Scorpions Defeat Loyola University New Orleans for First Victory of Season

HOUSTON - The UTB-TSC women's volleyball team was finally smiling after defeating Loyola Uni-versity New Orleans, 3-1, Saturday, September 27 at the Jerabeck Athletic Center on the campus of The University of St. Thomas.

Prior to the victory, the Scorpions lost to St. Thomas, 3-1. The Scorpions are now 1-12 for the season.

"Call the zoo, the monkey is finally off our backs," Scorpion head coach John Barnes said. "Now we can focus on the little things to make us more efficient."

The Scorpions lost to St. Thomas, 16-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-13, before beating Loyola, 27-25, 25-17, 23-25, 27-25. The first 12 matches of the season have been tough for the Scorpions, who participated in the NAIA National Tournament in 2007.

"It was hard-fought and we hung in there," Barnes said. "This is a step in the right in the right direction. Hopefully the win will give us some confidence."

The Scorpions face Texas A&M University-Kingsville on the road Tuesday, September 30 before re-turning home for their first two matches at the Manuel Garza B. Gymnasium this season Friday and Saturday, October 3-4.

St. Thomas 3, Scorpions 1

Katie Japp had 10 kills to lead the Scorpions, while Lesly Montes and Jenny Soto had 11 digs each. Set-ter Chelsea Spadaro had 26 assists.

The Scorpions had their season high total in aces with six, two each by Japp, Spadaro and Jeanne O'Leary.

Scorpions 3, Loyola University 1

Everything finally worked well for the Scorpions, who had nine double-digit statistics by six players. UTB-TSC had its highest total of the season in defensive statistics with 73 digs in the four sets.

Japp and O'Leary had double-doubles, with Japp getting 17 kills and 11 digs, while O'Leary had 11 kills and 12 digs.

Spadaro came within one dig of a triple-double, getting 10 kills, 32 assists and nine digs. Anayeli Tre-vino had 16 digs and Montes 12.

Southern Nazarene University Defeats Scorpions, 4-0, in Women's Soccer

BETHANY, Okla. -- Southern Nazarene University scored twice in the last five minutes of the first half, and then went on to stop UTB-TSC, 4-0, in women's soccer Saturday, September 27, at the Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex.

The loss dropped the Scorpions' record to 3-3-1 overall while SNU, the #15 team in the country, im-proved to 7-1. The two teams were playing on the same field where SNU knocked off UTB/TSC, 2-0, in the 2007 NAIA playoffs.

"We started playing really well and it was scoreless or the first 40 minutes," Scorpion head women's soccer coach Nik Barjaktarevic said. "We had some opportunities, but had some mental breakdowns, and a strong team like Southern Nazarene was able to create opportunities for goals."

SNU had 11 shots on goal, compared to two by the Scorpions. Goalkeeper Stephanie Reid had seven saves.

Barjaktarevic said that playing tough teams like Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma City University, whom the Scorpions lost to on Friday, will help them down the stretch in Red River Athletic Conference play.

"One thing we can take out of this game was we know that we can definitely play against top teams in the nation, and what it takes to beat them," Barjaktarevic said. "We have about six weeks before the post-season, and we have a chance to make it there again. This will help us going back to our conference games."

UTB-TSC returns to face RRAC opponent Northwood University Saturday, October 4, at Morningside Park.