Fall 2018 Sports Update
FALL 2018 UPDATES
WELCOME NEW ADDITIONS TO THE SAINTS COACHING STAFF
|
|
Saints athletics welcomes new faces this year on the coaching front – the men’s basketball program added Head Coach Chris Dial and Assistant Coach Dustin Karrer – both of whom will guide the team as they enter their 10th season. Softball also adds a new Head Coach Kristine Samaniego. Coach “Sam” will lead the Saints team on their 10th year of competition that begins in the spring.
SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL AND CROSS-COUNTRY BEGIN THEIR SEASON
 |
This fall, we greeted our soccer, volleyball and cross-country teams. We invite alumni to visit the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball home page for their season preview articles and videos. All three teams, as well as men’s and women’s cross-country, have begun their fall season.
The men’s soccer team welcomes 23 returners and 16 newcomers. Of the 23 from the 2017 squad, more than half will be playing their last season in 2018. The senior class of 12 is the biggest yet in men’s soccer history. They include Noe Salinas, Jose Escareno, Homero Trevino, Adrian Delgado, Joel Gonzalez, James Halpin, Adam Bieker, Jesus Cortes, Matheus Campos, Jose Barrazas and Nich Genton (pictured above)
In 2016, the men celebrated their 100th win and the Saints now sit at 116-68-17 (Sept. 10) overall and 55-12-7 in the Red River Athletic Conference. They have won the regular season twice – in 2012 and 2016, and the conference tournament once – in 2012 – their first and only trip to nationals. The Saints have qualified for the postseason 10 consecutive times and have never had a losing season.
One notable returner is Adrian Delgado, the men’s team’s first NAIA All-American and RRAC Offensive Player of the Year, who holds the record for most goals scored in a season. Another first for the team as a whole is their collecting their first-ever NAIA Scholar Team award based on a team GPA of better than 3.0.
 |
Also kicking off their season this fall is the women’s soccer team, which is eager for a successful campaign after missing its first-ever postseason appearance in 2017. The team welcomes 14 returners, including three seniors Brooke Cousins, Mako Tembo and Erica Robertson (pictured above) , and 15 newcomers.
Before last year, the women won four consecutive regular season and conference tournament tiles, all under Head Coach Arthur Salazar. In those four years, the team suffered just one conference loss.
One thing that hasn’t changed for the women is their success in the classroom. This past season, they earned their fourth NAIA Scholar Team and United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award after posting a better than 3.0 cumulative team GPA.
 |
Volleyball hopes to continue their dominance in the RRAC as the Saints begin their quest for a fourth consecutive regular season and tournament title. Last year, they went beyond the first round at nationals and became the first team to participate in Pool Play at the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
The team welcomes two seniors this year – Divinity Gonzales and Mariza Cardenas (pictured above) – and return eight others. One notable returner is Bailei Hubbard – the first freshman on any Saints team to earn NAIA All-American honors. She was awarded RRAC Freshman of the Year, while Natalie Fazio earned RRAC Newcomer of the Year. Single season record setters include sophomore Anissa Tamez in assists with 1064, Fazio in aces with 79 and Hubbard in total blocks with 140.
Jeremiah Tiffin, now in his fourth season, has captured RRAC Coach of the Year honors three years in a row. His team has earned NAIA Scholar Team recognition, and they begin their 12th year ranked No. 1 in the conference and receiving votes in the NAIA National Poll.
 |
Cross-Country has also dominated the conference for the last few years as the men captured their third consecutive conference title, while the women earned their third consecutive and fourth overall title. This year, both teams are ranked first in the conference poll.
The team, led by reigning conference Coach of the Year, welcomes eight returners, six newcomers on the men’s side; and three returners, six newcomers on the women’s side.
Four men will be finishing out their time as part of the cross-country team – Patrick Bousselot, Nathaniel Aguilar, Justin Ybarra and Derek Barnett. The women have just one senior – Sarah Taylor. (All pictured above.)
Both teams have ruled the conference for the past three years, but they hope to have better success at the national level this year. This year, they will host three meets – the Fourth Annual Cross-Country OLLU Invite, the Second Annual Saints Collegiate Cross-Country Invitational and the RRAC Championship Meet.
The women’s team featured cross-country’s first-ever Academic All-American – last year’s senior Ione Rodriguez. In addition, the team earned the NAIA Scholar Team award after posting a 3.39 GPA overall. Derek Barnett also became the men’s first-ever NAIA Scholar Athlete after he earned a 3.72 GPA.
LIVESTREAMING ON STRETCH INTERNET AND VIDEO RECAPS ON SAINTS TOTAL ACCESS
|
|
 |
After a spring 2018 season, when OLLU began broadcasting home games through the OLLUSaints Network on Stretch Internet, the Saints are excited to broadcast fall games on the network. The university will begin charging $7.95 for live streaming home games. Click here for specific information and season packages. Also new this fall is the addition of a video catalog of our games and a weekly "Saints Total Access" show from Voice of the Saints Michael Thomspon. He will give a recap of the previous weeks' games for the show. In addition, after every home game, we will post a video recap, along with coach/player interviews, on our You Tube channel To access these videos, visit: http://www.ollusaintsathletics.com/saints-total-access.
WINTER, SPRING SEASON ON THE HORIZON
We look forward to a highly successful fall season, and beginning in November, we launch our winter basketball campaign.
In the spring, our baseball, softball and track and field teams will begin competing.
Men’s golf and tennis play several tournaments in the fall and will begin their 11th season in the spring, as well.
We look forward to seeing all of you at our fall games this year!