Pilar Marie Victoria Lopez, a Puerto Rican volleyball player who starred for the Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks in college, has died.

Lopez’s death was reported by the Austin-American Statesman and confirmed by numerous social media posts from people within the volleyball community. She was 28-years-old.

According to reports, Lopez was found dead in her apartment in Türkiye on Thursday, August 29th, 2024 after she failed to turn up for team training.

The volleyball blog Volleytrails wrote on Facebook that circumstances surrounding her death remain mysterious and that an investigation has been launched.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Pilar Marie Victoria, a 29-year-old Puerto Rican national team player, who was set to play for Nilüfer Belediyespor in Türkiye this season. She was found dead in her apartment just hours ago. The circumstances surrounding her death are still unknown, and an investigation has been initiated by the prosecutor’s office,” the page wrote.

READ ALSO: Johnny Gaudreau Accident – Social Media Blows Up With Alleged News of Death of Johnny Hockey

Pilar Marie Victoria Lopez is a known quantity in the United States due to her starring roles for the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns, who she helped to reach two Final fours during her two seasons with the program in 2013 and 2014.

She later transferred to join the University of Arkansas Razorbacks where she dominated as the team’s main offensive weapon.

Lopez set the second-highest single kills record in Razorbacks history when she recorded 35 kills in a 5-set loss against Ole Miss in 2015. Her 525 total kills that season ranked first in the SEC conference and 13th in the nation. Her exploits earned her All-SEC Team and AVCA All-Region South Team honors.

After college, she played in several professional leagues in Europe before joining the Turkish league for this season.

Internationally, she’s also played for the Puerto Rico women’s national volleyball team, competing in the 2015 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix and the 2016 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix. She won a bronze medal with the Puerto Rico Youth National Team at the 2010 NORCECA Youth Championship in Guatemala.

News of Pilar Marie Victoria Lopez’ death stunned social media users who expressed their condolences.

“May the Perpetual Shine upon her. May she Rest In Peace,” one netizen wrote.

Another said: “Condolences to you. May she be with the Creator now,”