Aury Cruz Guides Puerto Rico to First Olympic Games
Aury Cruz and Puerto Rico will compete at the Rio Olympic Games from August 6-21.
Photo By: FIVB.com
Thursday, May 26, 2016

Aury Cruz Guides Puerto Rico to First Olympic Games

Kelly Sobers
Gator Great Aury Cruz led Puerto Rico to its first-ever Olympic Games berth with a straight-set sweep over Kenya Sunday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Former Gator Great and Florida Athletics Hall of Famer Aury Cruz left a lasting impact on the University of Florida volleyball program after her tenure donning the Orange and Blue. A three-time All-American, three-time SEC Player of the Year from 2001-03 and a four-time All-SEC selection, Cruz guided the Orange and Blue to their first and only National Finals appearance in school history against USC in 2003.
 
Cruz's impact in the sport of volleyball didn't stop after her career in Gainesville from 2000-2003. A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Cruz has been a mainstay on the Puerto Rican National Team and has earned multiple championships as a professional.
 
READ: Aury Cruz Crowns Her Career With Olympic Ticket | Florida's Olympic History
 
With a planned retirement looming at the end of the summer for the 34-year-old, Cruz has notched arguably her best accomplishment yet: a berth in Puerto Rico's first-ever Olympic Games. Cruz, who has a plethora of championships and honors to her name, will play on the world's biggest stage before hanging up her jersey after 18 years with the Puerto Rican National Team.
 
Cruz and Puerto Rico became the 12th and final volleyball team to secure a spot in Rio with a straight-set victory over Kenya Sunday (25-8, 25-23, 25-15), joining Brazil, China, Servia, Russia, Argentina, United States, Cameroon, Japan, Italy, Netherlands and South Korea with a ticket to Rio de Janeiro.
 
Cruz, the hot-handed serving gem had five points on three kills, a block and one service ace against Kenya.
 
The Rio Olympic Games are just 70 days away from August 5-21. Volleyball will get started on August 6, with the bronze-medal match slated for August 20 and the gold-medal match scheduled for August 21.
 
OTHER SPRING NOTABLES
  • Florida All-Americans Rhamat Alhassan and Alex Holston were both named to the 19-player USAV Women's National Team Training Roster for the Pan American Cup. The duo will compete for a spot on the roster, which will be finalized in June, and a chance to represent the United States in the Dominican Republic June 30-July 11. Another Gator in redshirt junior Shainah Joseph has already secured a spot to play in the Pan Am Cup for her native Team Canada. Follow Alhassan's Volleyball Blog!
  • USAV World Champion and four-time All-American Kelly Murphy was named to the 22-player U.S. Women's National Team roster for the FIVB Grand Prix. The U.S. Women's National Team, ranked No. 1 in the world, will play three preliminary rounds in Ningbo, China, Long Beach, Calif., and Hong Kong before the top five teams, plus Thailand, compete in the Final Round July 6-10 in Bangkok.
  • Florida's incoming freshman class is the No. 7 recruiting class in the country, according to PrepVolleyball.com. UF will welcome eight to campus for the 2016 season.
  • As evidenced above, the Gators' incoming class has talent. All six Gators that signed NLIs in the fall signing period were named to Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50 list. That's more incoming athletes than any school in the country and tops in the SEC. Defensive specialist Allie Gregory, setter Cheyenne Huskey, 6-8 middle Rachael Kramer, outside hitters Morgyn Greer and Mia Sokolowski -- an early enrollee already on campus -- and middle Darrielle King all grace the 2016 Girls' Fab 50.
  • Florida added three to its 2016 incoming class this spring with the addition of Caroline "CK" Knop, Chanelle Hargreaves and Camille Nieves. That makes nine new faces come fall for Gator Nation to watch.
  • The Orange and Blue wrapped up the spring scrimmage schedule with Spring Fling and Georgia Tech three weeks ago at the Lemerand Athletic Center.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Twitter
Instagram
Coach Mary Wise on Twitter | Coach Mary Wise on Instagram
Facebook 
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Headlines

Related Galleries

Quick Links