Vaqueros outlast Lions in five-set duel

Vaqueros junior libero Celianiz Cabranez jumps in action to return the ball to the Lions tonight inside the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. UTRGV controlled a strong lead in the first set, commanding 25 points against 18.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER

Two teams that entered tonight’s match tied for second in the Southland Conference standings delivered and ultimately culminated in a five-set clash that the Vaqueros won 3-2.

Following the match, UTRGV (11-7, 6-1 SLC) solidified in second place in the conference standings, while the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions (13-6, 5-2 SLC) now finds themselves in third.

The Vaqueros seized the momentum in the fourth set on 3 straight blocks, seizing the set lead with 5 unanswered points.

Head coach Todd Lowery described the fourth set as a “dagger,” a fair assessment as UTRGV did not trail in the fourth and fifth sets following that lead change.

“We talk about converting points that you’re supposed to convert,” Lowery said. “Huge response in set 5 to be able to turn that back on. As a coach, you’re just so proud when the team can do that.”

Freshman outside hitter Dimitra Nanou shined during the match, totalling 23 kills, 16 digs and 3 service aces. Nanou credited her teammates for their role in tallying the kills tonight.

“A win is not an individual thing,” she said. “It’s all teamwork, and we displayed it all together, and we put up our energy in the last set.”

The first set was all UTRGV from the get-go, with the Vaqueros taking a quick 6-1 lead before SLU’s first time-out. Athletic plays and hard hitting allowed them to stave off a late rally in the first set to take it convincingly 25-18 and take an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Vaqueros junior setter Isabella Costantini (left) and junior middle blocker Julianna Bryant block the Lions’ attempt to spike the ball tonight inside the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Bryant returned for the season after recovering from an injury.
Jose Rodriguez/THE RIDER

Beginning the second set, both teams went back and forth and gave the fans what they anticipated in a matchup of two of the SLC’s best, with seven ties and 3 lead changes.

Down 20-16 after their second time out, the Lions stormed back to take a 21-20 set lead. They ultimately took the second set 25-23 to tie the match 1-1 after a replay review initially ruled the point for UTRGV.

Set No. 3 was a much closer set than the previous two, with a total of 13 ties and 7 lead changes in the set. Replay review also played a role, overturning 6 points total, including 1 before set point.

“We’re still working through a new system in the conference, and it’s a little slow,” Lowery said. “We felt it tonight because there was so many [challenges]. It can be frustrating, and I thought the girls did a great job of keeping it together.”

In this close set, Southeastern took it 25-23 to seize a 2-1 match lead after a challenge overturned a potential set-winning point. The marathon set 3 had leads no larger than 2 points for either team.

With their backs against the wall, the Vaqueros needed an answer quickly after finding themselves down 10-7 early in the fourth set.

They responded by scoring 5 unanswered points to take a 19-15 lead, aided by their blocking. They would not relinquish this lead, taking the fourth set 25-18 to tie the game at two sets apiece and set up a winner-take-all set 5.

UTRGV carried its fourth-set momentum into the fifth and finished a 3-2 match win with a dominant 15-6 victory, with its lead growing to as much as 10.

The Vaqueros will conclude this homestand at noon Saturday when they take on the University of New Orleans (7-13, 2-5 SLC), and will play McNeese State University on the road on Oct. 23.