SAN ANGELO, Texas (August 30, 2026) – After helping lead the UT Permian Basin volleyball team to a 3-1 record at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational, redshirt junior middle hitter Nickilah Whatley, sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn Salgado, and fellow-sophomore outside hitter Giselle Orellana were each named to the All-Tournament Team.

It was the second-most honorees earned among all six teams at the tournament and was the most honorees earned by UTPB over its current-four year run at the tournament.

All three players started in all four matches and played in all 14 sets for the Falcons during opening weekend.

Whatley averaged 1.64 kills per set (23 total kills) on .308 percent hitting, but was also second on the team with 2.82 points per set after ranking second in both blocks (13) and service aces (8). Whatley recorded four kills in both the first and third sets (8 total kills) in the season opener vs. Fort Lewis College, totaled seven kills in the second match vs. Minnesota State University Moorhead, and totaled four service aces and six blocks during the first match of day two vs. Colorado State University Pueblo.

Salgado led UTPB with 3.64 kills per set (51 total kills) and 3.89 points per set while hitting .310 percent for the tournament. She was also second on the team with 2.79 digs per set (39 total digs). Salgado led the Falcons in kills in all four matches, was the lone Falcon to record double-digit kills in every match, and also led the Falcons in digs in two of four matches (2 double-doubles). Salgado paced the Falcons with five kills in the first set of the season and finished with 10 kills while also adding 13 digs in the first match vs. FLC. She then totaled eight kills in the second set alone and finished with 15 kills in the second match of opening day vs. MSUM. During day two of the tournament, Salgado reached double-digit kills for the third match in a row with 10, including five kills in the final set, in a big 3-0 win over CSUP. Then during the final match vs. East Central University, Salgado totaled 16 kills and added 21 digs for her second double-double of opening weekend. It was the most kills and most digs recorded by any Falcon in a single match during the tournament.

Orellana was second on the team with 2.29 kills per set (32 total kills) and was third at 2.71 digs per set (38 total digs), just one total dig behind Salgado. Orellana earned a kill on the first point of the season for the Falcons, totaled nine kills vs. FLC, eight kills vs. MSUM, six kills vs. CSUP, and had nine kills and 18 digs in the final match vs. ECU. She was the only other Falcon besides Salgado to finish among the top-three players on the team in kills in all four matches.