OLLUNewsletter

Save the date: Benefit Fair set for July 24

A Staff and Administration Benefit Fair will be held on July 24 at 10 a.m. in Main Building, Room 311. The fair will end at 2 p.m.

Softball’s Ava Hernandez has Little League jersey retired

Ava Hernandez, a freshman standout at OLLU, has been honored with the retirement of her jersey number by the Alice Little League Softball organization, a testament to her exceptional contributions to the sport.

Stepping into her first year with the Saints, Hernandez played a pivotal role in the team’s victory at the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series in late May. As an outfielder during the postseason, she and the team remained undefeated, winning all seven games and securing the team’s and OLLU’s first-ever national championship.

The Alice Little League invited Hernandez as a special guest during its closing ceremonies on June 6 and surprised her by announcing that her jersey would be retired.

Hernandez was a part of Little League for eight years, from 2015-2022.

“When they made the announcement, I was in shock. This meant the world to me. To know that my little 10-year-old self, who grew to love pitching, was being recognized for the hard work I put in to become the pitcher I am today was absolutely amazing.”

Throughout the Saints 50-3 regular season, Hernandez showcased her versatility and skill. As a starting pitcher in 20 games, she recorded an impressive 18 wins and two losses. In her 25 appearances, she pitched seven shutouts in 114.1 innings, striking out 93 for an ERA of 1.47. As an outfielder, she played in 54 games as a starter, maintaining a batting average of .362.

Hernandez was named to the RRAC All-Conference First Team as a pitcher and Second Team as an outfielder. She received RRAC Freshman of the Year honors.

During the ceremony, officials at the Alice Little League expressed their pride in Hernandez’s journey, saying, “Ava’s softball career started on the same little league field as our players, and as she continues to play at the higher level, she serves as a role model to many. Tonight, we retired Alice Little League alumni Ava Hernandez‘s jersey number 44. We are so proud of you, Ava, and as always, we wish you the best in all your future endeavors! Thank you for coming tonight and supporting our Alice Softball Little League. Your achievements are a source of immense pride for our community.”

Hernandez said, “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without the help of Little League, and for that, I am eternally grateful. We all start somewhere, and that is where I started.”

Valdez first OLLU softball player to sign professional contract

Cassandra Valdez of the OLLU softball team recently signed a professional contract to play for the Coastal Bend Tidal Wave of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF). While many other student-athletes from different OLLU sports have gone on to play professionally, Valdez is the first softball athlete to sign to play professionally.

Valdez, a Veterans Memorial High School graduate in Brownsville, Texas, and a former University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas State University softball student-athlete, joined the Saints in 2021-2022. Despite considering leaving OLLU for an NCAA D1 opportunity, she decided to stay, driven by her unwavering determination to achieve her life-long dream of playing professionally.

Valdez’s pro signing is a significant milestone, not just for her, but for the NAIA as a whole. She joins a select few, including Emily Cerny from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, who played for the Oklahoma City Spark in 2023, in making the transition from the NAIA to professional softball.

Valdez is excited about starting her professional career, saying, “This has been a goal of mine for some time, and to be here with such talented athletes is an honor. I am so grateful God has blessed me with this ability to play the game I love at the highest level. There are so many people who have helped me get here, especially my family and loved ones.”

The Coastal Bend Tidal Wave are based out of the Texas Coastal Bend area and will play in Robstown at the Fairgrounds Field, which was once known as Aviators Stadium. The field is located next to the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.

The Tidal Wave will play eight games from June 20 to August 11, with their home opener scheduled for June 27. The full schedule can be found HERE. Follow the Tidal Wave on their Facebook page, and go HERE for additional information on the WPF.

Softball coaches named NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year

OLLU softball coaches have been voted by their peers as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year after winning the NAIA national championship.

Under the direction of head coach Bruce Lennington, assistant coach Jody Armijo, pitching assistant Katrisha Arocha and student assistants Gilbert Alvarado and Rebecca Duran, the Saints (57-3) went on a perfect 7-0 run through the postseason to capture their first red banner at the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. It marked the second straight appearance at the World Series for the NAIA’s wire-to-wire No. 1 program. OLLU has combined for an 108-11 (.908) record the past two seasons, setting the program record for wins in each of those years.

