Scorpions Stop LCU to Solidify Hold on Region Top Ranking
Posted October 5, 2007
LUBBOCK -- The UTB/TSC women's volleyball team proved why it is the top-ranked team in the NAIA Region VI with a 30-22, 23-30, 30-24, 30-20 win over Lubbock Christian University, the region's second-ranked team, at the Rip Griffin Center Friday, October 5.

Although the match was a non-conference game, it was very important in the eyes of the two conferences the two teams represented -- the Red River Athletic Conference and Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Scorpions are the 22nd-ranked NAIA team in the country, the No.1-ranked team in NAIA Region VI, hold an 18-5 overall, and lead the RRAC South Division with a 3-0 record. UTB/TSC has now won 13 of its last 15 matches.

The Chaparrals are 6-0 through the first round of Sooner Athletic Conference play, and is ranked second in the Region VI poll. The Scorpions stopped the Chaps' six-match winning streak and swept both regular-season matches. UTB/TSC defeated LCU, 3-1, in the fourth match of the season for both teams at the South Padre Island Invitational August 25.

"We came in here, and we knew what was at stake, and we played well," Scorpion head coach Marcus Young said. "Everybody responded to the importance of this match."

The Scorpions' power duo of Talita Milasauskas and Claudia Alarcon, who had 21 kills each, along with a 52-assist night by Daianarah Bracero was too much for LCU.

"Talita lit up in the middle, Claudia hit well from the outside," Young said. "They didn't have answer for our power game."

Milasauskas had a triple double with 13 digs and 10 blocks to go with her 21 kills. Her hitting percentage was .341.

Alarcon, who had a .261 hitting percentage, had nine digs and three blocks to go with her 21 kills. Bracero had 10 digs and three blocks.

Katie Japp, who had nine kills, 10 digs and four blocks, and Jenny Ashley, who had nine digs and three blocks, also had good matches for the Scorpions.

The Scorpions continue the West Texas-East New Mexico weekend with two matches Saturday, October 6. The Scorpions visit Eastern New Mexico University (3-17) in Portales, N.M. at 11 a.m. MST Saturday morning and drive two hours south from there to Hobbs, N.M. for a match against conference rival College of the Southwest (5-5, 2-1) at 4 p.m. MST Saturday afternoon.