Lobo Volleyball Signs Bianco in Early Signing Period

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico volleyball team and 11th-year head coach Jeff Nelson announced the signing of Sabrina Bianco to their 2018-19 recruiting class on Wednesday.

A highly decorated setter from Austin, Texas, Bianco signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Lobos on the first day of the early signing period. She is the first player to join New Mexico’s 2018-19 recruiting class.

“Sabrina is an extremely athletic setter,” Nelson said. “Her feet are as fast as anyone I’ve ever coached. She moves really well, has really quick hands and moves the ball around really well. … With us only losing one player this year, I think she is a great recruit who can raise the bar.”

Bianco comes to UNM via Bowie High School in Austin, where she led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Bi-District and District 16-6A championships. She also helped Bowie to an Area Volleyball Championship and a third-round appearance in the playoffs in 2016 and four-straight 6A University Interscholastic League State Playoff appearances.

Bianco, a four-year starter at setter for Bowie, also amassed a number of individual accolades, including two-time district setter MVP, two-time First-Team All-District and 2014 District Newcomer of the Year.

Additionally, she was named the 2016 Bowie Team MVP and was twice named Bowie Offensive MVP.

Sabrina Bianco

Over her four-year career under head coach Miguel Saenz, Bianco registered more than 2,500 assists, 800 digs and 150 aces.

During her senior year in 2017, Bianco recorded 816 assists (6.6 per set), 278 digs (2.3 per set), 232 kills (1.9 per set), 45 aces and 12 blocks playing as both a setter and hitter.

She registered two triple-doubles in 2017, one in the Bulldogs’ final regular-season victory vs. San Marcos High School (17 kills-32 assists-14 digs) and a second in Bowie’s first-round playoff win vs. Round Rock High School (11-31-17).

In 2016, Bianco led Bowie to its first district championship in more than a decade.

In club volleyball, Bianco has played for Austin Junior Volleyball since 2011, earning a pair of medals at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships. She earned a silver medal in the Open Division in 2017 and a bronze medal in the American Division in 2015.

“Austin Juniors is one of the best clubs traditionally in the country,” Nelson said. “She’s played in a national championship match and she’s only 17 years old. The level of experience that brings and the competitive level is just so good.”

Bianco also excelled in track & field as a two-time All-District and regional qualifier in the high jump. She owns the Bowie record in the event with a clearance of 5-4, and was a two-time runner-up at the District Championships and two-time bronze medalist at the Area Championships.

Daughter of Sonya and John Bianco, Sabrina has a background of athletic achievement. Her mother was a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion for Baldwin-Wallace College, while her father, the Senior Associate AD for Communications at the University of Texas, was an all-conference triple jumper at Baldwin-Wallace College. Her sister Haley also lettered volleyball at Angelo State.

Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!