The Saints shocked the Trinity University Tigers by upsetting the NCAA Division III-12th ranked team 3-2 in the opening match of the Trinity River City Classic on Sept. 4. Trinity won the first game by two points and the second game by four points, but OLLU came back to win the third game by six points, the fourth game by nine points and the final tie-breaking game by a score of 15-12.
Sophomore Liza Rodriguez led the Saints in kills with 11, followed by junior Kelsey Johnson and freshman Jasmine Price with 10 each. Sarah Lindsay finished with an astonishing 35 digs, while newcomer Desirea Aguilar had 18, Johnson and freshman Norma Fraga recorded 13 each and sophomore Elyse Escobar finished with 12. Escobar had 21 assists and Aguilar, 17. Rodriguez finished with three aces, while Lindsay had two. The final scores for the match between OLLU and Trinity were: 23-25; 21-25; 25-19; 25-16; 15-12.
The OLLU team next played Bridgewater University on Sept. 4. The Saints played tough the entire match, beating the team from Virginia in three straight games. Final scores were: 25-19; 25-21; 25-21. Aces: Melissa Hurtado, 3; Escobar, 2; Assists: Escobar, 28; Blocks: Jennifer Herrera, 5; Digs: Escobar, 11; Lindsay, 8; Danielle Otero, 5; Kills: Rodriguez, 12; Johnson, 6; Price, 6. On Sept. 5, the Saints took on its toughest foe, the University of Texas at Dallas. The Comets beat the Saints in three straight games by scores of 24-26; 26-28; and 16-25. Escobar had two aces and 23 assists; Robyn Bush had seven blocks; Rodriguez, 5; Lindsay had 18 digs; Escobar 15; Johnson, 10; Rodriguez finished with 10 kills.
Final standings for the Trinity River City Classic are as follows:
1. UT-Dallas (4-0)
2. Our Lady of the Lake University (3-1)
3. Trinity (2-2)
4. Cal. Lutheran (1-3)
5. Bridgewater (0-4)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
1. Jessica Nassau (UTD) (Tournament MVP)
2. Kyleigh Irish (UTD)
3. Liza Rodriguez (OLLU)
4. Caiti Troyer (TU)
5. Rachel Smith (CLU)
6. Ashley Scott (BC)