Month: July 2020

The softball team is proud to announce the addition of sophomore Julissa Moreno, a transfer student from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “We are thrilled to welcome Julissa and her family to OLLU! Julissa is a solid infielder with a dangerous bat. She has the ability to strengthen our lineup both offensively and defensively. We can’t wait to welcome her in the fall season!”

Moreno will study business at OLLU. She played for Akins High School in Austin, Texas. She is a shortstop and was named to the Second Team All-District and Academic All-District teams while at Akins. She was also awarded offensive MVP during the 2017-2018 season.

Moreno commented, “I chose OLLU not only because of how comfy I felt with the coaches but because I could tell that this program is a real family. Everyone has each other’s back, and I know that they’ll have mine. I can’t wait to see the great things we do this year and in the future! Go Saints!”

She will join the Saints in the fall of 2020 as they kick off their 12th official season in the spring of 2021.

Golf’s Kane Ybarra has been selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® NAIA At-Large Team. He is the first golfer at OLLU to earn this honor.

The NAIA Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NAIA national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2019-2020 NAIA Academic All-America® teams. Despite the cancellation of spring competition during the COVID-19, CoSIDA continued its sponsorship of the Academic All-America awards program. Student-athletes were selected based on career statistics.

The at-large program for the Academic All-America® program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo, bowling, crew and field hockey; and volleyball and wrestling for men.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® NAIA Men’s At-Large Team produced an average GPA of 3.82 with the first team combining for an average GPA of 3.85. Ybarra had a GPA of 3.70.

Ybarra, who has been part of the Saints golf team for four years, has been a part of the NAIA Scholar Team recognition all four years. He received NAIA All-American honors, and All-Conference recognition in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. In his freshman year, Ybarra was named conference player of the year and freshman/newcomer of the year. He has also received conference scholar-athlete awards all four years. This past year, he was his team’s Top Saint.

OLLU celebrated its 2019-2020 season with the virtual Ninth Annual Big Blue All-Sports Athletic Banquet on May 6.

The event began with a welcome from Athletic Director Shane Hurley. He honored the athletes, staff and everyone who contributed to a successful 2019-2020 season. The Saints won their seventh straight Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) All-Sports Award.

OLLU University Ministry Director Creighton Chandler led viewers in prayer before the awards for each sport were announced. After the opening prayer, coaches spoke about their team and their accomplishments. Rev. Kevin Fausz provided the closing prayer.

To read the story and access videos, go here: http://www.ollusaintsathletics.com/article/3955.php

Several members of the baseball team are participating in summer leagues throughout Texas this summer.

Logan Garza and first-year graduate student Jose Diaz are playing in the Texas Collegiate League (TCL). Garza is part of the pitching staff for the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio, the Triple-A affiliate of the MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers. Diaz is an addition to the Victoria Generals and is also a pitcher.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney is assisting the Flying Chanclas as the hitting coach. The TCL started its season on June 30.

Robert Lopez, Francisco Martinez, Javier De Alejandro, Jacob Montejano and Tyler Vivier are all playing for TX-USA baseball located in San Antonio as part of the Central Texas League. Brett Vasquez is pitching for the Houston Extreme Heat in the Five Tool Collegiate League.

Robert Arredondo and Connor Dayton joined the USA Baseball Xtreme National Team in the Texas Showcase Collegiate League.

The Saints were off to a 15-10 start and 5-1 mark in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) before the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19. They will begin their seventh season in 2021