November 15, 2023
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team learned on Wednesday that junior libero Kiaraliz Perez, junior setter Luanna Emiliano, junior outside hitter Claudia Lupescu and freshman outside hitter Nadine Zech were honored with All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) recognitions voted on by the WAC head coaches.
Perez earned the WAC Libero of the Year award and was named to the All-WAC First Team. Emiliano was selected to the All-WAC First Team, earning the distinction for the second year in a row. Lupescu made the All-WAC Second Team. Zech is a member of the WAC All-Freshman Team.
“I’m so happy for all the awards our team earned,” head coach Todd Lowery said. “We have had so many players really improve over the course of the year and I think if you ask any of these student-athletes they would say they don’t get these awards without the help of the group and that’s what makes all of them so special.”
Kiaraliz Perez
Perez, a three-time WAC Libero of the Week, leads the conference averaging 4.30 digs per set and is second in total digs with 434, ranking 77th and 75th across NCAA Div. I in those respective categories. Her 4.83 digs per set in conference matches is the best mark in the WAC.
Perez accumulated 102 assists, 17 aces and 13 kills at a .400 clip in 28 matches. She reached double-digit digs in 25 matches, notching a career-high 28 against Houston Christian (9/2). She has been the backbone of UTRGV’s scrappy defense – an area of emphasis for the Vaqueros throughout the offseason and non-conference slate. She is an accurate passer, solid in serve-receive and relentless when covering the court.
“Watching the growth of Kiaraliz through the season has been so much fun. Her skillset has always been there, but her ability to take so much court has truly made those around her better,” Lowery said.
Luanna Emiliano
Emiliano leads the WAC with 1,080 total assists, ranking 19th in the nation and sixth in program history for most in a single season with more matches to be played. She averages 10.19 assists per set, ranking second in the WAC, 48th in the nation, and fourth in program history. She has UTRGV hitting .229 and averaging 13.3 kills per set heading into the WAC Tournament.
Emiliano is arguably the best defensive setter in the WAC, totaling 342 digs which ranks sixth in the conference, putting her above several opposing liberos, and tying for 10th with 3.23 digs per set. She has also recorded 31 blocks. Emiliano’s 45 aces are second-most in the conference, tied for 40th in NCAA Div. I and tied for eighth most in a single season in program history. She also boasts 83 kills, showcasing her volleyball IQ with second-touch attacks.
For her career, the junior setter ranks second in assists with 3,485, sixth in digs with 1,098 and fourth in aces with 117. She is one of nine active players with 3,000+ career assists and 1,000+ career.
“Luanna, as we all know, is a great setter, but this year we knew we needed to play more defense to stay competitive. She has led the charge as an elite defender and puts up libero-like numbers almost every night,” Lowery said.
Claudia Lupescu
Lupescu took her game to the next level in conference play. She leads UTRGV in scoring with 3.28 points per set and is third on the team with 228 kills, averaging 2.78 kills per set while hitting .225. She has led the Vaqueros in kills seven times, with five of those performances coming in WAC play.
Lupescu is second on the team with 18 aces and has racked up 127 digs and 39 blocks, notching two double-doubles in the second half of WAC play. She tallied a career-high 23 kills to lead UTRGV past Tarleton State and has hit career highs in assists (three), aces (four) and blocks (five) this season. She earned WAC Player of the Week on Nov. 14. Lupescu has gotten stronger throughout the season, doing a good job mixing up hard swings cross court, down the line and dropping off-speed shots for points.
“Lupe is playing the best volleyball she has played in the second half of the WAC schedule. All her hard work in practice has really boosted her confidence in matches,” Lowery said.
Nadine Zech
Zech is second on the team with 229 kills, averaging 2.79 kills per set and ranks second scoring 3.12 points per set. She has recorded 113 digs, 25 blocks and 10 aces in 26 matches, making 17 starts in her first season of collegiate volleyball.
Zech often fires up her team and the crowd with her powerful kills, delivering loud kills all across the court. She has shown consistent improvement in her all-around game throughout the season and has led UTRGV in kills seven times.
“I think Nadine is just now starting to show us what she is capable of. It’s going to be exciting to watch her the next three years,” Lowery said.
