Pulliza, Victoria Help Puerto Rico To Grand Prix Finals

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the help of Razorback head coach Robert Pulliza and newcomer Pilar Victoria, the Puerto Rico National Team has qualified for the FIVB World Grand Prix final in Group 2. The top-four teams in Group 2 advance to the finals which will be contested July 31-August 2 in Lublin, Poland. Pulliza has served as the team’s assistant coach this summer while Victoria was on the roster for the opening weekend of play.

Puerto Rico will be joined in the Group 2 finals by the Netherlands, Poland and Czech Republic. During the two rounds of qualifying play, the team picked up wins over the Czech Republic and Poland; Puerto Rico and the Netherlands did not face one another. With Pulliza on the bench, Puerto Rico posted a 4-2 record and tallied 12 points to secure its spot in the final round. He now travels with the team to Toronto for the XVII Pan American Games.

Victoria saw action in nine of 13 sets during the first leg of the competition July 3-5 in Puerto Rico. Her run with the Puerto Rico National Team began in May at the Calgary 2015 event and continued at the XIV Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru, where she helped the team to a fifth-place finish in the 12-team tournament.

Victoria is part of the Razorbacks’ five-player recruiting class for the upcoming 2015 season which also features Kimi Davis of Rogers, Ark., Juliette Fidon of France, Fernanda Güiton of Mexico and Okiana Valle of Puerto Rico. Victoria comes to Fayetteville as a junior after spending the first two year of her collegiate career at Texas.

When the Razorbacks return to the court for their Aug. 28 season opener against McNeese State, the roster will feature 12 returners from last year’s team including seniors Monica Bollinger, All-SEC performer Chanell Clark-Bibbs and Liz Fortado. Season tickets are now on sale through the Razorback Ticket Center by calling 800-982-4647 or emailing raztk@uark.edu. Click HERE to purchase tickets online. Each purchase includes a free team knit hat.

For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.