EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Volleyball Head Coach Todd Lowery announced on Thursday the signings of 5-11 outside hitter/libero Ioanna Charitonidi and 6-2 outside hitter Victoire Nama to National Letters of Intent for the 2019-20 academic year.
 
"We're super excited about signing these two young women early," Lowery said. "I think they fit our culture. They came and visited during the fall during our home tournament and we felt like they really fit-in with the team. These signings will continue to grow our culture and our program."
 
Charitonidi is currently competing with A.S.P.E. Thetis Voulas in Greece. In 2017-18, she led A.O. Aigaleo to a second place finish in the U19 Panhellenic Tournament. The previous year, Charitonidi led her team to a second place finish in the U19 Athens Tournament.
 
Charitonidi competed with A.O. Markopoulo from 2011-16. In 2015-16, she led her team to first place finishes in the U17 and U19 Athens Tournaments and a fourth place finish in the U19 Panhellenic Tournament. In 2012-13, her team won the U15 Athens Tournament.
 
Charitonidi also has national team experience, as she was part of the U17 and U19 Greek National Teams from 2016-18.
 
"Ioanna's great with ball control," Lowery said. "She's has a really high volleyball IQ and is technically very sound, which is going to help us down the road."
 
Nama is currently playing club volleyball for Romans sur Isère in the East South of France. She previously played for Institut Fédéral de Volley Ball from 2015-18 and Torcy Marne La Vallée from 2009-15. In 2016, Nama led her team to a ninth place finish at the European Championship. In 2014-15, she was named the best right side hitter of her generation in the country.
 
Nama has significant national team experience, having competed with the French U19 National Team since 2015 after being part of the U18 National Team from 2014-15. She was also part of the National Beach Volleyball U18 Team from 2015-17.
 
Nama is currently attending high school at Lycée du Dauphiné after spending her first three years at Lycée Polyvalent Bellevue in Toulouse.
 
"Victoire's going to bring a big offensive presence to our team," Lowery said. "Physically, she's going to be able to come in and compete right away as a freshman."

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