Scorpion setter Daianarah Bracero (3) sets up Scorpion attack

Scorpions Advance to Regional Title Match
Posted November 17, 2007
LUBBOCK -- The Scorpions are one step away from reaching their goal.

UTB/TSC dispatched Oklahoma City University, 3-0, in the NAIA Region VI semifinals at the Rip Griffin Center on the campus of Lubbock Christian University Saturday, November 17.

The Scorpions, now 32-7, will meet Texas Wesleyan University match at 7 p.m. Saturday for the regional championship and a ticket to the NAIA National Volleyball Championships in Columbia, Missouri November 28-December 1.

UTB/TSC is the top seed in the tournament. The Scorpions are ranked 18th in the nation by the NAIA.

Oklahoma City, the fourth seed in the tournament, ended its season with a 34-9 record. It was the second straight year that OCU's season was ended by the Scorpions. In 2006, UTB/TSC defeated OCU in the regional quarterfinals.

Region VI Player of the Year freshman Talita Milasauskas had a big day to lead the Scorpions, falling one block short of a triple-double.

Milasauskas had 21 kills, her second-highest total of the season in a three-game match. She added 10 digs and nine blocks with a hitting percentage of .300.

Claudia Alarcon was also solid with14 kills and eight digs and a .382 hitting percentage.

Daianarah Bracero had 37 assists and no errors. She had five kills on soft touches over the net, surprising the Stars on defense.

The Scorpions showed the mark of a champion in the match, coming from behind in the second and third games to win.

In the second game, the Scorpions trailed 22-18 before scoring 11 straight points to take a 29-22 lead behind the serving of Katie Japp, who had six kills.

In the third game, the teams were tied 17-17 before the Scorpions scored nine of the next 12 points to take a 26-20 lead enroute to the match victory.

The regional tournament is composed of teams from the Red River Athletic Conference and the Sooner Athletic Conference.