 19th double-double with 44 assists, 13 digs, four kills and two blocks. Junior Luisa Silva Dos Santos posted seven kills, seven digs and four blocks. Sophomore Perris Key recorded six kills, four digs and three blocks. Junior Regina Tijerina finished with 19 digs.
Brenna McDonough and Megan Haynes led the Texans (12-17, 4-10 WAC) with 14 kills each. Grayson Schirpik finished with 13 kills.
UTRGV hosts the WAC Tournament Nov. 17-19 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, with any UTRGV matches taking place at 7 p.m.
UTRGV, the No. 1 seed, opens the tournament Thursday against No. 8 seed Southern Utah.
Tickets can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. Current students of WAC institutions receive free general admission with their student ID. Fans unable to attend either matches in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally on WAC International.