RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Southland Conference (SLC) announced the first weekly volleyball awards of the season on Monday and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) junior libero Celianiz Cabranes was voted the Defensive Player of the Week. 
 
Cabranes, the reigning SLC Libero of the Year, earned her third weekly award of her UTRGV career after totaling 71 digs in the first three matches of the season. Cabranes averaged an impressive 5.92 digs per set and notched a perfect 1.000 receiving percentage with 41 total attempts in reception. 
 
Cabranes opened the season with 28 digs, four assists and one ace against Gonzaga, then tabbed 15 digs in a match against GCU. She recorded 28 digs with four assists in UTRGV's 3-2 victory over LIU on Sunday. 
 
With two more 20+ dig performances to her name, Cabranes is now fourth in program history with 14 matches of 20+ digs. She has played in 31 matches at UTRGV. 
 
Sophomore outside hitter Martina Franco earned an honorable mention nod for the SLC Offensive Player of the Week award. Franco slammed home 4.0 kills per set and scored 4.38 points per set in her debut weekend with the Vaqueros. She had 17 kills on .378 hitting along with 14 digs for her first double-double in the season opener against Gonzaga, then notched a career-high 22 kills with nine digs in the win over LIU. Franco was named to the GCU Invitational All-Tournament Team. 
 
The Vaqueros will play their home opener Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Texas State as part of the Southwest Showdown at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Fans can purchase tickets to enjoy the tournament, which includes a Friday matchup between the Vaqueros and UTEP at 6:30 p.m., at UTRGVTickets.com.

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