The Skyline Newspaper

Photo: From left, Melanie Valenciana, Jennifer Harder, and Bianca Espinoza versus Texas Lutheran University. Photo by Justin Ruthstrom

Lady Lobos Persevere Despite Losses

Mississippi College rallied from a 2-0 deficit to edge Sul Ross State University 3-2 in Saturday's American Southwest Conference volleyball crossover tournament at Kerrville.

Coach Rick Garcia's team, 3-18 overall and 2-14 in the ASC West Division, lost to East Texas Baptist University Friday and downed LeTourneau University 3-1 in Saturday's first match.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, Sul Ross fell 3-0 to Hardin-Simmons University at Abilene.

Sul Ross stays on the road this weekend, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20, competing in the Dallas Festival in Irving, hosted by the University of Dallas. The Lady Lobos will meet Franciscan and Bates universities on Friday and Wiley College and the University of Dallas in Saturday play.

Garcia had praise for his team, now at just six players. "They have shown commitment and played hard," he said.
"They understand the need to give an all-out effort in every game."

Sul Ross opened tournament play Friday with a 30-25, 30-10, 30-22 loss to ETBU. Melanie Valenciana, Odessa, led the attack with 13 kills and Stacy Macias, Fabens, added eight. Bianca Espinoza, San Antonio, had 27 set assists, while Valenciana and Lyndi Cypher, Monahans, had five digs each. Jennifer Harder, El Paso, had four kills.

On Saturday, the Lady Lobos lost 28-30 to LeTourneau, then rebounded for 30-16, 30-18, 30-11 wins. Valenciana drilled 14 kills, Macias 11 and Espinoza and Carin Stocks, Stockdale, seven apiece. Espinoza added 40 set assists. Macias had 16 digs, Cypher 13 and Harder and Valenciana nine each.

Sul Ross won 30-22, 31-29 against Mississippi College before falling 26-30, 26-30, 8-15 in their final tournament match. Valenciana led the way with 16 kills, while Macias and Cypher had double-doubles with 10 kills each and 15 and 13 digs, respectively.

Espinoza again had 40 set assists and added 10 digs. Stocks had a team-high 18 digs and Harder 14.

Hardin-Simmons stayed unbeaten in ASC action with a 30-23, 30-22, 30-10 win Thursday. Macias had 11 kills and
Harder six, while Espinoza recorded 18 set assists and eight digs. Harder added two service aces and eight digs.
Valenciana had four kills and seven digs and Macias and Cypher had six digs apiece.

Cross Country To Run At South Plains

Karen Hancock, El Paso, and Larry Lovato, Lubbock, led the Sul Ross State University women's and men's cross country teams at Saturday's South Plains Invitational hosted by South Plains College.

Hancock placed 15th in the 5k (3.1 miles) run while Lovato took 13th in the 8k (five miles). Times were not available for Saturday's results. Sul Ross did not field a full team in either race.

Other Sul Ross runners for the women were Christina Solis, El Paso, 16th; Stephanie Gutierrez, El Paso, 18th; and Devin Shrier, Port Aransas, 22nd. South Plains took the women's team crown with Lubbock Christian University placing second.

In men's action, Crispin Salais, El Paso, finished 16th while Peter Ojeda, Del Rio, placed 27th.

South Plains, Lubbock Christian, and Western Texas College took the top three places in men's competition.

Sul Ross will be in Abilene Oct. 27 for the American Southwest Conference meet, hosted by McMurry University.