Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

True freshman Breanna Homer has been named as Southland Conference volleyball “Defensive Player of the Week” after leading Sam Houston to a victory in its Southland Conference opener and a runner-up finish in the SHSU Invitational this weekend.

Moving to the libero position, Homer led the Bearkats with 51 digs in three matches, an average of 5.7 digs per set. The LaGrange, Texas, native also posted 55 successful service receptions in 56 attempts during the tournament.

Sam Houston defeated Lamar in three sets in the Bearkats’ Southland opener which also doubled as the team’s opening match in the tournament Friday night. SHSU also blanked Jackson State in three sets Saturday afternoon. Washington State won the event, defeating the Kats in the final match.

She totaled 19 digs in the Jackson State match and 18 against Washington State.

Homer was a four-year varsity player who earned All-District honors in volleyball, softball and basketball at LaGrande. She earned All-State honors in both volleyball and as third baseman in softball.

Sam Houston continues Southland Conference action Thursday and Saturday with road matches at Nicholls State and McNeese State. The next Bearkat home volleyball match is Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston linebacker Tanner Brock has been named as Southland Conference “Defensive Player of the Week.”

The award comes after the Bearkats’ 55-17 victory over Texas Southern last Saturday in Huntsville.

Brock recorded seven tackles and two tackles for loss in leading the defense against the Texas Southern Tigers.

The senior from Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove H.S.), sacked the quarterback twice for losses totaling 10 yards.

In the first half, Sam Houston limited Texas Southern to minus-23 yards rushing and 29 yards passing.

The Bearkats caused four fumbles and recovered three with each turnover setting up the team’s first three touchdowns.

The victory upped the Kats’ season record to 2-1 and set a school record, extending SHSU’s string of consecutive home wins to 16.

The 16-game home winning streak also is the longest current string of wins in FCS play.

Sam Houston’s Timothy Flanders and Torrance Williams both were honorable mention selections this week’s Southland voting for offensive and special teams players of the week.

The Kats play the second in a series of four consecutive home games this Saturday, Sept. 21, when UIW (Incarnate Word) comes to Elliott T. Bowers Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Tickets for all remaining five home games at Bowers Stadium this season plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” vs. SFA in Reliant Stadium Nov. 2 are available now online at www.gobearkats.com .

Fans also can purchase tickets by visiting or calling the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston State is ranked No. 4 in both the Sports Network and NCAA Coaches FCA national polls this week.

North Dakota State remains the top team in both polls after stunning defending Big 12 champion Kansas State on the road 24-21.
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Eastern Washington moved No. 2 in both boths after its 49-46 upset win over No. 25 Oregon State. The Eagles used 518 total yards from quarterback Vernon Adams to become first FCS team to knock off a ranked FBS opponent since James Madison defeated Virginia Tech 21-16 in 2010.

Sam Houston and Eastern Washington will meet in a showdown at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium on Saturday Sept. 28.

Montana State stands No. 3 in both ratings.

Sam Houston has been ranked among the FCS top 25 for 26 consecutive polls since debuting in the national rankings on Sept. 9, 2011. During an 11-0 regular season in 2011, the Kats rose all the way to No. 1 at the end of the regular season.

The Bearkats have finished No. 2 in the past two final FCS national rankings after consecutive Southland Conference championships and trips to the NCAA Division I National Championship game in Frisco.

The No. 4 ranking this week after a 74-0 victory over Houston Baptist in SHSU’s season opener Saturday marks the 22nd consecutive week Sam Houston has stood among the nation’s Top 10 FCS programs.

Two other Southland Conference teams are rated among the top 25 this week.

Central Arkansas is No. 5 in the coaches’ poll and No. 7 in the Sports Network rating. McNeese tabbed at No. 18 by Sports Network and No. 20 by the coaches.

Sam Houston travels to College Station to face Cotton Bowl champion Texas A&M this Saturday at 6 p.m.

By Cheval John

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Courtesy:Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Lamar used the long ball earn the Cardinals a Southland Conference softball doubleheader sweep over Sam Houston Saturday at Fort Park in Beaumont.

The Cards totaled six home runs and a triple as they defeated the Bearkats 9-4 in the opening game and 5-4 in eight innings in the nightcap.

Sam Houston struck first in the opener as Cecilia Castillo singled in a run in the top of the third inning.

But the Cardinals scored three runs on a pair of home runs in the bottom of the third.

Tiffany Castillo tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth and Jessica Slater put the Kats back in front 4-3 with an RBI single.

The lead was short-lived as Lamar scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Two of the runs were unearned due to an error.

The Cardinals added another tally on a home run in the sixth.

Haley Baros pitched the first three innings for Sam Houston.

Meme Quinn pitched two and a third innings in relief, drawing the loss.

Amber Neal pitched in the sixth inning.

Again in the nightcap, Sam Houston held early leads as Cecilia Castillo hit a solo home run in the top of the first.

Tiffany Castillo tallied an unearned run in the fifth inning.

Kim Damian tied the contest bringing in a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh Ashlee Isbell put the Kats in front 4-3 with an RBI single.

Lamar’s sixth home run of the day forced extra innings and an unearned run after an error proved to be the game winner in the bottom of the eighth.

Sam Houston and Lamar will play the third and final game of the series Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.