Sports – Page 16 – Lake Weekly

OLLU Wins 10th RRAC All Sports Award

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) Saints reclaimed the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) All-Sports award as announced by the league office on Thursday. The award is the 10th for OLLU, a conference record. The Saints won nine consecutive awards, but Xavier claimed the top spot during the 2023-24 season to break the streak.

The All-Sports Award is given annually to the RRAC athletic program that performs best across the conference’s sports in a given academic year. Points are awarded to the top five teams in regular season conference standings using a 10-8-6-4-2 scoring system, while results in conference tournaments and championship events merit additional points on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. In sports such as tennis, track & field, golf and cross country, postseason team finishes are awarded regular season and postseason points. A sport must have at least four schools participating and conduct a RRAC tournament to qualify for inclusion in point calculations.

The Saints compiled 122 points to take back the crown, separating themselves from Xavier who scored 102 points.

OLLU had a strong start to the season in the fall as both the men’s and women’s cross country teams claimed conference championships. Volleyball placed second in the regular season but won the conference tournament. The spring was equally as impressive for the Saints as women’s tennis and softball each earned conference championships.

“I am very proud of the hard work our student-athletes and coaches have put in this year to earn the RRAC All-Sports award, says OLLU Athletic Director Tom Norris, who is in his second year as head of the program. “To earn the award for the 10th time is a testament to the culture of excellence that has been established at Our Lady of the Lake.”

For the latest news, updates, and information on the OLLU Saints, fans can visit ollusaintsathletics.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Saints news by following @ollusaintsathletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Women’s Golf Wraps Up First Round at NAIA Championships

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) women’s golf team finished round one of the NAIA Women’s Golf Championships on Tuesday. The Saints carded a 341 in the first round and sit in 25th place heading into Wednesday’s round two at Eagle Crest Golf Club.

Kendall Ward was the top-finisher for the Saints as she turned in a first-round score of 83. Ward finished with eight pars and a birdie in the first 18 holes.

Samantha Garcia, Grayson Weiler, and Annabelle Reyna all turned in scores of 86 in the first round.

British Columbia leads the field after day one, shooting a nine-over 297.

Women’s Tennis Defeats Oakland City for First-Ever NAIA Championship Victory

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) women’s tennis team earned its first-ever victory at the NAIA National Championships on Tuesday as they defeated Oakland City University by a score of 4-1. The Saints dropped the doubles point and went on to win four singles points to secure the victory, advancing them to the second round of the National Championships.

OLLU earned wins at their first four singles line to clinch the victory over the Mighty Oaks.

Millie Wileman (OLLU) def. Maria Trembach (Oakland City), 6-3, 6-4

Alexandra Mille (OLLU) def. Tiana Sparks (Oakland City), 7-5, 6-1

Marie Peters (OLLU def. Cristina Hurtado (Oakland City), 6-1, 6-2

Ely Laure Ah-sou (OLLU) def. Melissa de Jong (Oakland City), 6-1, 7-6

The Saints will now face No. 3 Lindsey Wilson at 8:00 CT on Wednesday.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis Ready for NAIA National Championships

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) men’s and women’s tennis teams begin play at the 2025 NAIA National Championships tomorrow in Mobile. Both teams qualified for the National Championships after winning their respective conference tournament in April.

The women’s team will enter the tournament as the 14th seed in their first NAIA Championship appearance and will take on Oakland City University, the 19th seed. Oakland City competed in the River States Conference and earned their bid after winning the RSC Tournament. The two teams will square off at 9:00 a.m. with the winner taking on the third-seed Lindsey Wilson on Wednesday.

On the men’s side, the Saints have had a historic season, earning the fourth overall seed at the Championships. OLLU will have a bye in the first round and await the winner of Cumberlands (Ky.) and Tennesee Southern. Wednesday’s second round match for the Saints is set for 1:00 p.m.

Ryan Showman Named Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is excited to announce the hiring of Ryan Showman as the new head women’s basketball coach. Showman will officially begin his role with OLLU on Monday, May 19.

“I want to start off by thanking Dr. Chavez, Athletic Director Tom Norris, Assistant Athletic Director Haley Holzem, and the entire search committee for selecting me to lead the OLLU Women’s Basketball program,” said Showman. “I am humbled and grateful to be the next head coach at Our Lady of the Lake University. OLLU Women’s Basketball has rich tradition and a storied history. I am excited about the challenge to try and get us back to that level. Jenni, Kinsleigh, Ryleigh and I are excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get to San Antonio and immerse ourselves in the culture of not only the University, but also the city.”

