Scorpions stop Fresno Pacific 3-0, advance to quarterfinals
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College had something to prove to Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) on Thursday night at the Tyson Events Center.
The Scorpions took control in the second set and cruised to a 3-0 victory 25-22, 25-19, 25-14 over FPU in the final match of Pool B in the 32nd annual NAIA volleyball national championship.
With the victory, the Scorpions qualify directly to the tournament semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday. UTB-TSC will play the winner of an elimination match between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) and Southern Oregon University. Those two teams meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
A victory in the quarterfinals would launch the Scorpions into the tournament semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, and the winner advances to the national championship at 8 p.m. Saturday.
UTB-TSC (29-2) is the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Concordia University, the top seed, also advanced to the quarterfinals. Other teams earning spots in the quarterfinals included No. 3 seed Lee University (Tenn.) and No. 5 seed Columbia College (Mo.).
FPU, the four-time defending national champion, has been the Scorpions' nemesis. The Sunbirds have ended the season for the Scorpions in the national tournament three straight times in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
Although the stakes were not as high Thursday, the Scorpions played with intensity and emotion, especially in the early going.
The first set was tied at 16 before the Scorpions took the lead for good at 17-16. The leads were 1-2 points until it was 22-21 and the Scorpions scored three of the final four points to win the set.
UTB-TSC went on an incredible streak during the first set and the first 16 points of the second set in which they did not commit an attack error. The Scorpions had 15 kills in 30 swings without an error in the first set, for an attack percentage of .500.
In the second set, UTB-TSC had seven attacks without an error and a 16-7 lead before its first attack mistake. The Scorpions committed five errors, which allowed FPU to claw back into the match when the score stood 20-19. But two kills by Danica Markovic and another by Yenifer Calcano made it 23-19, and the Scorpions scored the last two points in a 25-19 win.
The third set was a runaway after the score was tied at 3 early. UTB-TSC extended the lead throughout the match for a 25-14 win.
UTB-TSC finished with a .341 attack percentage. The three big attackers - Vanja Joksic (nine kills), Markovic (eight kills) and Ana Guerra (six kills) - combined for 23 kills and only one error.
Erica Chimak had her best night of the year with eight kills on 17 swings with two errors for an attack percentage of .353. Calcano added seven kills and led the team in digs with 12.
Setter Amber Brooks had one of her best nights of the year as well. She dished out 36 assists on 81 attempts, and had three assisted blocks.
On the defensive front line, the Scorpions had eight team blocks. Joksic had two solo and three assisted blocks and Guerra had two assisted blocks.
Watch Scorpions play in NAIAs
University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College volleyball fans can watch the Scorpions compete in the 2011 NAIA volleyball national championships live from Sioux City, Iowa.
The national tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals can viewed online through a link at the UTB-TSC athletic website. A single-day pass costs $9.95 and the two-day pass costs $14.95. There are four quarterfinal matches at 5:45 and 8 p.m. Friday, two semifinal matches at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, and the championship match at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The links will be available at the start of the matches.
UTB-TSC students are invited to watch all Scorpions matches Friday and Saturday from the Casa Bella Clubhouse. The matches will be projected onto a big screen at the Great Room. Popcorn and refreshments will be served.
For more information, contact the Office of Residential Life at (956) 882-7191.
