Scorpions Take Exciting 3-2 Win Over Our Lady of the Lake in First Home Match of Season
Posted October 3, 2008

Katie Japp (7) goes to knees for dig aside Amanda Ozuna (6) and Lesly Montes

Playing its first home match of the season after the first 14 elsewhere, the UTB/TSC Scorpions came from behind to rally past Our Lady of the Lake University in a five-set thriller, 3-2, Friday, October 3, at the Manuel Garza B. Gymnasium.

OLLU won set one, 25-22, before the Scorpions won the second set, 27-25. The Saints took a 2-1 set lead after a 25-18 victory, but the Scorpions tied the match at 2-2 with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. In the 15-point final set, UTB/TSC went ahead at 6-5 and never trailed again in the 15-12 win.

"Sometimes we got down, but we didn't give up," Scorpion head coach John Barnes said. "We made some mistakes but they didn't let them affect them, they stayed in it and fought for everything they got."

The win was the second of the season for the Scorpions against 13 losses, while OLLU dropped to 5-10.

UTB/TSC bounces right back into action at the Garza Gym with a 3 p.m. match Saturday, October 4, against Huston-Tillotson University in the Red River Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Click here to watch the a video webcast of Saturday's match.

The match Saturday could be just as even as the one Friday night. "It was exciting to be a part of," Barnes said. "I might still have some hair left."

Defense was again a big part of the Scorpion game Friday night. UTB/TSC had a season-high 93 digs in the match, with six players getting double-figures in the category. Anayeli Trevino led the way with 18 digs, with Katie Japp and Jeanne O'Leary getting 15 each, and Lesly Montes and Chelsea Spadaro 14 each. Jenny Soto added 11.

Japp had 15 kills to lead the offensive effort, with O'Leary adding 11 and Amanda Ozuna nine. Spadaro had 40 assists, and Jacque Touchet had a season-best six aces.

The Scorpions also had a season-high 10 solo blocks and two assisted blocks. Japp had four blocks, O'Leary three and Touchet two.