RED RIVER CHAMPS:

LADY RAMS PLACE 5 ON ALL-RRAC TEAM
November 12, 2005

HOUSTON, TX:  For the fourth consecutive season Texas Wesleyan University and Houston Baptist University met in the final of the Red River Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament.  The Rams took the title last season after falling to the Huskies of HBU in 2002 and 2003.  This season it was a meeting of the #9 and #16 teams in the nation, and the ninth ranked Rams made it two in a row by defeating Houston Baptist 3-1 with scores of 24-30, 30-25, 30-24, and 30-28.

After the Huskies took the opening game 30-24, the Rams found themselves in unfamiliar territory.  They were trailing for the first time in 29 matches, dating back to a 3-1 loss at Concordia Irvine.  However, the Rams did not panic.  In the last 29 matches, Texas Wesleyan has lost a total of four games, and after each loss they have responded by taking the next game.  The Rams not only took the next game from the Huskies, they closed out the match with three consecutive wins, 30-25, 30-24, and 30-, 28.

Bela Gaulberto led the team with 17 kills.  Rachel Loftin and Misty Tarbet added 13 kills a piece.  Whitney Johansen recorded 47 assists.  Susan Taylor notched 27 digs while Ashley Mock added 17 of her own.

Texas Wesleyan improved to 30-3 with the win.  It was their 29th consecutive win overall and their 4th consecutive win in the all-time series with the Huskies.  Houston Baptist fell to 34-4 on the season.

The Red River Athletic Conference also announced the 2005 All-Conference team.  The Lady Rams placed the maximum five players on the list. 

A trio of seniors, Rachel Loftin, Susan Taylor, and Whitney Johansen, has led the Rams all season long.  Those three outstanding players were rewarded well for their efforts.  All three were 1st-team All-RRAC selections.  In addition, Loftin was named Front Row Player of the Year and Red River Player of the Year, while Taylor was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Johansen was named Setter of the Year.

Misty Tarbet and Bela Gaulberto both received 2nd-team All-RRAC honors.

The Lady Rams will now prepare for the Region VI tournament, which will be held November 18-19 in Siloam Springs, AR.