ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Former University of New Mexico volleyball standout Julia Warren has signed a professional contract with GS Ilioupolis, a professional volleyball club based in Athens, Greece.
Warren, an Albuquerque product via La Cueva High School, finished her storied four-year career with the Lobos as a three-time All-Mountain West selection, and ranks fifth in program history in career digs.
“I am so honored and excited to be given the opportunity to play for GS Ilioupolis volleyball club,” Warren said. “Greece is an amazing country and I can’t wait to represent UNM overseas. This is going to be a great adventure with being in a different culture and playing international volleyball. I am excited for anything that is thrown my way and I’m ready to get started.”
Warren is the sixth Lobo to sign a professional contract during head coach Jeff Nelson’s 10-year tenure at New Mexico, joining numerous UNM alumnae to play professionally.
She is the first Lobo to sign a professional contract for volleyball since three-time All-American Chantale Riddle signed to play in Finland.
“I am very proud to have yet another Lobo player join the professional ranks,” Nelson said of Warren. “Julia is a complete player and will do very well in Greece.”
During her career at New Mexico, Warren shined, racking up the honors and the stats as she led the Lobos.
She was named the Mountain West’s Designated Libero of the Year in 2014 to go along with her three career All-MW selections, and played with the MW All-Stars after the 2013 season.
She finished her career as the just 11th player in program history to earn three all-conference honors.
Statistically, Warren logged 1,201 career digs and 890 career kills, making her one of two players in program history to have at least 1,000 career digs and 800 career kills during the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present).
Warren’s career-high of 32 digs set in 2014 is tied for the sixth-best single-game total in program history, while her career best of 28 kills set last fall in a five-set match vs. Utah State is tied for the ninth-best in a single match in UNM history.
GS Ilioupolis plays in A1 Ethniki, the top women’s volleyball league in the country.
Fans can follow @UNMVolley on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!