Author: OLLUNewsletter

Track and field opens season at Trinity with impressive results

Watch highlights and hear from Head Coach Patrick Torres: https://www.youtube.com/embed/sOdpg2i6NPI?enablejsapi=1&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ollusaintsathletics.com

The track and field team opened its season at the Trinity Invitational last Friday and Saturday. The women’s and men’s teams featured several outstanding performances. See results below.

EventParticipantTime/MarkPlace
200mDestiny Joseph26.855th
200mVictoria De La Cruz27.3610th
200mMakhayla Parker28.6718th
1500mRobbie Sue Espericueta5:28.9613th
1500mKimber Watson5:31.3014th
1500mViridiana Zuniga5:37.2119th
5000mLindsey Broussard20:12.187th
100mTamaj Gordon11.8719th
200mDavid Dada25.4537th
800mJose Zarate2:02.854th
1500mJose Zarate4:05.192nd
1500mNathaniel Rodriguez4:09.855th
1500mJohn Garcia Davila4:24.6216th
1500mIsaac Martinez4:25.0519th
1500mAntonio Bustamante4:31.4823rd
1500mChris Davila4:39.8827th
5000mIsaac Martinez16:21.405th
5000mNathaniel Rodriguez16:30.707th
5000mAntonio Bustamante16:59.1711th
5000mJohn Garcia Davila17:09.7115th
Long JumpTamaj Gordon6.41m9th

The Saints will travel next to Abilene, Texas, for the Wes Kittley Invitational on March 18.

Trustee receives Higher Education Distinguished Service Award

OLLU Trustee Richard A. Castro has received the 2021 Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes Castro for his extraordinary work as an educator and his positive impact on the education of Texans through philanthropy, leadership and service. 

The statewide award was presented by members of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), in partnership with the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors (CPUPC) and the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), during a virtual celebration.

“Mr. Castro first became involved at Our Lady of the Lake University when his son enrolled but quickly proved his passion for promoting equitable access to higher education by joining our Board of Trustees,” said OLLU President Diane Melby, EdD.

“Richard understands the power higher education has to lift a person, family and a community.”  

Celebration of scholarship and achievement

OLLU faculty continues to be recognized for its scholarship and achievement. Below is a listing of professors and their recent accomplishments.

Yvette Benavides, MFA, Professor of English, has been invited to join the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Writer to Writer program as a mentor to an emerging writer. The program began in late February and continues through the end of September.

Professor Benavides also has been invited to host the Gemini Ink Autograph Series noontime virtual event on April 16. She will moderate the event and interview National Book Award finalist Ben Fountain about his novel and short stories.

Alexander Hutchison, PhD, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Kinesiology Program Head (pictured above), has been invited to speak at the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s national conference in Orlando in July. Dr. Hutchison’s topic is the effect of the Keto diet and ketone supplementation on athletic performance.

Codina Kawar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, published an article on Feb. 12 in “Contemporary Family Therapy,” a peer-reviewed journal. Her research sought to investigate associations between interpersonal trauma history and relationship satisfaction, along with the mediating effect of differentiation in couples via dyadic analyses.

The article, “Trauma and Relationship Satisfaction in Treatment Seeking Couples: A Dyadic Investigation of Differentiation as a Mediator,” was co-written with Alexandra M. VanBergen, Suzanne Bartle-Haring and Patrick Bortz. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09565-x

Kristina Terkun, PhD, Associate Professor of Economics and Department of Business Chair, has been selected to participate in the Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) Build and Broaden Program. TAMUCC recently was awarded a National Science Foundation grant from the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) to help increase numbers of competitive research proposals from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the SBE sciences relative to other institutions. The program will consist of a series of monthly professional-development seminars starting this spring and extending through the 2021-2022 academic year.  

Applications now available for the 2021-2022 STARS Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021-2022 Stars Scholarship. The scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students in South or West Texas, who have completed at least 12 undergraduate hours, have a grade point average of at least 2.7 and meet additional criteria.

The deadline to apply is March 31 at 5 p.m.

The Stars Scholarship Fund is a nonprofit that promotes access to and success in higher education for all students.

For more information about eligibility requirements, call 956-994-3271 or contact helpdesk@starsscholarship.org.

See flyer below for additional information:

Click to access Star-Scholarship-Flyer.pdf

In The News

Recent stories that brought attention to Our Lady of the Lake University:

On March 6, a story on Catholic Television SA that features Christine Carmichael, PhD, Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, talking about the swallowing disorders facing many COVID-19 patients: 

On March 5, a story in Yahoo! about the narrow loss the OLLU men’s basketball team suffered against Division 1 Rice: 

https://news.yahoo.com/rice-narrowly-beats-lady-lake-222144911.html

On March 5, a story in the El Paso Herald Post about OLLU Trustee Richard Castro receiving the 2021 Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award:

https://elpasoheraldpost.com/creeed-chairman-richard-a-castro-honored-with-2021-texas-higher-education-distinguished-service-award/

On March 3, a story on KTBS.com about the OLLU men’s basketball team’s game against Louisiana Tech:

https://www.ktbs.com/news/incaseyoumissedit/bulldogs-claim-win-no-20-in-regular-season-finale/article_1a21c934-7ca3-11eb-8152-0fe54c80adbc.html

