Volume 59, Issue 9  - October 16, 2006

Scorpions bid farewell to home court today
By Arath Lopez
Spanish Editor

José Borjón/Collegian PHOTOS

Southwestern Assemblies of God Volleyball Coach Hank Moore (center) lead the Scorpions and Lions in a prayer after the game.

“It is a tough road that leads to the heights of greatness.”  
--Lucius Annaeus Seneca
 

The UTB/TSC Women’s Volleyball Team will bid farewell to the home court when it faces Schreiner University in a non-conference match at 6 p.m. today in the Manuel B. Garza Gymnasium.

The Scorpions will embark on a nine-game away quest to finish their first season as members of the Red River Athletic Conference.

The team will hit the road for three conference games starting Thursday against Houston-Tillotson University, then Friday against Langston University and Saturday against Bacone College.

 In a battle of undefeated teams, the Scorpions (5-0 on RRAC action) faced Houston Baptist University (7-0) last Friday in a conference match at the Houston Baptist Tournament. The UTB/TSC volleyball team also faced John Brown University, the University of Illinois-Springfield and Lubbock Christian University.

Results of the tournament were not available at press time.

Outside hitter Bridgette Longoria slides for the ball as teammates Katie Japp (left) Greta Billerbeck look on during a conference match against the Lions.

“We are focused on the teams we are playing this upcoming weekend, especially John Brown, Lubbock Christian and Houston Baptist,” Head Volleyball Coach Bruce Atkinson said before the tournament. “We’ve seen all three of them before, we know what to expect and hopefully we’ve improve some since we played them last.”

On Oct. 7, the team ended Texan Wesleyan University’s 31-match conference winning streak in three games on the first of two matches played at the Garza Gym.

After an erratic start, the Scorpions won the first game 30-28 and were able to finish TWU 30-22 and 30-23, making a case for themselves as one of the top teams in the conference.

Setter Lindsay Madsen led the Scorpions with 32 assists, defense specialist Joanna Knight had 29 digs, and middle blocker Greta Billerbeck and outside hitter Jenny Ashley finished with 11 blocks each.

For the second match, the Scorpions not only faced Southwestern Assemblies of God but a familiar face as well, former Scorpion middle blocker Ashley Sabrsula.

“I miss South Texas a lot,” Sabrsula said. “This is my first game back. [UTB/TSC has] a good team, a strong team--they are solid.”

Sabrsula played her two eligible seasons with the Scorpions under the National Junior College Athletic Association before the university entered the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a four-year program.

“It allows you to build the program, to devote more time to your players,” she said. “It is easier to build a solid team.”

Outside hitter Bridgette Longoria told the Collegian: “It was kind of hard to see her on the other side.”

The Scorpions had no difficulty winning the conference match 30-19, 30-20, 30-19.

“I think we are playing a lot better together,” Billerbeck said. “Today we hustled a lot. I think that because it is the first year we are all playing together we started to peak a little later than most teams. But I think that we will do an excellent job.”

Against Southwest Assemblies, Jenny Ashley led with 13 kills, Longoria had 11 and outside hitter Katie Japp, 10. On defense, Madsen had 30 digs and Knight had 15. Longoria finished with nine aces.

“I think we are right in the mix with the top teams in the region,” Atkinson said. “I think there are probably three or four teams in the region that could win at any given day; I think we are definitely one of them.”

The team will close the regular season Nov. 4 against Paul Quinn College in Dallas.