MIAMI -- Barry University senior volleyball player Tania Torres was chosen to receive a Copa Dorada award as one of the area's top Hispanic athletes.
Copa Dorada honors Hispanic athletes ranging from youth to professional from Miami-Dade County every year. Nominations are made by AM-1260 Radio Caracol sports department, and the Hispanic local press participates in the voting process to select college and professional winners.
Past winners include: pro baseball players Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Renteria, Dennis Martinez, Alex Fernandez, Andres Galarraga, Livan Hernandez, Gio Gonzalez, Gaby Sanchez and Jon Jay. Boxers Roberto Duran, Hector Camacho and Yuriorkis Gamboa have also received awards from Copa Dorada, as have football players and coach Ralph Ortega, Carlos Huerta and Mario Cristobal.
This year's event will be held Sunday, Feb. 10 at Renaissance Ballroom in Miami.
"Although it was the first time that I heard about this award, it means a lot to me to be chosen as a nominee in volleyball," Torres said. "As a minority student-athlete in the USA, and representing my Hispanic descent, it feels rewarding to be recognized as a model athlete between the many Hispanics in the Miami area that have, as well, worked really hard to stand out. It helps me to encourage many other Hispanics to follow my path which has led me so far, although not free of sacrifices. It also means a lot to be the only student-athlete this year chosen to represent the Barry University athlete community, which is so diverse. I am very proud to represent Puerto Rico and Barry, among the many different universities and colleges in Miami as a nominee for Copa Dorada."
Torres, who earned Academic All-District honors from College Sports Information Director's of America in the fall, led the Buccaneers with 311 kills. She had over 300 kills in both of her seasons at Barry. Last year she was selected to the Sunshine State Conference All-Newcomer Team.
"We are very proud of Tania, and happy she is being recognized by Copa Dorada," Bucs volleyball coach Steve Hendricks said. "Tania is an exceptional student-athlete, and it is well deserved that she is being honored by such a great community organization."