Nov. 6, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - Little did Hardin-Simmons University volleyball player Virginia Aguilar know when she left Hawaii, that she would become one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the Cowgirl volleyball program.

Aguilar came to Hardin-Simmons with her sister looking to fit and she will leave an indelible impression on what it takes to be a Division III student-athlete.

Not only did she become the first Hardin-Simmons volleyball player to be named the American Southwest Conference West Division Most Valuable Player, not only did she help turn a program around from a team that was at the bottom of the conference as a freshman to the league favorite as a senior, she did it all while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in computer science.

She led the Cowgirls to the ASC tournament and the first American Southwest Conference Division title last season and led the Cowgirls to the first ASC title this year. But she will be remembered for more than volleyball.

"It has been nice being a part of turning the program around, because when I came in the volleyball team was not too good," said Aguilar. "Now we are more recognized and respected. I have made a lot of good friends being here. I am glad I came because it was a perfect fit."

Aguilar is very active on campus in the Epsilon Pi Alpha service club, the Gamma Beta Phi, and Delta Mu Delta business and computer science clubs. She also represents volleyball on the student-athlete advisory committee.

"I have enjoyed every minute here," Aguilar said. "Over the last four years I have been involved in several different things on campus. The more you are involved, the more you get out of it."

It is not everyday that HSU has a student-athlete or for that matter hardly any students from Hawaii. It was her sister that steered her toward the Forty Acres. An Internet search by her sister Kristen eventually led the Aguilar's to HSU.

"She is two years ahead of me in school and she was interested in physical therapy so she had heard of HSU. She went to the local community college for two years in Hawaii and then we came out here together. We were looking for schools in Texas and the first one that came up in the directory we were looking at was ACU. We then noticed HSU was in the same town and from then on all things pointed toward Hardin-Simmons.

Aguilar said Hardin-Simmons had a lot of the things that she was looking for in a school.

"Obviously, I wanted to play volleyball but also in a small, Christian environment and I knew I wanted to major in computer science."

She was named an Academic All-American as a junior and it is an honor she will surely claim again this season. She is also repeated as the conference player of the year.

During her senior campaign she has rewritten the record book. She has established new career standards for kills, blocks, service aces and total points scored.

Being successful on the court and off does not come easy for Aguilar. She has to be able to manage her time efficiently, especially during the fall season.

"Unlike some sports, volleyball is just in the fall and for just a little over two months," said Aguilar. "It seems like you play game after game once you get into the season. You have to stay on top of your assignments and work ahead a lot in class. My professors have been very good to work with me when I am gone with the volleyball team."

Aguilar credits a busy upbringing with being able to manage her time. She played six sports and was a member of the junior ROTC program and the National Honor Society.

"I was prepared coming from high school and being in a military family."

For someone who had lived in Hawaii for most of her life, coming to West Texas meant that there were some immediate cultural adjustments.

"The weather is really different, the way people talk and look are different and the food is definitely one of the biggest differences. You have a lot of Asian and Hawaiian foods over there. I like most every kind of food, except for seafood. I think I have adjusted pretty well."

Change is something that has been a fixture for Aguilar. She came to Texas from Hawaii, she changed a volleyball team from bad to good and she has changed the record books with her success on the court and the classroom.

However, two things have not changed -- she is an exceptional athlete and possibly an even better student. She is the model definition of student-athlete.