| Áurea Cruz | |
| Fullname: | Áurea Esther Cruz Dalmau |
| Nickname: | Aury |
| Nationality: | Puerto Rican |
| Birth Date: | January 10, 1982 |
| Birth Place: | New York, New York |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Spike: | 310 cm |
| Block: | 290 cm |
| Position: | Outside hitter |
| Currentclub: | Orlando Valkyries |
| Years1: | 1998–1999 |
| Team1: | Llaneras de Toa Baja |
| Years2: | 2004–2005 |
| Team2: | Llaneras de Toa Baja |
| Years3: | 2005–2006 |
| Team3: | Airone Tortolì |
| Years4: | 2006–2007 |
| Team4: | Altamura |
| Years5: | 2007–2008 |
| Team5: | Ícaro Palma |
| Years6: | 2008–2009 |
| Team6: | Hyundai Greenfox |
| Years7: | 2009 |
| Team7: | Llaneras de Toa Baja |
| Years8: | 2009–2012 |
| Team8: | MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese |
| Years9: | 2012–2015 |
| Team9: | Rabita Baku |
| Years10: | 2015–2016 |
| Team10: | Igor Volley Novara |
| Years11: | 2016-2017 |
| Team11: | Savino Del Bene Scandicci |
| Years12: | 2024- |
| Team12: | Orlando Valkyries |
| Nationalyears: | 1996–2016 |
| Medaltemplates-Title: | Medal record |
| Medaltemplates-Expand: | yes |
Áurea Esther "Aury" Cruz Dalmau (born January 10, 1982) is an indoor and beach volleyball player from Puerto Rico who currently plays for the Orlando Valkyries of the Pro Volleyball Federation.[1] She is best known for competing for the Puerto Rico national team at the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan, where she was named Best Server at the event.
Cruz accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she competed for coach Mary Wise's Florida Gators women's volleyball team from 2000 to 2003. The Gators competed in NCAA Division I and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and were the regular season SEC champions for four straight years during Cruz's college career. In 2003, Cruz guided the Gators to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA championship final, where they lost to the University of Southern California (USC). Following her 2003 senior season, she was nominated for Best Player in NCAA Division I. She was a three-time first-team All-SEC selection, and received AVCA first-team All-American honors three consecutive years (2001, 2002, 2003).[2] She graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in recreation in 2005, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2014.[3]
In 1999, Cruz received the Final Series Most Valuable Player award when her team from Puerto Rico, Llaneras de Toa Baja won the League Championship.[4] She participated at the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship in Germany.[5] Cruz won the silver medal in the 2012 FIVB Club World Championship, playing with the Azerbaijani club Rabita Baku.[6]
Cruz's club, Rabita Baku, won the bronze medal of the 2013–14 CEV Champions League after falling 0-3 to the Russian Dinamo Kazan in the semifinals,[7] but defeating the Turkish Eczacıbaşı VitrA Istanbul 3-0 in the third place match.[8]
In May 2015, the Italian club Igor Novara announced the signing of Cruz for the 2015–16 season.[9]
Airone Tortolì (2005–2006) Altamura (2006–2007)
Ícaro Palma (2007–2008)
Hyundai Greenfox (2008–2009) MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese (2009–2012)
Rabita Baku (2012–2015) Igor Volley Novara (2015–2016) Savino Del Bene Scandicci (2016–2017)
Orlando Valkyries (2024–)