Katie Japp (7) leaps high to attack ball as Lewis-Clark defenders prepare to jump for block attempt

Scorpions Win Important Match over Lewis-Clark
Posted November 28, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Claudia Alarcon, Talita Milasauskas and Katie Japp combined for 63 kills to power the UTB/TSC Scorpions to a big 3-1 victory over Lewis-Clark State College in an opening-round match at the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Tournament here Wednesday, November 28.

The Scorpions were seeded 12th in the 20-team tournament and the Warriors from Lewiston, Idaho, were seeded ninth, so a win over a higher seed was essential to the Scorpions' success at nationals.

UTB/TSC lost the first game, 30-28, but responded to win three straight games, 30-28, 30-22, 30-25.

Alarcon, Milasauskas, Japp and setter Daianarah Bracero played at a championship level to lead the Scorpions. Alarcon had 26 kills and 10 digs, Milasauskas had 20 kills and eight digs, and Japp had 17 kills and seven digs. Bracero had 66 assists and five kills.

"We came out a little tight in the first game," Scorpion coach Marcus Young said. "We made a lot of unforced errors, especially in the first game. But we came back strong. We all knew that this match would determine our success in this tournament."

The Scorpions shot a very respectable .331, led by Japp at .433, Alarcon at .412, Milasauskas at .333 and Bracero at .308.

The 20 tournament teams have been divided into five pools of four teams each, guaranteeing every team that attends three matches at the national tournament.

The Scorpions have been slotted in Pool B and must still play No. 2 California Baptist University (27-4) from Riverside, California at 6 p.m. Wednesday and No. 19 University of Virginia-College at Wise (25-13) from Wise, Virginia, at 3:45 p.m. Thursday.

For the Scorpions to advance to Friday's competition, they must win two matches in pool play, or win one match and hope for specific tiebreakers.

Two teams will advance from each pool to a field of 10 teams that will play Friday. Four teams play first-round games Friday morning, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals Friday afternoon and evening. The semifinals are scheduled Saturday morning and the championship match is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

All Scorpion matches will be audio webcast through the Scorpion Athletics website at http://athletics.utb.edu.