LIVONIA, Mich. -- UTB/TSC opened the eyes of the NAIA with a 3-1 victory over ninth-ranked Madonna University in the Julie Martin Memorial Volleyball Tournament here Friday, the first-ever victory over a Top 10 team for the Scorpions in any sport since joining the NAIA in 2006.

The Scorpions won all four matches in the tournament to run their season record to 10-1. Madonna, a regular qualifier to the NAIA National Tournament, was ranked No. 9 in the nation the most recent NAIA coaches' poll.

The Madonna match was a rematch of a 2007 meeting between the two schools at the 2007 NAIA National Women's Volleyball Tournament. UTB/TSC won that one by the same 3-1 score.

 
 

"I thought we played really well, and we had some different people step up," Scorpion head coach Todd Lowery said. "Arlene (Ferreira) played lights out and Judith (Boel) and Valquiria (Caboclo) carried some offensive load."

In the tournament, UTB/TSC defeated University of Windsor (Can.), 3-0, Spring Valley College, 3-1, and Davenport University, 3-0.

UTB/TSC received votes equivalent to a No. 26 national ranking last week and is certain to move up in the next Top 25 poll which will be released Tuesday afternoon.

On Friday, the two teams battled to a 1-1 split in the first two sets, with UTB/TSC winning the opener, 25-22, and Madonna taking the second set, 25-22. The Scorpions took control from there, winning the third set 25-16 and the fourth set, 25-19.

Arlene Ferreira, who stands only 5-8 next to much taller teammates, had an outstanding match with 22 kills in 50 attempts with eight errors in the match against Madonna. She also had 16 digs, as five Scorpions had double digits in that category.

Valquiria Caboclo, the Red River Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, had 14 kills in 23 attempts without an error for an amazing .609 hitting percentage. Judith Boel added 11 kills. Bracero had 51 assists, her season high for a match.

On the defensive side, the Scorpions had a solid night at the net with 10.5 team blocks. Caboclo had six assisted blocks and Boel four. Anayeli Trevino had 17 digs, Boel 12, Bracero 10 and Rafaella Dornelas 10.

"We blocked really well at the net, and played real good defense behind the net with a lot of long rallies," Lowery said. We're playing defense now, and we aren't panicking, which is good. We just need to keep getting better."