Complete Roster

EDINBURG – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley volleyball head coach Todd Lowery announced on Tuesday the signings of 5-9 senior outside hitter Fernanda Faustino and 5-9 sophomore outside hitter Ragni Steen Knudsen to scholarship agreements, as well as the commitments of 5-2 redshirt freshman defensive specialist and Nikki Rowe alum Klarissa Gomez, 5-3 freshman setter/defensive specialist Julia Moctezuma, and 5-7 freshman outside hitter/libero Paulina Ramirez for the 2016-17 academic year.
 
"This is a great way to round out our roster for the fall. We are very excited to have all of these ladies join us," Lowery said. "They all have incredible work ethic and fit the culture we are trying to build in this program."
 
Faustino joins the program from Virginia Union University, for whom she averaged 2.71 kills, 3.46 digs and 0.46 aces in 87 sets across 25 matches (22 starts) in 2015. Her best matches came on Oct. 8 against Elizabeth City State and Oct. 10 against Southern Virginia, when she combined for 37 kills on .342 hitting with 33 digs, eight aces and four blocks in seven sets.
 
Faustino played her sophomore season at Eastern Florida State, averaging 1.86 kills and 2.62 digs per set en route to All-Southern Conference First Team honors.
 
She played her freshman season at Northeast Junior College, averaging 0.45 kills and 1.50 digs in 22 sets across 13 matches.
 
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Faustino attended high school at Colegio Objetivo.
 
"Fernanda is an experienced player that is going to add depth and much needed ball control to our lineup," Lowery said.
 
Knudsen joins the program from Lindsey Wilson College, which reached the 2015 NAIA National Semifinals, after earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year honors as well as a spot on the AVCA Southeast All-Region Team. For the season, Knudsen averaged 3.19 kills on .277 hitting and 0.47 blocks in 140 sets across 41 matches (29 starts).
 
Originally from Myre, Norway, Knudsen attended high school at Sortland Videregaaende Skole.
 
"We are really excited to finally have Ragni on our campus," Lowery said. "She is going to add some much need offense and ball control in the second outside hitter position that we did not have last season. We are expecting great things out of her."
 
Gomez was a District 30-5A All-Second Team selection at libero and 6A West All-Star at the Rio Grande Valley Volleyball All-Star Showcase as a senior at Nikki Rowe in 2014. She attended UTRGV in 2015-16 but did not compete in intercollegiate athletics.
 
"Gomez spent the spring with the team and we look for her to continue to improve in the fall," Lowery said.
 
Moctezuma comes to the program from Klein Collins High School in Spring where, as a senior, she averaged 5.23 assists and 2.37 digs while dishing out 57 service aces in 130 sets. In three years at the varsity level, Moctezuma averaged 4.68 assists and 1.84 digs while dishing out 163 aces in 393 sets.
 
"Julia played for a great Club Program at TAV Houston," Lowery said. "She is very athletic and it is going to give our setting position a different look. We also look for her to help out on defense."
 
Ramirez joins the program after previous competing for Universidad de Monterrey.
 
"Paulina is primarily a beach player and has competed at the highest level in Mexico," Lowery said. "We will look to have her great ball control help us out this fall."

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