|
For Immediate
Release: Wednesday, November 6, 2002 LADY BRONCS LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STEAK AGAINST LOCAL RIVAL EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American volleyball team will host in-state rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Friday evening as the Lady Broncs attempt to shatter the program's record for the longest winning streak ever. The match begins at 7:00 p.m. at the UTPA Fieldhouse. Last Saturday, UTPA defeated Texas A&M-International in three games to record their ninth consecutive win. The victory tied the Lady Broncs' mark set in 2000, when they closed the season with nine straight wins. Texas-Pan American Head Coach Dave Thorn recognizes the significance of the upcoming match, but also realizes that the match must come before the team worries about the record. "It would be another step for our program against a local rival," said Thorn. "We have to prepare for it like we would any other game." The Lady Broncs have made quite a run to get to this point. On September 17th, UTPA lost to Texas A&M-Kingsville in five games, and fell to 1-10. Since then, they have won 11 of 13 matches. Last Saturday's win put Texas-Pan American over the .500 mark for the first time since the final match of the 2000 season. During their streak, the Lady Broncs have outhit the opposition, .285 to .108. Four Lady Broncs have hit .272 or better during that time. Junior Winker Cruz (Harlingen, TX/ Harlingen South HS) has led the team with a .354 hitting percentage over that span, while freshmen Stephanie Redd (Seguin, TX/Seguin HS) and Danielle Holthe (Covina, CA (Bishop Amat HS) have hit .333 and .285, respectively, while sophomore Cathi Netemeyer (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos HS/Iowa) has hit ..272 Defensively, UTPA has been led by Cruz' 3.27 digs per game during the streak, while junior Jaclyn Muszyinski (Walnut, CA/Walnut HS) and Netemeyer have averaged 2.83 and 2.7 digs, respectively. "We started the season with Jaclyn and Winker playing well," said Thorn. "Now, all of our new players are also playing well." Earlier this season, UTPA defeated the Islanders in Corpus Christi in four tight games, 26-30, 31-29, 30-22, and 30-26. Thorn thinks that Friday night's match will be even tougher. "We're going to have to be at the top of our game, because we know they will be," said Thorn. "We'll have to be prepared for a battle. We beat them at their place, and they'll be trying to get us back here." VB-33-03110602 |