RRAC News
Mon, Aug 17, 2009 - [Volleyball]
Middle Blocker Jacque Touchet is One of Six Returning Players from 2008
Middle Blocker Jacque Touchet is One of Six Returning Players from 2008

With a new coach and a new group of players it is hard to know what to expect for the 2009 Scorpion volleyball team. However the team is sure whatever goals are set will be attained.


"I expect to achieve the goals we set as a volleyball program and help this team reach the top of the NAIA," sophomore outside hitter Arlene Arreas Ferreira said. "We have to have disciplined in everything that we want to do."


While there is a consensus on the team that 2009 will be a rebuilding season, Scorpion head volleyball coach Todd Lowery said he expects his team to compete for the RRAC championship and qualify for the national tournament. 


Helping Lowery attempt to reach those goals this season will be a group of players brought together since Lowery's hiring in March.


Outside Hitter - Four players will see time at outside for the Scorpions this season including Ferreira, Hutchinson Community College transfer Rafaella Dornelas and freshmen Erica Chimak and Luara Amorim Rosa. Lowery said outside hitter is probably the Scorpions' deepest position.

"Our group of outside hitters will bring a lot to the table for us," Lowery said.  "All four of our outside hitters are great athletes and all bring something unique to court."

Lowery assessed each player's strengths:

Ferreira - "Arlene is one of the most complete players that I have had in a program. She has a very live arm to go along with a lot great shots. She is great on serve receive as well as defense.  With great leaping ability, she is going to cause problems for opponents."

Chimak - "Erica is going to give us some good size in the outside hitter position at 6-1. She is going to cause matchup problems for a lot of teams in our conference."

Dornelas - "Rafaella is very good all around player and more importantly comes from a program that knows how to win. Last year at Hutchinson she took 35 percent of the team's total swings."
Rosa - "Luara is a young player who we expect to develop nicely over the course of the season. What she lacks in experience she makes up for in athleticism.  She is also a left hander that puts her likely on the right side for us."

Middle Blocker - This year's group of middle blockers includes returning starter Jacque Touchet, UTB/TSC career kills leader Talita Milasauskas, Dickinson University transfer Judith Boel and freshmen Valquiria Caboclo and Miriele Gobbo. Lowery said he expects this group to be strong on the block.

"We will have a strong presence, especially on the block," Lowery said. "Our middles will have to work hard to form a solid connection with our setter to get our offense on track by the second part of the season."

Lowery broke down the middle blockers' abilities:

Boel - "Judith is big, physical player at 6-4 so she is a tough matchup for anybody.  In addition to her presence at the net, Judith has a big jump serve which will help us keep teams out of system."
Caboclo - "Valquiria will probably start the season being the biggest offensive threat out of the middle as she hits the ball very well."

Touchet - "Jacque gained valuable playing experience last season by starting every game for UTB/TSC last season.  We expect her volleyball skills to continue to grow."

Milasauskas - "Talita is returning from shoulder surgery after redshirting last season.  She was a second-team NAIA All-American in 2007.  If she can come back at 100 percent it will add great depth to our middle position.

Setter - The lone setter for this year's team is Daianarah Bracero who redshirted in 2008 after leading the Scorpions in assists in 2007. Despite the lack of depth at setter Lowery said he expects Bracero to make the position a strength for the Scorpions. "Daianarah is a very experienced setter and will have lots of offense weapons to choose from," Lowery said. "Daianarah has unlimited potential and if she puts in the effort, I feel like we will have one of the top setters in the NAIA."

Defensive Specialist - Three returning players, Belinda Carreon, Gabriela  Maraboto and Anayeli Trevino, form the group of defensive specialists for the Scorpions this season.
Trevino is one of only two returning starters for the Scorpions and had 397 digs in 2008. Meanwhile, Carreon recorded 39 blocks for UTB/TSC last season and Maraboto had 43 kills and 139 digs.