RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Southland Conference (SLC) announced weekly volleyball awards Monday and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) freshman setter Lana Rnjak earned her first SLC Setter of the Week award. 
 
Rnjak dished out 9.37 assists per set with a total of 75 assists in two matches as UTRGV went 1-1 in Corpus Christi at the Southwest Showdown. Rnjak ran an efficient and multiple offense to help UTRGV defeat the Pac 12's Texas State, 3-0, Friday, earning UTRGV's first win over the Bobcats since 2002. The freshman had 36 assists with three kills, two digs and two blocks in the sweep of Texas State. UTRGV hit .309 in the match and Rnjak mixed the attack well, putting three Vaqueros in double-digit kills with four totaling at least five kills. 
 
Rnjak tallied 39 assists with four kills, five digs and one block as the Vaqueros fell in a 3-2 battle to UTEP. Again, the young setter running a 5-1 offense used her full arsenal as three Vaqueros had 11 or more kills in the match. She is quickly building chemistry with the hitters and setting up scores across the net and with back row attacks. 
 
Additionally, redshirt junior middle blocker and Harlingen High alum Julianna Bryant tabbed Honorable Mention Defensive Player of the Week. Bryant totaled 10 blocks in UTRGV's two matches, producing five blocks in each match against the Bobcats and Miners. Six of her blocks her solo, including four against Texas State as she anchored a defense that held the Bobcats to .094 hitting with 20 errors to 28 kills. Bryant's presence on the net gave her opponents fits all weekend. She also tallied 17 kills in two matches, averaging 2.12 kills/set. 
 
The Vaqueros (1-3) will play their home opener Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against Texas Southern at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Fans are encouraged to wear orange and show their Vaqueros pride for the Orange Out match theme. 
 
Tickets are available at UTRGVTickets.com and fans can learn all they need to know for match day, including about clear bag and camera policies, at RallyTheValley.com.

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