In honor of National Social Work Appreciation Month, the Worden School of Social Service invites the OLLU community to celebrate Social Work Heroes on March 5 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Parlor.
Meet professionals from clinical, nonprofit, hospital-based, school-based, forensic, CPS and veteran services settings, and learn more about the wide range of careers available in social work. Presenters will stay afterward for networking and conversation.
The Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism invites the OLLU community to join a Service Day at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area on March 8 from 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m., followed by lunch at the campsite.
Volunteers (students, faculty, staff and families ages 14+) will help Texas Parks and Wildlife build new trails, remove fencing and clear an old vineyard area. All tools and supplies will be provided. Participants should dress for outdoor manual labor and bring water and lunch.
No park reservation is required. Driving and parking directions will be shared after registration. For questions, contact Jesse Harasta at joharasta@ollusa.edu.
At Hackberry Creek Country Club in Irving, Texas, the women of Our Lady of the Lake University delivered a composed and commanding performance at the Crusaders Cup, capturing the team title against a deep and competitive field. Over 36 holes, OLLU finished at +111, posting rounds of +40 and +71 to secure first place ahead of eight other institutions. With divisional points displayed throughout the event, the Saints consistently saw their name at the top of the team leaderboard.
Individually, OLLU placed four golfers inside the top 11, reinforcing the depth that carried the Saints to victory. Kendall Ward led the way with a runner-up finish at +23, tying for second overall. After an impressive +3 opening round that put her firmly in contention, she battled through a tougher second day (+20) and still held her position among the tournament’s elite. Her performance matched that of Shay West from Hardin-Simmons, trailing only medalist Kinley Pessel of LeTourneau, who claimed individual honors at +16.
Samantha Garcia added another strong finish for OLLU, tying for sixth at +27 with rounds of +13 and +14. Her steady play across both days delivered crucial strokes in the team race, particularly during pivotal stretches on the back nine. Grayson Weiler secured ninth place at +30, following a balanced +13 first round with a +17 second round to remain inside the top 10. Sophia Young tied for 11th at +33, improving her position through disciplined course management and resilience over 36 holes.
Samantha Ziegler rounded out the Saints’ lineup with a tie for 31st at +49. After a challenging first round, she responded with a significantly improved second-round score, exemplifying the perseverance that defines OLLU’s culture. Every contribution mattered, and her determination helped solidify the overall team margin.
While other teams relied heavily on a single standout, the Saints placed multiple players near the top of the leaderboard, limiting volatility and maximizing scoring opportunities. With runner-up individual finish, four top-11 placements, and a decisive team victory, the Saints are trending in the right direction as they head to Kerrville on March 1st.
WACO, Texas (Feb. 23, 2026) – Thirteenth-ranked LSU Alexandria’s Haley Fontenot has been named RRAC Softball Player of the Week, while Our Lady of the Lake’s (Texas) Annika Litterio repeats as Pitcher of the Week for the dates of Feb. 16-22. This is the fifth set of weekly awards.
Senior right-handed pitcher Annika Litterio pitched in each of her team’s five wins last week. She tallied 10 innings in the doubleheader 7-2/9-6 victories over NCAA D2 St. Mary’s. She earned a win and a save as she struck out nine against the Rattlers. In the three-game series win over XULA (17-0/2-1/4-3), Litterio earned all three wins. She pitched 13.1 innings, allowing five hits, no unearned runs, and three walks while striking out 21 batters.
Litterio leads the RRAC with 38.2 innings pitched and 52 strikeouts.
OLLU, ranked 12th in the nation, has tallied 63.2 innings pitched while striking out 78, posting an ERA of 2.97. The Saints are 10-1 overall and 3-0 in conference.
Our Lady of the Lake delivered a strong overall performance but ultimately fell 8–7 to Nelson (Texas) in a tightly contested matchup.
Offensively, the Saints produced 12 hits and seven runs, demonstrating depth and power throughout the lineup. Benjamin Hovda went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base, setting the tone early. Jacob Cueva contributed a 3-for-4 performance with a home run and two RBIs, while Jack Kalisky turned in an exceptional day at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs. The Saints’ three home runs and six walks reflected disciplined at-bats and consistent pressure on Nelson’s pitching staff.
Additional contributions came across the lineup. CaliEvan Billela-Barstow reached base twice and scored, Christian Martinez added a hit and a stolen base, and Brett Atkinson chipped in with a hit and a run scored. OLLU consistently created opportunities, though 10 runners left on base proved significant in a one-run game.
On the mound, Ethan Garza provided a solid start, allowing two earned runs over four innings while striking out four. Mason Ruiz and Xavior Salazar combined for three scoreless innings in relief, helping the Saints maintain control through the middle portion of the game. Overall, OLLU pitchers recorded eight strikeouts and limited Nelson to nine hits.
The Saints will be back in action this weekend against Southwest on Friday and Saturday.
