GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head volleyball coach David Ngyuen announced on Wednesday that Lilliana Montes has signed a valid agreement to join the Fighting Hawks for the 2026 season. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.
 
Montes comes to North Dakota after two strong seasons at UMES, where she earned all-conference honors in both campaigns and helped the Hawks reach the conference semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
 
This past year, she earned All-MEAC Second Team recognition after finishing third on the team with 191 kills, second on the squad and eighth in the MEAC with 74 blocks and hit .302 to rank sixth in the conference.
 
During her freshman year, the Murrieta, Calif., native earned a MEAC All-Rookie Team selection and finished top-5 among conference players in attack percentage (.283, 5th) and blocks per set (0.92, 2nd). She also was fourth on the team in kills with 131 and paced the Hawks with 84 total blocks.
 
Over her career, Montes has 10 matches with double-digit kills and 13 contests with at least five blocks.
 
For more information on North Dakota volleyball, follow on social media @UNDvolleyball or visit FightingHawks.com.