In its run to the school’s first-ever national title, OLLU recorded six shutouts (62 scoreless innings), which included a streak of five straight to open their postseason march. The Saints were not scored upon until the second inning of the national semifinal tilt against University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, a 4-3 win in eight innings, and capped off the season with their final shutout, 2-0 versus Jessup University.

OLLU, a representative of Region II, was joined by Georgia Gwinnett College (Region I), Oklahoma City University (Region III), Jessup University (Region IV), Central Methodist University (Region V) and University of the Cumberlands (Region VI) – as NAIA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year recipients.

Lennington, Armijo, Arocha, Alvarado and Duran will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 7 at the 2024 NFCA Convention in Dallas.

In The News

On June 13, a story on MyRGV about OLLU softball pitcher Cassandra Valdez turning professional:

https://myrgv.com/rgvsports/2024/06/13/going-pro-brownsville-native-cassandra-valdez-joins-pro-team-after-shining-at-ollu

On June 13, a story on KRIS-6 TV about OLLU softball pitcher Cassandra Valdez turning professional:

https://www.kristv.com/sports/friday-night-fever/womens-professional-fastpitch-make-south-texas-splash-with-coastal-bend-tidal-wave

On June 12, a story in NFCA.org about the OLLU softball coaching staff being named national coaching staff of the year:

https://www.nfca.org/divnews/naia/naia-national-coaching-staff-of-the-year-2024

On June 12, a story in ValleyCentral.com about OLLU pitcher Cassandra Valdez:

https://www.valleycentral.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/athlete-of-the-week-cassie-valdez

On June 9, a story in the Laredo Morning Times about Alexander High School track star Nayeli Rodriguez-Arce committing to OLLU:

https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/alexander-s-nayeli-rodriguez-arce-commits-lady-19503165.php

Camps on campus this week

OLLU will be welcoming several outside camps to campus this summer. This week the Nike Sports Camp and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Mariachi Camp are on campus. Both groups will be staying in the residence halls and using facilities throughout campus.

City Council honors Saints national championship softball team

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the City Council recognized OLLU’s 2024 national championship softball team during last week’s City Council meeting.

Nirenberg declared June 6, 2024, “OLLU women’s softball NAIA World Series Champions Day.”

A video tribute to the softball team was played in council chambers. The mayor and all 10 council members applauded and posed for photos with OLLU softball coach Bruce Lenington and players.

Lake Day Orientation starts Thursday

The OLLU community is excited to welcome incoming freshmen and their families to Lake Day Orientations on various dates throughout the summer. Please help us in welcoming them!

Thursday, June 13
Monday, June 24
Friday, July 12
Saturday, July 20
Thursday, August 15
Lake Day Orientation Schedule:
8 – 8:40 a.m. – Check-in and Light Breakfast
9 a.m. – Welcome and University Mission
9:45 a.m. – Saints Connection Sessions
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Student Support Resources
11:30 a.m. – Academics 101
11:50 a.m. – Lunch and Athletic Meeting
1:10 p.m. – Academic Exploration Session 1
1:45 p.m. – Academic Exploration Session 2
2:10 p.m. – Resource Fair
2:30 p.m. – Check Out and Task Time

Academic sessions will be held in various classrooms within the Main Building, while the other sessions will take place in Chapel Auditorium.

Summer guidelines for UWAC Weight and Cardio Rooms

All students, faculty and staff will need to provide their OLLU ID to use the fitness area in the University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC).

All guests must be escorted by a student or faculty/staff member and must sign a waiver upon entering the area.

There have been individuals using our facilities who are not authorized as students, faculty or staff.

Summer hours for the UWAC are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The UWAC’s Lost and Found is full. All items are going to be cleaned out on Wednesday.

If anyone is wanting to claim their items, it must be done before Wednesday.