Ragin’ Cajuns Gets First Win Of The Season
by Cheval John
The Ragin’ Cajuns finished the tournament on a high note as they defeated the Tigers in straight sets by the score of 25-18, 25-17, 25-12.
The Cajuns are now 1-2 for the season.
Blair Claypoole led the Cajuns with 6 kills and 4 digs.
Andrea Hole was second on the team with 5 kills and three players contributed with four kills.
Mandy Gavin had 23 assists and five aces.
Both teams combined for a 35 errors in the match.
Bearkat Wins First Game In Five Set Thriller
by Cheval John
After months of training, the Bearkat volleyball team were looking forward to their season opener against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in the Bearkat Invitational.
They were ready to show how much they learned in practice.
They knew that they had to earn every point in order to start the season off with a bang.
They did just that as they defeated the Ragin Cajun in five sets 14-25, 25-21, 25-27, 28-26, 15-11.
“We started out a little slow,” senior outside hitter Kendall Cleveland said.
“We needed to get the jitters out. …Once we did that, we went on a roll.”
The Raging Cajuns started off the game on a 5-1 in the first set.
Sophomore Devene Wells-Gibson led the charge for the Kats with 19 kills and 14 digs.
But the Bearkats scored three straight points on two kills by Cleveland and a kill by sophomore Devene Wells-Gibson.
That was as close as they would get as the Cajuns maintain control and took the first set by the score of 25-14.
The Bearkats woke up with a 5-1 run in the second set and went on to win it by the score of 25-21 to even the match at 1.
Both teams fought hard in the third set as they exchanged points between each other.
The Ragin’ Cajuns eventually take the third set by the score of 27-25.
The fourth set proved to be crucial for both teams as they intensified their play.
The Cajuns seemed to be in control of the set as they kept the Kats off balance.
But with grit and determination and great defense, the Kats came back and took the fourth set to even it at 2.
“They came out a little stronger than we did,” Wells-Gibson said.
“You have to start out strong and finish strong to win the game.
That is exactly what they did in the fifth set as they scored three out of the four points to lead it 3-1.
Though the Cajuns tried to make a run of their own, the Bearkats did not let up and put the match away to win the set and the match.
Cleveland finished the game with 14 kills and 16 digs while senior middle blocker Kim Black contributed with 12 kills and 5 digs.
The Bearkats next two matches are against Texas Southern and the University of Colorado at 1 p.m and 6 p.m.
58 Minutes To First Win Of The Season For Buffaloes
by Cheval John
It took only 58 minutes for the University of Colorado Buffaloes to dismantled Texas Southern University Tigers in straight sets 25-8, 25-14, 25-8.
The win was their first of the season.
The Buffaloes came out of the gate with an 11-0 run in the first set and went on to win the set by the score of 25-8.
Though they trailed in the second set 6-4, they were able to overcome the Tigers and win the set 25-14.
From there, they dominated throughout the third and won it 25-8.
Kelsey English led the Buffaloes with 10 kills while Alexis Austin contributed with nine kills.
Their next two matches are against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette at 9 a.m and tournament host Sam Houston State at 6 p.m.
Sam Houston Volleyball Invitational Begins Today
by Cheval John
The 2012 Sam Houston Volleyball Invitational kicked off today with the matchup of the University of Colorado and Texas Southern University at the Bernard Johnson Colisium.
The tournament is a two-day affair that is hosted by Sam Houston State University.
Sam Houston went 4-0 last in the tournament and are looking to repeat this year.
This year’s participants are the University of Colorado, University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas Southern University.
We will be bring you the results after each match.
You Can’t Always Get Your Wish
By Cheval John
Clint Dempsey always had a chip on his shoulder.
He never had an entitlement like others who play the sport of soccer had during their childhood.
He grew up in a lower-middle class family in Nacogdoches, Texas where he had to fight for everything.
He carried that attitude all the way to the English Premier League, where he displayed his talent and ability to score at will for Fulham, F.C.
During that time, he played under four head coaches and each time, he had to prove himself time and time again.
That what separated him from the others as he became the first American international to score 50 career goals in the EPL and establish himself as one of the best players in the world.
Dempsey always had a knack for knowing what he wants.
He got a taste of what it was like to play in a European club competition when Fulham played in the UEFA Europa League during the 2009-10 season.
His most memorable moment came in the second leg of the match against Juventus in Craven Cottage, when he chip in a beautiful ball from outside the penalty area into the net for the game-winning goal that knocked the Italian club out of the competition.
They made it to the final that season, but lost to Atletico Madrid.
He knew that he was not getting any younger and that he made it clear that he wanted to play for an UEFA Champions League club.
To him, it was not about the money, but the very opportunity to experience the atmosphere of playing in what is arguably, the most prestigious club competitions in Europe.
Liverpool, F.C. showed interest in acquiring Dempsey during the off season.
Dempsey didn’t travel with the team for training and was determined to get out with all possible means.
The Reds wavered because they did not meet the asking price by Fulham.
By the time the 2012-13 season began, Dempsey did not report to the team, which indicated that he was done with the club.
On the other hand, Liverpool tried to make a last ditch effort by midnight on Friday before the transfer window, but to no avail.
It seemed as if Dempsey was going to remain at Fulham.
But, at the last minute, Tottenham Hotspur reached an agreement with the Cottagers to acquire Dempsey.
The Spurs are currently in the Europa League this season after being knocked out by Chelsea, who won the UEFA Champions League final last season.
Though it wasn’t the team that Dempsey wanted, he got his wish because not only is he playing for a club that came close to play in the Champions League, but he doesn’t have to move miles away from his home in London.
Some see this drama as him being selfish because he is making millions of dollars and is playing in the best league in the world.
But to others, they see a player who wants to experience the atmosphere of playing in the Champions League.
Depending on which side of the fence you’re on, one thing is certain; Dempsey will not make the U.S. National team when they play Jamaica in the qualifier matches for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that is set to begin in a couple of weeks.
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