RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team won its first matchup against Western Athletic Conference (WAC) newcomer California Baptist University (CBU) 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-18, 27-25) on Saturday at Van Dyne Gym.
 
Senior Ragni Steen Knudsen led UTRGV (10-6, 1-1 WAC) with 17 kills and eight digs. Freshman Pamela Moreira recorded 13 kills on .357 hitting with three blocks. Senior Alexandra Ecker finished with nine kills on .533 hitting. Junior Barbara Silva also had nine kills.
 
Tesa Oaks led CBU (10-4, 1-1 WAC) with 23 kills on .327 hitting. Summer Avery recorded 13 kills and 11 digs. Megan Sester and Sydney Marks each finished with 12 kills.
 
After dropping the first set, UTRGV found itself in a 1-7 hole to open the second set. UTRGV still trailed by five at 8-13 when a Moreira kill sparked a 7-2 run to tie the set at 15. CBU regained the lead, going up 20-17 on a Sester kill. After a timeout, however, UTRGV won five-straight serves, capped by Moreira kill, to take a 22-20 lead. CBU scored four of the next five points to reach set point before a Moreira kill tied the set at 24. Two serves later, with the score tied at 25, Silva came up with a kill and senior Antonela Jularic served up an ace to tie the match at 1.
 
The third set was tight early, as the score was tied at 12. That's when UTRGV went on a 5-1 run, capped by a kill by junior Talita Oliveira, to take a 17-13 lead. CBU scored the next four points to tie the set, but an Oliveira kill was the first of six-straight points for UTRGV to make the score 23-17. Then, after an error put CBU back on the board, a Silva kill and an ace by sophomore Debora Nazario ended the set.
 
The fourth set was close the entire way, with neither team going up by more than two until a Nazario ace put UTRGV up 18-15. CBU responded with a 6-2 run to take the lead. The two teams traded points until UTRGV took a 24-23 lead on a Knudsen kill. CBU successfully defended match point twice, but with the score tied at 25, a Knudsen kill and a block by Jularic and Ecker ended the match.
 
UTRGV plays its WAC home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Grand Canyon (7-6, 0-1 WAC). Fans will receive "Point UTRGV" signs while supplies last. Doors open at 6. 

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