OLLU welcomed alumni members of the volleyball team to campus on Saturday, March 26. The women first played a friendly match against current Saints players and then enjoyed a luncheon outside of the University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC).
The Saints defeated the alumni 2-1 with set scores of 22-25, 25-20 and 25-20. Prior to the game, Director of Alumni and Family Relations Debora Guzman Perez and Head Coach Scott Mattera honored three alumni – Alexia Bustamante, Gloriana Villarreal and Alysha Blanco.
Previous recipients of the volleyball alumni awards are as follows:
2015: Sarah Lindsey (2007-2010) and Kelsey Johnson (2007-2010)
2016: Liza Rodriguez (2008-2011) and Elyse Escobar (2008-2011)
2017: Norma Fraga (2009-2012) and Desirea Aguilar (2009-2012)
2019: Suzette Pena (2011-2014), Bryttany Willoughby (2011-2014) and Kendall Groff (2013-2017)
| ALEXIA BUSTAMANTE – Alumni Saints Service AwardWhile at OLLU from 2014-2016, Bustamante received the 2015 All-Conference Second Team, 2016 All-Conference Honorable Mention, 2016 Champions of Character and 2016-2017 Conference Scholar-Athlete awards. She graduated from OLLU in 2017. Bustamante is now a teacher’s assistant at The Winston School of San Antonio. Bustamante received the Alumni Saints Service Award for her work in the community, especially with the Club Volleyball program in San Antonio, including the San Antonio Juniors Volleyball Club, where she coaches the 13 Adidas and the 16 National teams. | |
| GLORIANA VILLARREAL – PROVIDENCE ALUMNI AWARDDr. Gloriana Villarreal, who was on the team from 2012-2015, received the Providence Alumni Award. At OLLU, she earned the 2013 All-Conference First Team, 2015 All-Conference First Team, NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2014 and 2015 and Conference Scholar-Athlete in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 awards. Villarreal received her degree in 2016, and after pharmacy school at UIW, she is now a Doctor of Pharmacy in her hometown of Brownsville, Texas. |
ALYSHA BLANCO – PROVIDENCE ALUMNI AWARD
Alysha Blanco also received the Providence Alumni Award. Unfortunately, Blanco was not able to make the event. Blanco played on the Saints team from 2012-2015. She was the first volleyball player at OLLU to earn NAIA All-American honors. She also was named to the AVCA All-South-Central Region Team in 2014 and 2015. In 2013, she was named to the All-Conference Second Team, and in 2014 and 2015, the All-Conference First Team. In 2014 and 2015, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. In 2015, she was named Conference Player of the Year, and in 2016, she was named a Conference Scholar-Athlete. Blanco graduated from OLLU in 2016.
The following members of the volleyball team from 2007 through 2021 are listed below:
| Alumna | Fall Academic Year-Spring Academic Year |
| Alexia Bustamante | 2014-2016 |
| Mariza Cardenas | 2015-2019 |
| Amanda Esparza | 2018-2021 |
| Natalie Fazio | 2017-2020 |
| Bailei Hubbard | 2017-2019 |
| Kalani Ketchens | 2019-2021 |
| Madison Madrid | 2007-2008 |
| Alyssa Marquez | 2018-2021 |
| Norrelle Mitchell | 2016-2018 |
| Suzette Pena | 2011-2014 |
| Jessica Ramirez | 2007-2008 |
| Anyssa Rivera | 2016-2020 |
| Janelle Solis | 2013-2016 |
| Raven Swain | 2013-2017 |
| Anissa Tamez | 2017-2021 |
| Gloriana Villarreal | 2012-2015 |