By Jean Racine
Aury Cruz has taken hold of a new role on the Orlando Valkyries.
In her 27th year playing professional volleyball, Cruz serves as a mentor, leader and a player-coach for the Valkyries.
“My role this year has been different from what I’ve been doing my last years of my career,” said Cruz, who has many volleyball accolades. “I try to help my teammates in practice, (with) whatever gameplan we have to do. But in a way also to be ready whenever the team needs me to come in.”
Valkyries head coach Amy Pauly compare’s Cruz role to that of former Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem.
“I think that she’s learning who to be as an older player,” Pauly explained. “We kind of joke about being Udonis Haslem for our team. Just how much energy, joy, maturity that she can bring to this group. She’s really kind of taking a hold of that and I’m really proud of her for doing that.”
Pauly quickly jumped at the opportunity to sign the 42-year-old Cruz.
“As soon as I heard that she was interested, I reached out to her,” Pauly explained. “My first initial conversations with her was very telling of who she is as a person and her character and how much volleyball and the state of Florida mean to her, so to me it was a no-brainer to bring her in here.”
Cruz, who played college volleyball at the University of Florida, preferred to play in Orlando because of the proximity to her home country of Puerto Rico.
“When I heard that Orlando was one of the cities (in the Pro Volleyball Federation), I was crossing my fingers that they would be the one interested in having me on their team,” Cruz explained. “First because it’s close to Puerto Rico. Also, there’s a big community of Puerto Rican volleyball players and athletes that live here. Why not be an ambassador.”
At UF, Cruz was a three-time SEC Player of the Year and three-time AVCA All American. She led the Gators in 2003 to the national championship match against USC, which the team lost.
“Individual awards for me is not that important,” said Cruz, who was inducted into the UF Hall of Fame in 2014. “The most important thing was how to help the volleyball program grow. My group was the first group to make the national championship. How that group grew from the first year to the last year, it meant a lot.”
Cruz is also an Olympian, who joined the Puerto Rico national team as a 16-year-old. She competed on the national team for 24 years.
“It was great representing my country and also seeing (the team) grow,” Cruz said. “I remember the years that our biggest goal was trying to get a position in NORCECA … But the team kept on growing and we qualified for our first world championship and then also qualifying for the second round, so seeing all that growth.”
Cruz plays with two members of the Puerto Rico national team on the Valkyries in setter Wilma Rivera and libero Paula Cerame, who both grew up watching her.
“To play alongside her is an incredible opportunity,” Cerame said. “Just getting to learn from her is an even bigger honor. Just happy to be with her here in Orlando.”
Rivera played with Cruz in her last year with the Puerto Rico national team and on club teams in 2020 and 2021.
“I’ve known Aury for a little bit. She’s a great friend of mine,” Rivera said. “Love to have her here. Love her support — she’s amazing. She has a lot experience and a lot of guidance that she can provide to us younger players.”
Cruz has been one player that her teammates can count on for advice and guidance.
“She’s always there supporting and helping us through every situation, guiding us,” Rivera said. “It’s been a pleasure working with her, being close to her, learning from her and having her as a friend.”
Said Cerame: “Aury’s like a second mom to me. She literally treats me like a child in a good way. It’s been an incredible honor on and off the court. She’s an incredible volleyball player, but she’s even a better human.”
Pauly brought Cruz into the fold not just for her leadership but also for volleyball.
“She’s a phenomenal serve receiver,” Pauly said of the outside hitter. “She probably could’ve played libero if she wanted to, but she’s still got some range as an attacker. But bringing her in just for volleyball was huge.”
Cruz said she is prepared whenever her number is called.
“I’m still ready to play,” said Cruz, who plans to play until her body tells her to stop. “If I get the opportunity, I’ll be in there doing what I’m supposed to do.”