New Mexico Volleyball Signs Memphis Transfer Bierria
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico volleyball team and head coach Jeff Nelson have announced that Tai Bierria, who played last year at the University of Memphis, will transfer to New Mexico and compete for the Lobos.
Bierria, a junior-to-be from Marietta, Georgia, will be eligible to play for New Mexico during the 2018 season after leading the Tigers in kills per set and points per set during her sophomore campaign in 2017.
“Tai is a very gifted athlete with a solid background,” Nelson said. “She had two solid years of experience at Memphis and also comes from an outstanding club program in Atlanta. Tai can be a strong indoor and beach player for the Lobos this year. I am really excited to have Tai as she really will add to the program at the outside hitter position.”
New Mexico, which graduated just one player from its 2017 indoor team, adds Bierria to a talented group of upperclassmen that features five returners.
Bierria owns considerable experience at the pins, playing in 25 matches with 18 starts as a sophomore. She led Memphis with 2.74 kills per set last year, with her 233 total kills ranking second on the team. She also led the Tigers with 3.02 points per set.
She registered double-digit kills on 14 occasions last fall, including two matches with a career-best 17 kills.
Bierria also contributed defensively during the 2017 season, recording 2.79 digs per set to rank third on the team. She finished with 14 matches with at least 10 digs and logged 11 double-doubles on the season.
Her freshman season was also productive as she started 25 matches and finished fourth on the team with 192 kills (2.08 kills/set). She posted eight matches with double-figure kills and four matches with double-digit digs.
She was also named to the 2016-17 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
Bierria joins incoming freshman Sabrina Bianco from Austin, Texas, and Arizona transfer Jaclyn Inclan as part of New Mexico’s signing class for the fall. The Lobos open their 2018 season on August 24-25 at the Idaho Volleyball Classic in Moscow, Idaho.
Fans can follow @UNMLoboVB on Twitter and Instagram for information and updates on the team!