GREENVILLE, N.C. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball swept all three matches at East Carolina's Pirate Invitational, wrapping up the tournament with a 3-0 (25-11, 30-28, 25-16) victory over the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs on Saturday at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
 
The Vaqueros (8-4) are now winners of six of their last seven matches.
 
The second set victory marks the first time UTRGV has won a 30-point set since 2007, the last season in which the number of points required to win sets one through four was 30. Since the rule change prior to the 2008 season, UTRGV has now played in four sets with a final score of 30-28, the most recent of which was Nov. 18, 2017. The other two occurrences were in 2015. 
 
Senior Veronika Jandova led the Vaqueros with six kills and five blocks. Sophomore Ioanna Charitonidi posted six kills on .316 hitting with two blocks. Junior Sarah Cruz recorded five kills and six digs. Sophomore Luisa Silva Dos Santos posted five kills, four digs and two aces. Freshman Perris Key also finished with five kills. Freshman Luanna Emiliano posted her ninth double-double with 21 assists and 16 digs.
 
Audrey Gun led the Bulldogs (3-7) with nine kills.
 
The Vaqueros recorded kills on five of their first nine attacks without an error while jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first set. The Bulldogs won the next two serves before the Vaqueros went on a 6-0 run that included a block by Jandova and Charitonidi and a kill by sophomore Maria Eduarda Rodrigues to go up 15-4. The Bulldogs scored the next two points, but the Vaqueros responded with four-straight points, including an ace by freshman Ingridy Foltran and a Jandova kill, to push the set out of reach.
 
The second set was tight throughout. The first multi-point lead of the set belonged to the Vaqueros at 14-12 on a Jandova kill. The Vaqueros also led 15-13 on another Jandova kill before a 4-1 Bulldogs run mad the score 16-17. The Vaqueros responded with a 5-1 run to take the largest lead of the set at 21-18 on a Santos kill. The Bulldogs tied the set at 22 before a Key kill restored the Vaqueros' lead. The Bulldogs scored the next two points to reach set point before a Jandova kill and an error gave the Vaqueros set point. The Vaqueros next had set point at 26-25 on a Cruz kill. Two serves later, the Vaqueros defended on set point and then took their own advantage on an Emiliano ace. Then, with the score tied at 28, a Cruz kill and an attack error ended the set.
 
The Bulldogs had the early lead in set three, going up 10-5. The Vaqueros followed with a 5-1 run to pull to within 10-11 on an ace by freshman Edinburg North alum Evana Ramos. Then, down 12-14, a Santos kill sparked a 9-0 to give the Vaqueros a 21-14 lead. The Bulldogs won the next two serves, but the Vaqueros scored the final four points to end the match.
 
UTRGV returns home on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse against UTEP. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. Those unable to attend the match in person can watch in the United States on ESPN+ or internationally on the WAC Digital Network.

Support UTRGV Volleyball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube