Bio

Jesse Esparza is entering his seventh season with the Saints.

Jesse Esparza has been a key contributor to the success of Our Lady of the Lake University volleyball over the past six seasons. During this time, Esparza has helped the team achieve an impressive 113-42 overall record, including a 70-8 mark in conference play. Since 2019, he has played a vital role in four Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season championships, two RRAC tournament titles, and two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament appearances, with the Saints reaching the RRAC Championship match in every season.

In 2024, the Saints finished with a 23-9 overall record and a 14-2 conference record. Esparza's support was integral in the Saints securing a conference runner-up finish in the regular season and a dominant win in the RRAC Tournament Championship Match earning their ticket to the NAIA Tournament. Esparza also assisted athletes in setting several school records, including assists, digs, and solo blocks, along with the second-most kills in a season and third-most total blocks.

In 2023, Esparza helped the Saints claim their fourth consecutive RRAC regular-season title with a 15-1 conference record and a 19-12 overall record, reaching the RRAC Tournament Championship Match.

The 2022 season saw the Saints remain undefeated in RRAC play, finishing 16-0 and winning 17 straight matches. The Saints finished with a 21-5 overall record and an appearance in the RRAC Tournament Championship Match.

In 2021, Esparza assisted in guiding OLLU to a 20-5 overall record, with the team winning the RRAC regular season and earning multiple individual honors, including RRAC Player of the Year and Setter of the Year.

During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Esparza helped the Saints secure both a conference regular-season and tournament title, leading them to the NAIA Tournament and finishing with an 11-4 overall record.

In his first season in 2019, Esparza helped the Saints to a 19-7 record and an 8-4 conference mark, advancing to the RRAC Tournament Championship Match.

Jesse Esparza earned his master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2025. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree in public health from UTHealth Houston in 2020 as well as a bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2018.