Volleyball team helping former Pioneer whose family was impacted by Puerto Rico hurricane

More than a month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Rossanna Ramos is still doing what she can to help her relatives back home. The Wayland Baptist volleyball team wants to help her.

The Pioneers will collect donations during their final two regular-season home matches, set for 6 p.m. Friday against Southwestern Assemblies of God and noon Saturday against Texas Wesleyan. Donations of cash or Walmart gift cards will be accepted.

Ramos is the former Pioneer volleyball player (2014-2016) who continues to work to complete degrees in Spanish and management & marketing at Wayland, while also serving as a student athletic trainer for the football team. She is married to Pioneer football player Barry Lyons.

Ramos' mother, grandmother and grandmother's sister were hit hard by the category 5 hurricane on Sept. 20 in Puerto Rico, where less than 20 percent of the electric system has been restored and roughly one-third of the 3½ million population is still without reliable drinking water. The estimated damage to the island runs higher than $60 billion.

Ramos, who grew up in Catano, Puerto Rico, said her mother lost all of her crops, which were to be used to feed her and others, while the second floor on her grandmother's home was destroyed.

"They are still working to fix the ceiling," said Ramos, who said her family now has access to electricity 12 hours a day.

In addition, her grandmother's sister, who lives with her grandmother, began experiencing health issues – including multiple strokes – soon after the hurricane. She was hospitalized for a time but has since been able to return home.

"It's been very tough on them," Ramos said

Ramos has sent food and water to her family, but more is needed.

That's why the Pioneer volleyball team wanted to do something.

"Rossanna remains a special person to us, so we want to do what we can to help her out," said Wayland volleyball coach Jim Giacomazzi.

Anyone wanting to help will have a chance at this weekend's matches, where WBU cheerleaders will "pass the hat" to collect donations of cash or Walmart gift cards.

Anyone wanting to make a donation who is unable to attend a match this weekend may contact Kevin Lewis, Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Marketing & Media Relations, at 806-291-3805, or lewisk@wbu.edu.

"My family and I are so grateful for this," Ramos said. "Thank you."