Saints Honor Three Volleyball Alumni At Annual Get-Together
SAN ANTONIO (May 22, 2023) – Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) welcomed alumni members of the volleyball team to campus on Saturday, April 22. The women first played a friendly match against current Saints players and then enjoyed desserts in Room 104 of the University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC).
After the match, Head Coach Scott Mattera honored three alumni – Jessica Ramirez Hicks, Kendal Groff and Janelle Solis.
Previous recipients of the volleyball alumni awards are as follows:
2015: Kelsey Johnson (2007-2010) and Sarah Lindsey (2007-2010)
2016: Elyse Escobar (2008-2011) and Liza Rodriguez (2008-2011)
2017: Desirea Aguilar (2009-2012) and Norma Fraga (2009-2012)
2020: Kendall Groff (2013-2017) (Service Award), Suzette Pena (2011-2014) and Bryttany Willoughby (2011-2014)
2022: Alysha Blanco (201-2015), Alexia Bustamante (2014-2016) (Service Award) and Glorianna Villarreal (2012-2015)
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JESSICA RAMIREZ – Alumni Saints Service Award
While at OLLU from 2007-2008, Jessica Ramirez Hicks led her team to the Association for Independent Institution (A.I.I.) tournament finals. She received the Alumni Saints Service Award for her work in the community. Hicks is a cross-training and strength and conditioning instructor, a private volleyball coach and club volleyball coach. She plans to coach at the University of Texas volleyball camps again this summer. |
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JANELLE SOLIS – PROVIDENCE ALUMNI AWARD
Janelle Solis played on the Saints team from 2013-2016. Her awards at OLLU include 2014, 2015, 2015 All-Conference; 2013 Champions of Character; Three-Time Conference Setters of the Week awards; and Red River Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete. Solis is second all-time in assists with 2,076, third all-time in games play with 407, fifth all-time in matches played with 116 and in digs with 810; fifth in a season in assists with 568. She is in her third year at IDEA Ewing Halsell College Prep as a geometry teacher, department chair and region geometry leader, plus she coaches the volleyball team. She has also been the coach for the Impact Volleyball Club since 2013. |
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KENDALL GROFF – PROVIDENCE ALUMNI AWARD Kendall Groff played on the Saints team from 2013-2016. Her awards at OLLU include 2016 NAIA All-American, AVCA All-South Central Region Team; 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 All-Conference; 2014, 2015, 2016 All-Tournament; 2015, 2016 Conference Tournament MVP; 2015 Champions of Character; 2016 Conference Player of the Year; 2016 Academic All-District; 2015-2016 NAIA Scholar-Athlete; and she was a four-time Red River Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete. Her records include all-time leader in kills with 1,061 (and is the only member of the volleyball team to be selected for the Saints 1,000-Point Club), second all-time in solo blocks with 46, third all-time in matches played with 118, fourth all-time in blocks with 181, fourth all-time in games played with 406; and second in a season in kills with 357. Groff is a sixth-grade science teacher at Rudder Middle School and is the girl's athletic coordinator and P.E. Coach. She also coaches volleyball, basketball and track. |
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The following members of the volleyball team from 2007 through 2022, who attended the alumni event are listed below:
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Alumna |
Fall Academic Year-Spring Academic Year |
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Desirea Aguilar |
2009-2012 |
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Alexia Bustamante |
2014-2016 |
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Kalani Ketchens |
2019-2020 |
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Alyssa Marquez |
2018-2020 |
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Brittany Martinez |
2013-2016 |
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Norelle Mitchell |
2016-2017 |
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Jessica Ramirez |
2007-2008 |
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Anyssa Rivera |
2016-2019 |
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Janelle Solis |
2013-2016 |
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Raven Swain |
2013-2017 |
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Anissa Tamez |
2017-2020 |
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Jessica Walaski |
2013-2016 |