On March 3, a story in the Laredo Morning Times about the decision of high school volleyball star Tina Alvarado to play at OLLU:

https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/United-s-Trevino-continuing-career-at-OLL-15999014.php

Softball completes four games at the Red Dirt Classic

The softball team competed in the Red Dirt Classic Softball Tournament in Oklahoma City on Friday and Saturday. They defeated Mid-America Christian University (MACU) and lost to No. 2-ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO), No. 4-ranked Oklahoma City University (OCU) and Central Methodist University (CMU). The Saints are now 6-9 on the season.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington said, “We had a unique opportunity to play three top-10 programs in the country, and we were able to see the areas where we need to grow to compete at this level.”

Game one vs. USAO

The Saints struggled against the No. 2-ranked Drovers to start the tournament. OLLU lost 7-1 in five innings and totaled three hits while USAO tallied 10. Freshman Kaili Luna (FR/Converse, Texas) batted 2-for-2 at the plate, and Joanna Gonzalez (JR/San Benito, Texas) picked up the other hit. The Saints’ lone run came when Kennah Kennedy (SR/Frost, Texas) scored on a misplayed grounder in the fifth inning.

Game two vs. Oklahoma City University

OLLU fell 6-0 in the second game of the tournament against the No. 4-ranked Stars. Ariel Montgomery (JR/Castroville, Texas) batted 2-for-3, and Madison Nunn (JR/Cibolo, Texas) tallied a stolen base. Oklahoma City’s Christie Betker pitched a complete game and allowed only three hits.

Game three vs. Central Methodist University

The Eagles’ offense was relentless, and they scored 12 runs on 12 hits. The Saints were limited to two hits in a 12-0 defeat in five innings. Luna and Alexis Valdez (SO/Seguin, Texas) recorded the hits for the Saints. Deandra Vera (SO/Uvalde, Texas) stole a base, and CMU’s Cortnee Brink-Baugh pitched all five innings.

Game four vs. Mid-America Christian University

The Saints closed the tournament with a 3-0 win in six innings over the Evangels. Ciera Martinez (SR/San Antonio, Texas) pitched a spectacular one-hit complete game and struck out six batters. OLLU scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez and a Montgomery double. Abigail Elizondo (FR/San Antonio, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly in the next inning to bring in the game’s third run.

Up next

The Saints welcome Schreiner University on March 18 for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

Baseball wins four-game series against Ottawa University-Arizona 3-1

Hear from Head Coach Bryan Aughney.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nH59fcuTGTY?enablejsapi=1&origin=http%3A%2F

The baseball team won a four-game series against Ottawa University-Arizona (OUAZ) 3-1 from March 4-6. The Saints improve to 7-8 this season while the Spirit drop to 8-10.

Game one

The Saints started the series against OUAZ with an extra-inning victory on Thursday. OLLU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Spirit tied the game with a last-minute effort in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings. Robert Lopez (SR/San Antonio, Texas) was the hero for the Saints when he hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to score Jacob Montejano (SO/San Antonio, Texas) in the bottom of the 12th inning.

OLLU limited OUAZ to five hits and five Saints pitchers combined for nine strikeouts. Matthew Klar (SO/San Antonio, Texas) batted 2-for-4 and drove in one run. The Saints won 2-1 heading into the doubleheader on Friday.

Game two

The Saints rode their momentum from game one in the first game of the doubleheader. Despite trailing 3-1 after three innings, the Saints scored six runs over the next two innings. They scored one run in the fourth inning and five in the fifth inning. Tyler Vivier (FR/San Antonio, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly to score Klar to start the fifth inning. Ryan Chapa (JR/Corpus Christi, Texas) singled to score Robert Arredondo (JR/Corpus Christi, Texas), Chapa later scored on a Noah Rodriguez (SO/Victoria, Texas) two-run home run, and Diaz doubled to score Montejano toward the end of the inning.

The 7-3 victory gave the Saints a 2-0 series lead. Alec Martinez (JR/Corpus Christi, Texas), Javier De Alejandro (FR/San Antonio, Texas), and Jacob Mitchell (JR/Harker Heights, Texas ) combined to allow six hits and seven strikeouts. The Saints’ pitching proved dominant for a second straight game by allowing only two runs.

Game three

The Spirit drove in one run in the top of the first inning, but the Saints responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Lopez doubled to deep right-center field to score Montejano and Diaz. Later in the inning, Klar singled to left-center field to bring in Arredondo.

The Saints eventually led 4-2 after three innings. Ottawa’s bats came to life in the fifth inning when they scored five runs. The Saints were unable to score in the final two innings and lost 7-4. OLLU featured six different pitchers and Vivier batted 2-for-3.

Game four

The Saints took the final game on Saturday 6-3 to earn the 3-1 series victory. OLLU led the entire game and tallied nine hits. Four different players drove in at least one run, and Diaz picked up the save. Starting pitcher Brett Vasquez (SO/Mont Belvieu, Texas) struck out six batters and allowed four hits.   