Showman comes to San Antonio after a successful run at Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU). At KWU, Showman just finished his 18th season on the bench for the Coyotes, spending the last 13 as the head coach. His teams compiled a 250-151 record during his tenure as head coach including a 184-93 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play. Showman was named the Lonnie Kruse KCAC Women’s Coach of the Year during the 2020 and 2025 seasons. In 2020 he was chosen as a WBCA Regional Coach of the Year and was selected as the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Women’s 4-Year College Coach of the Year.

In his latest season with the Coyotes, Showman led them to their second outright KCAC Championship, earning his team a bid into the NAIA National Tournament. The Coyotes were the only 15-seed to win an Opening Round game as they knocked off the host in MidAmerican Nazarene.

“I am excited to welcome Ryan, Jenni, Kinsleigh, and Ryleigh to the OLLU family,” said OLLU Athletic Director Tom Norris. In a very deep and talented pool, Coach Showman stood out throughout the process with his energy and vision for the OLLU women’s basketball program. Coach Showman’s success on the court speaks for itself, but during his career he has always had high-performing academic teams, which speaks to the culture of excellence he has established during his career. I look forward to watching our program return to where it once was under Coach Showman’s leadership.”

Showman becomes the seventh coach in program history.

Saints Season Ends at RRAC Tournament

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) baseball team saw its season come to an end on Sunday as they fell to LSU Shreveport in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament. The Saints end the season with a 30-23 overall record including a 20-10 mark in RRAC action. It is the second time in the last three seasons the Saints have won 30 games.

OLLU started the RRAC Tournament with an 11-3 victory over LSU Alexandria, earning them a matchup with the nations No. 1 and undefeated LSU Shreveport. Trailing 7-2 against the Pilots, the Saints put up a five-run seventh inning to even the game at seven. The inning included RBI doubles from Jack Kalisky and Drew Saucedo and RBI singles from Carlos Gusman and Isaac Davila. A two-run homerun in the home half of the inning, put the Pilots ahead, 9-7, the eventual final score.

One loss away from elimination, the Saints took on Huston-Tillotson on Saturday evening. OLLU got a strong pitching performance from Noah De La Riva against the Rams as the righty tossed a complete game, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out nine. The Saints’ offense exploded for 14 runs on 14 hits led by Joshua Milton who recorded three hits. Three Saints drove in three runs in the victory including Kalisky, Davila, and Benjamyn Hovda.

The win over Huston-Tillotson earned the Saints a rematch with LSU Shreveport. The Pilots scored five in the first inning and never looked back, winning 12-1 over the Saints. Jimmy Valle came on to pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh and drove in the Saints’ lone run of the game.

Softball Set to Host NAIA Opening Round

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) softball team earned the top seed in the San Antonio bracket for the 2025 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, as announced by the NAIA during Wednesday’s selection show. Joining the Saints in San Antonio will be Eastern Oregon as the No. 2 seed and Middle Georgia State as the No. 3 seed. Embry-Riddle (AZ) will occupy the fourth seed and Central Baptist will represent the fifth seed to round out the five-team San Antonio bracket.

There will be two Opening Round sites that will feature four teams while the remaining eight will host five team brackets, each playing double elimination format. The winner of each site will advance to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, GA May 22-28.

OLLU earned the top seed after finishing 45-7, winning both the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular season and tournament championships, earning them an automatic bid into the Championships. The Saints host an Opening Round for the third consecutive season and will await the winner of Embry-Riddle and Central Baptist on Monday evening at 5:00 p.m.

The second seeded Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon University earned a trip to San Antonio by capturing the 2025 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) crown. The Mountaineers compiled a regular season record of 32-9 including a 22-5 mark in CCC action. EOU will take on third-seed Middle Georgia State University at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12.

Middle Georgia enters the Opening Round as the third-seed and arguably the nations hottest team as the Knights are winners of 27 consecutive games. The Knights swept through the Southern States Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournament to earn an automatic bid. Middle Georgia compiled a 38-8 overall record on the season including a 25-1 conference record.

The fourth seed belongs to Embry-Riddle (AZ) who earned an at-large bid after finishing as runner-up at the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) tournament. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 27-11 overall record and a 14-6 record in league play.

Rounding out the five-team San Antonio bracket is Central Baptist, the fifth-seed. The Mustangs earned an at-large bid after falling in the American Midwest Conference (AMC). Central Baptist holds a record of 31-25 and was 15-7 in AMC action.

