San Marcos picks up 7th straight AVCA Academic Award, finalize roster

For the seventh consecutive year, San Marcos was recognized with the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.

The AVCA awards teams who earn a cumulative team GPA of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale. The Lady Rattlers were one of 444 high school girls’ volleyball teams to receive the honor, surpassing that mark with a 3.74 GPA.

“I’m extremely proud of my team for taking academics first and striving to make these outstanding grades in their classes,” head coach Michelle Moreno said. “This isn’t easy with their heavy workloads between classes — the majority of them take several Pre-AP and AP courses — and extracurricular activities the entire year. It takes a determined and focused individual. This is an impressive award and I’m pleased to see my team’s academic accomplishment recognized.”

San Marcos held its first practices this week and finalized its varsity roster on Friday.

The team will feature Victoria Alvarez, Julia Antu, Samantha Booth, Vanessa Carr, Layla Diaz, Riley Dow, Makayla Espinoza, Criselda Facundo, Liana Guerra, Julia Gutierrez, Jordan Helbig, Emery Jones, Gaby Medellin, Jade Olivo and Aubrey Reina, as well as managers Piper Garcia, Lily Lucio and Adriana Montanez. Altogether, the roster includes 10 returners, seven seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and one freshman.

The team’s first scrimmage took place in Cedar Creek on Friday. The Lady Rattlers will head to another on Monday in Navarro, beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The 2019 season will officially get underway on Tuesday when San Marcos takes on Bastrop and Wimberley at 5:30 and 7 p.m., respectively. The latter will serve as the home team for the event.