PEORIA, Illinois – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball team closed out the CEFCU Invitational with a five-set win over the New Mexico State Aggies, 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10), Saturday at the Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Illinois.
The Vaqueros (4-7) finished the tournament in style, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Aggies (7-6).
Outside hitter
Martina Franco set a new season high with 20 kills, the most by any Vaqueros player this season. Right side
Ema Petkovic added 13 kills, and
Julianna Bryant chipped in nine kills with a team-high six total blocks. Setter
Lana Rnjak dished out 36 assists and tied her career high with 16 digs. Libero
Celianiz Cabranes tied her season high with three aces to go with nine digs.
For New Mexico State,
Maggie Lightheart led the way with 16 kills while hitting .355.
Jaelynn Kohli matched her with 16 kills while hitting .520, and
Ashley Herman added 12 kills. Setter Paige Nelson collected 26 assists, while
Makayla Martinez paced the defense with 21 digs.
UTRGV took a 7-4 lead with help from back-to-back aces by Cabranes in the opening set. Franco's third kill of the set put the Vaqueros up by four before the Aggies rallied to pull within two, 13-11. Bryant collected a kill to put UTRGV back ahead by four and Franco closed out with two more kills as UTRGV took set one 25-22.
Kohli collected her ninth kill of the match as New Mexico State jumped out to a 13-6 lead to start the second set. The Vaqueros climbed back within three, but the Aggies responded with a 4-1 run. A string of errors helped New Mexico State take the set, 25-14.
Tess Fuqua grabbed three kills for the Aggies as they built a 9-2 lead. UTRGV mounted an 8-3 run backed by kills from Franco, Bryant, and
Soukeyna Diouf to get within two. Franco and Petkovic swung momentum in UTRGV's favor with consistent kills and an ace from the tough-serving lefty Petkovic to put the Vaqueros on top by three. New Mexico State closed the set on an 8-1 run to take it, 25-20.
The pivotal fourth set saw the teams swap scoring runs early as New Mexico State fought for the win and UTRGV battled to force a fifth. Franco sparked the first 3-0 run for UTRGV with her 16th kill of the match, then Cabranes served an ace to aid three more consecutive points. Franco and Bryant combined to score five points in a 7-1 run and a block by Diouf and
Aaliyah Snead secured set four for UTRGV, 25-19.
UTRGV started the deciding set strong with an ace from Petkovic that helped open a 7-4 lead. The Aggies fought back, tying the set at 8-8. Rnjak and Snead combined for a block before Rnjak served an ace to put the Vaqueros back on top by three. Senior
Sujeili Mermella delivered an ace for the set, 15-10 and the match.
UTRGV opens Southland Conference play at McNeese on Wednesday, at 6 p.m. in Lake Charles, La.
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