For a freshman, Pilar Victoria already has a very impressive volleyball resume. Despite her numerous recognitions and accomplishments on an international scale, Victoria’s dreams at Texas remain simple and absolute. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
“My dream as a Longhorn is to win a national championship,” Victoria said. “Make my mark at UT.”
It is the same goal that her teammates strive towards and the goal that they Longhorns are well on their way towards.
“I looked at many schools,” Victoria said. “I loved Texas and Austin and I just liked the environment. I feel very welcome with the team.”
Victoria, an outside hitter, is one of three freshman on this year’s top-ranked Texas team. Chloe Collins, a setter from Cypress, Texas, and Chiaka Ogbogu, a middle blocker and the 2013 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year from Coppell, Texas, finish out the Longhorns’ impressive freshman class.
In 2012, Banco Popular named Victoria the Elite Volleyball Player of the Year and at the Elite Athletes Awards, was named Puerto Rico’s top volleyball prospect.
“Pilar is a great addition to this program,” Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “She is a very smooth player that has complete game.”
Victoria was born and raised in Puerto Rico and became a national volleyball figure in Puerto Rico from a young age. In 2009, Victoria joined the Puerto Rico Youth National Team as a 13 year old. She helped her team win bronze at the 2010 NORCECA Tournament in Guatemala and went on to co-captain the team at the 2011 World Volleyball Championship in Turkey.
She was also a member of the Junior National Team. In 2013 before coming to Texas, Victoria served as team captain for the 2013 Puerto Rico Junior National Team that competed at the FIVB World Championship in the Czech Republic this past summer.
In addition to her work as an outside hitter, Victoria has experience at libero. In 2010, she competed at the U-23 Invitational Tournament in Peru as libero for the U-20 Puerto Rico Junior National Team. She was also a Puerto Rico High School Athletic Alliance four-time All-Star player.
Her accolades don’t stop there. At only 16, Victoria joined the Puerto Rico Adult National Team and competed in the Pan American Cup in Mexico this past year.
“She has played at a very high level and her experience can help this team in 2013 and beyond,” Elliott said.
Even coaches from other schools around the country are taking note of Victoria and her talent and potential. While preparing for the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic, an early season tournament that features four of the country’s most prestigious volleyball programs: Texas, Stanford, Penn State and Florida, the head coach from Penn State praised Victoria and the entire Texas roster.
“They have a terrific roster. They graduated one player, who was a terrific player,” Penn State head coach Russ Rose said. “They replaced her in the lineup with a really good player from Puerto Rico, Pilar Victoria.”
While at Texas, Victoria has played in 18 games so far as a Longhorn. She has posted 59 kills through 42sets and, as of the Longhorn’s game against West Virginia, is hitting a solid .250 for the season. She has scored 70.0 points for the Longhorns.
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