Scorpion Gaby Maraboto hustles to extends her body along floor for dig

Four GPAC Teams Unbeaten after First Day of South Padre Island Volleyball Challenge
Posted August 22, 2008
The four participants in the 2008 South Padre Island Volleyball Challenge from the Great Plains Athletic Conference went undefeated in the first day of the South Padre Island Volleyball Challenge Friday, August 22, at Rivera High School.

The tournament was moved to Rivera High from the South Padre Island Convention Centre after Hurricane Dolly caused significant damage to the Convention Centre.

GPAC members Briar Cliff College, Doane College, Dordt College and Morningside College all went 2-0 Friday.

Scorpion Jeanne O'Leary attacks ball over net.

UTB/TSC, coming off a banner 36-9 season in 2007, lost both of its season-opening matches Friday, first to Doane College, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13, and then to Oklahoma City University, 25-23, 25-15, 25-23.

The Scorpions play two more matches Saturday against tough GPAC competition. UTB/TSC meets Morningside College, the 13th-ranked team in the country, at 2:30 p.m. and then faces Dordt, ranked #20, at 7 p.m.

UTB/TSC was ranked #19 in the first NAIA preseason poll released Monday, but the Scorpions started the season without returning All-American Talita Milasauskas, who is rehabilitating a sore shoulder. She is expected to be out at least four weeks.

Senior captain Katie Japp is leading the Scorpions for the early part of the season.

Scores from the first day's action were:

Briar Cliff College def. Our Lady of the Lake University, 25-14, 25-20, 25-17
Doane College def. Oklahoma City University, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-12
Dordt College def. Malone College, 26-24, 25-23, 32-30
Morningside College def. Olivet Nazarene University, 25-21, 25-14, 25-16
Doane College def. UTB/TSC, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13
Morningside College def. Malone College (Ohio), 25-20, 25-18, 26-24
Dordt College def. Our Lady of the Lake University, 26-28, 25-14, 26-24, 25-15
Oklahoma City University def. UTB/TSC, 25-23, 25-15, 25-23
Briar Cliff College def. Olivet Nazarene, 25-27, 25-17, 25-14, 27-29, 15-7

Admission is free for the tournament.