Volleyball Enters RRAC Tournament as No. 1 Seed

SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 8, 2023) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) volleyball team won the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season title after defeating Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) twice last week. The Saints await their opponent in the tournament semifinals scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10.

Head Coach Scott Mattera said, "We have been looking forward to this ever since match point of last year. It was a heartbreaking way to lose in the finals last year and we've used it as fuel. We know there will be stiff competition, but we feel good about the way we have been playing recently. The battles against ranked teams early in the season are paying their dividends. We always have a fun time in New Orleans. It's a great city to visit and even though the tournament is our focus, we will make time for some culture too."

Tournament schedule

The No. 4-seed Louisiana Christian University (LCU) will battle No. 5-seed Paul Quinn College (PQC) in the opening first round match on Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. No. 3-seed Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) versus No. 6-seed Jarvis Christian University (JCU) follows at 1 p.m.

OLLU will face the winner of the first match at 4:30 p.m. in the semifinals. No. 2 seed XULA will play the winner of the second match at 7 p.m.

The championship match will take place on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

The games will be played at the XULA Convocation Center in New Orleans.

History

The Saints have won the regular-season title six times – in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2023. They have ended their season as postseason quarterfinalists in 2011 and 2012; as semifinalists in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2018; and finalists in 2008, 2014, 2019, 2021 and 2022. The women have won the postseason tournament in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.

OLLU season stats

In 29 matches this season, the Saints have played in 100 sets. Their stats are as follows:

• 1,294 kills/12.94 k/s
• 3,646 total attacks/.200
• 1,243 assists/12.43 a/s
• 148 service aces/1.48 sa/s
• 1,639 digs/16.39 d/s
• 1,833 receptions
• 78 block solos
• 170 block assists
• 163 total blocks
• 1.63 b/s

The Saints defeated XULA 21-25, 25-5, 25-21, 25-16 on Nov. 2. The Saints allowed only five points in the second set, which is second best in Head Coach Scott Mattera's coaching stint. They previously held Texas College to four points in 2019.

Mia Francis leads the Saints with 325 kills and 3.32 k/s. Lauren Reynard assisted on 1,031 plays, which set the Saints single-season record. Reynard averages 10.97 assists per set. In service aces, Francis is the team leader with 26 and 0.27 sa/s. Tina Trevino has 475 receptions and 490 digs for an average of 4.90 d/s. Madalyn Gonzalez has 32 block solos, which tops the Saints single-season mark. Gonzalez leads OLLU with 76 total blocks.

Louisiana Christian season stats

In 24 matches this season, the Wildcats have played in 87 sets. Their stats are as follows:

• 844 kills/9.70 k/s
• 2,660 total attacks/.134
• 790 assists/9.08 a/s
• 155 service aces/1.78 sa/s
• 1,107 digs/12.72 d/s
• 1,520 receptions
• 22 block solos
• 154 block assists
• 99 total blocks
• 1.14 b/s

Aniah Adams leads the Wildcats with 193 kills and 2.72 k/s. Emma Cother has assisted on 639 plays and averages 8.75 a/s. Cother also leads the team with 26 service aces and 0.36 sa/s. Leah Stamps has 378 receptions and 277 digs. She averages 3.74 digs per set. Kierra Jones leads the squad with 62 total blocks.

 Paul Quinn College season stats

• 711 kills/9 k/s
• 2,228 total attacks/.159
• 625 assists/7.91 a/s
• 105 service aces/1.33 sa/s
• 987 digs/12.49 d/s
• 1,242 receptions
• 109 block solos
• 125 block assists
• 172 total blocks
• 2.17 b/s

Kennadi Harris leads the Tigers with 203 kills and 3.98 k/s. Teasia Cooks has amassed 569 assists with 11.16 a/s. Cooks also leads the team with 18 service aces and 0.35 sa/s. Chloe Fields has 322 receptions and 209 digs. Fields averages 4.10 digs per frame. Alaya Lecog has 55 total blocks for the Tigers.

Live-streaming and stats

For links to the live-streaming and stats, go here: https://www.redriverconference.com/general/2023-24/2023_RRAC_Volleyball_Championship.