Up next

The Saints welcome the University of Houston-Victoria for a four-game series starting on March 12 at 1 p.m.

Men’s basketball battles with NCAA D1 Rice University in 80-77 loss

The men’s basketball team took NCAA D1 Rice University (RU) down to the wire and lost 80-77 on the road on Friday. OLLU has a history of playing NCAA D1 teams close and beat Texas State University earlier this season 61-58. The Saints finish the season 1-4 overall after multiple games were either cancelled or postponed.

Head Coach Chris Dial commented, “This was a tough season for so many reasons, but I was really proud of our team and staff. I was proud of how our program handled the adversity it was presented and the resiliency we showed. Hats off to Rice for coming out on top in a very physical and competitive game.”

History

The Saints lost the only previous meeting against Rice 96-86 in 2016.

Basics

The Saints matched the pace of the Owls early in the first half. Ethan White (SR/San Antonio, Texas), Darin Minniefield (SR/Houston, Texas), Jordan Embry (SR/Paris, Texas) and Ruben Monzon (JR/San Diego, Calif.) scored on multiple occasions. OLLU trailed by four points with 13:48 remaining in the first frame. The Owls offense found life and they eventually led by 15 points at halftime. White scored 10 points in the first half, followed by Monzon with seven. Minniefield grabbed five rebounds and the Saints forced seven turnovers.

The Saints played an outstanding second half despite trailing by 16 points a few minutes in. Embry sank a three-point shot and then a field goal to cut the Owls lead to three points halfway through the frame. Rice held a steady lead, but the Saints quickly closed in on the score.

White hit a field goal with just over one minute to slice the Owls lead to one point. The Saints committed two costly turnovers with under 30 seconds remaining and were forced to foul. The Owls held on to win by three points, but the Saints tested Rice throughout the entire game and finished the season with their heads held high. The Saints outscored the Owls 45-33 in the second half.

Offensive/defensive standouts

White led the Saints with 24 points, followed by Embry with 17 and Monzon with 15. Monzon grabbed 10 rebounds to earn a double-double. Minniefield led the Saints with seven assists.

Quincy Olivari led the Owls with 25 points. Max Fielder grabbed 12 rebounds and also had four assists.

Inside the box

OLLU combined for 31-of-75 shooting for 41.3 percent, 9-of-23 from three-point range for 39.1 percent and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line for 85.7 percent.

The Saints grabbed 40 rebounds while the Owls collected 53. OLLU forced 17 turnovers and committed 13.

Up next

The Saints finish the 2020-2021 season with a 1-4 record.

Men’s soccer celebrates Seniors’ Day with dominant 5-0 win over Jarvis

Hear from seniors Bernard Alvarenga, Luan Balestieri, Carlos Cabrera, Jose Delgado and Miguel Sanchez.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qUAZXqgjFk?enablejsapi=1&origin=http%3A%2F

The men’s soccer team celebrated Seniors’ Day with a 5-0 victory over Jarvis Christian College (JCC). The Saints improve to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play. The Bulldogs fall to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the RRAC.

The Saints honored Bernard Cutini Alvarenga (SR/Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil), Luan Balestieri (SR/Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), Carlos Cabrera (SR/Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Jose Delgado (SR/San Antonio, Texas) and Miguel Sanchez (SR/San Antonio, Texas) during Seniors’ Day.

History

The Saints have yet to lose to Jarvis with a 6-0 all-time series advantage.

Basics

The Saints opened the scoring at the 17th-minute mark from Norberto Lira (JR/Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico). Javier Pena (SO/San Antonio, Texas) scored 12 minutes later off a header with an assist by Mitchell Medrano (SR/Baytown, Texas). The Saints totaled 17 shots and seven corner kicks in the first half.

OLLU added to the 2-0 advantage with a goal from Carlos Beltran (JR/San Antonio, Texas) in the 56th minute. Senior Balestieri scored in the 71st minute and Miguel Barrera (SO/San Antonio, Texas) tacked on a goal in the 85th minute. The Saints won convincingly 5-0 and goalkeeper Joseph Baker (SO/Llantwit Major, Wales, U.K.) made three saves in 75 minutes played to earn the win. Keelin Garrity (JR/Hartford, Conn.) took over in net for the final 15 minutes and tallied one save.

Scoring overview

17′ – OLLU – Norberto Lira

29′ – OLLU – Javier Pena– Assist from Mitchell Medrano

56′ – OLLU – Carlos Beltran

71′ – OLLU – Luan Balestieri

85′ – OLLU – Miguel Barrera

Inside the box score

Leading the way for the Saints’ offense was Lira and Cabrera with four shots each. Cesar Hernandez and Espoir Mugisha led the Bulldogs with three shots apiece.

Overall, the Saints tallied 17 shots, with 10 on goal. Jarvis recorded 10 shots, four being on goal.

JCC’s Alan Chairez was shown a yellow card at the 71st minute.

JCC’s Mugisha was shown a yellow card at the 83rd minute.

What’s next

The Saints welcome the University of the Southwest for a RRAC match on March 13 at 1:30 p.m.