Check out the 2025 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round tournament page for brackets, game times, and information regarding the tournament.

Saints Claim 2025 RRAC Tournament Championship

A 3-0 victory over LSU Alexandria on Sunday, earned the Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) softball team the 2025 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Softball Tournament championship. The Saints completed the season sweep, also winning the RRAC regular season title. OLLU stormed through the tournament, outscoring the opposition, 31-5 in four games including a pair of shutouts.

The Saints, who were the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed began play with a 15-0 with over the University of the Southwest on Thursday before taking down Houston-Victoria by a score of 8-3 on Friday.

Saturday would be the first of two games between the Saints and the tournament’s No. 2 seed Generals of LSUA. A five-run third inning for the Saints turned out to be the difference as they took down LSUA 5-2 to earn a spot in today’s championship game. The Generals took down Texas A&M San Anotonio earlier today to setup a rematch against OLLU.

OLLU got their offense going in the championship game after Yezenia Perez singled to start the second inning. Perez would go first-to-third on a double down the left field line by Ava Hernandez. Alyssa Garcia put the Saints in front with a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 through two complete.

The Generals’ best scoring chance came in the top half of the sixth after a leadoff walk and single to put two runners on with no outs. A sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position, giving LSUA a chance tie or take the lead. Hernandez came up huge for the Saints in the circle as she struck out the next two Generals batters to end the threat and keep the Saints on top heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Caitlin Casas lead off the sixth for the Saints and drew a walk. Hernandez recorded her second hit of the game, a single that sent Casas to third to put Saints at the corners. After Hernandez stole second, Garcia struck again, this time singling up the middle to score Casas and Hernandez to add two insurance runs for the Saints.

A leadoff single for LSUA in the top of the seventh gave the Generals life, but the Saints’ pitching and defense stepped up again as Hernandez induced a 6-4-3 double play to take the wind out of the sails for LSUA. A diving catch by Lexie Escamilla in left field ended the game, securing the Saints’ second Tournament Championship in the last three seasons.

The Saints await the NAIA Softball selection show on Wednesday, May 7 at 5:00 p.m. CT. OLLU was named one of the 10 host sites for the 2025 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, which will be played from May 12-15.

Women’s Golf Captures 2025 CAC Championship

The Our Lady of the Lake (OLLU) women’s golf team captured the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) championship on Tuesday, winning in dominant fashion. The Saints led by 14 strokes after the first 18 holes and would go on to win by 27 strokes. OLLU fired rounds of 327-306 to earn the victory and secure their spot in the NAIA Women’s Golf Championships. The NAIA Championship will take place May 13-16 at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Results

Three Saints found themselves in the top-five after the first round led by Ceci Lattuada who carded a five-over 77 to lead the entire field. Lattuada recorded two birdies and nine pars over her first 18 holes. Kendall Ward was in third place after Monday’s first round as she shot a nine-over 81 that included nine pars and a birdie. Grayson Weiler was the final Saint to land in the top-five after shooting a 10-over 82, good for a tie for fourth place.

In the final round, the Saints trimmed 21 strokes off their round one score to shoot 306. Lattuada was the first of three Saints to finish consecutively as the she shot a 76 in her final round for a total of 153, earning her a runner-up finish in the Championship. Weiler saw a nine stroke improvement in round two, shooting a one-over 73, which moved her into a third place finish. Ward finished in fourth place after shooting a second round 75. This trio of Saints were all named to the All-Conference team.

Annabelle Reyna earned a top-10 finish for the Saints, shooting 87-83-170 for the tournament to finish in a tie for eighth. Samantha Garcia was eight strokes better in the second round, shooting 82 to finish with a tournament total of 172 and an 11th place finish.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Earns Second Place Finish at RRAC Championships

The Our Lady of the Lake women’s outdoor track and field team earned a second place finish at the 2025 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Championships this weekend. The Saints compiled 234.5 points, falling short to host Xavier University, who scored 335.5 team points to capture their fourth consecutive RRAC title.

The Saints earned 24 all-conference accolades and six event wins.

Event Winners (Event-Name (Time/Distance)

1500m – Leilani Leza (5:03.50)
3000m – Leilani Leza (11:22.03)
5000m – Valeria Pena (23:08.28)
10000m – Sierra Ramirez (51:12.36)
400m Hurdles – Aziza Clark (1:02.15)
Long Jump – Lawren Tanner (5.71m)
For a complete list of results click HERE.