UTPA HEADS FOR INDEPENDENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-With a winning season clinched, The University of Texas-Pan American's volleyball team will try to cap their year when they play at the Independent Championships at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne this weekend.

"I'm excited, it's our last road trip," said UTPA Head Coach Dave Thorn. "We're in a great position to finish out the season on a string note, and reclaim the independent title."

The Lady Broncs will try to turn the tables on the host Mastodons, who dethroned them as champions at last year's tournament after they had won the championship in each of the first two seasons. Texas-Pan American won the initial independent title at Centenary in 2000, then hosted and won the tourney in 2001 before IPFW won at Corpus Christi last year.

Texas-Pan American's 18-12 record and current seven-match winning streak leaves the Lady Broncs one win behind their record for victories in a season, but one of the losses came at the hands of IPFW in five games at the UTPA Fieldhouse October 12th. IPFW comes into the tournament with a 19-9 record and a 10-match winning streak. "There is definitely a revenge factor as far as we're concerned," said Thorn. "They beat us last year at the tournament, and they beat us again this year."

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 14-20, and fell twice to UTPA this year. However, the Islanders have won two in a row, three of four and five of their last seven. "It's a rivalry, and any time we play them, you can throw out the records," said Thorn. "It'll be a battle."

Northern Colorado and Utah Valley State are in their first year as NCAA Division I programs, and both are new opponents for the Lady Broncs. The Bears are 28-2, and have won 22 matches in succession since losing to Cal State San Bernardino September 6th. UVSC is 7-11, and owns victories against Washington State and Boise State.

"Northern Colorado was a nationally-ranked Division II program, and Utah Valley State was a nationally-ranked junior college program," said Thorn. "This will be the strongest and deepest field since the inception of the tournament three years ago."

Each team will play four matches in two days. Texas-Pan American meets UNC and Utah Valley State Friday, and takes on Texas A&M-CC and host IPFW Saturday. "The key is keeping everyone healthy and focused, and to continue to play at the level we've been playing at," said Thorn. "We had two tough matches Monday and came through, and that's a positive sign."

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