The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is taking a look back at some of the best moments throughout 2021-22 season every #ThrowbackThursday (#TBT) through August. 
 
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team had a bounce back season in the fall of 2021 and put an exclamation point on it by earning their first-ever berth to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
 
The Vaqueros finished the season with 17 wins, which was 15 more than they had in the spring, and finished runner-up in the Western Athletic Conference's Southwest Division. The 17 wins marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons that UTRGV has won 10 or more matches. 
 
The NIVC was back for the fourth time since its reboot through Triple Crown Sports after running from 1989-95 and featured a 31-team bracket, including five other WAC teams. 
 
The Vaqueros, who were making their first trip to the postseason since making the NCAA Tournament in 2016, drew Arizona in the first round. 
 
While their season came to an end at the hands of the Wildcats, the Vaqueros were able to look back at the season and see all the good things that happened throughout the season. 
 
Senior Veronika Jandova finishes her career ranked third in program history in hitting percentage (.279), career blocks per set (0.83), fourth in block assists (264), and seventh in total blocks (309). For the season, Jandova hit .293, the second-highest single season total in program history.
 
Cruz finishes this season averaging a program record 4.37 kills per set on 437 total kills, the sixth-highest total.
 
Freshman Luanna Emiliano finishes the season averaging 9.88 assists per set, the sixth-highest single-season total in program history, on 1,057 total assists, the seventh-highest total and second among freshmen. She also ranks third among freshmen in program history with 345 digs and tied for fifth in aces with 37. Freshman Edinburg North alum Evana Ramos finished second among freshmen with 404 digs.
 
Sophomore Luisa Silva Dos Santos finishes the season averaging 0.96 blocks per set, the eight-best total in program history, on 100 total blocks, which 10th, including 85 block assists, which is eighth.
 
Competing in the NIVC was a great learning experience and will look to ride the momentum of playing in their second postseason for years to come. 

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