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VOLLEYBALL: For the second consecutive year, the Southern Utah University volleyball team was represented at the U.S. National team tryouts in Colorado Springs as sophomore outside hitter Analaine Pelaez appeared at the combine Feb. 26-28. In 2010, then-SUU libero Courtney Lelepali appeared at the tryouts.
"It was a really good experience," Pelaez said. "It was fun that everybody wanted to be there and the competition level was great!
"I'm excited to go back again next year and feel like I will be more prepared and know what to expect," she added.
The field at the 2011 tryout included more than 200 athletes, consisting of both current and former NCAA volleyball standouts from schools all over the country. Pelaez was one of only six from the Summit League and the only athlete representing a university from the state of Utah.
Pelaez finished her sophomore season leading the Summit League in kills per set overall (4.07) and kills per set in Summit League play (4.32). She was also among the leaders in the Summit League in digs per set with 3.34 per set overall while racking up 464 kills and 381 digs during the year.
Pelaez will return to the volleyball court in August when the Thunderbirds host the 2011 Red and White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 20.
SOFTBALL: Southern Utah was on the wrong end of three home runs in Game 1 and then was unable to record a hit in Game 2 as the Thunderbirds fell 7-3 and 12-0 on the first day of the Boise State Springhill Suites Invitational. The losses drop the T-Birds to 3-11 on the year.
BSU jumped out to an early lead in game one with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. Southern Utah countered in the top of the third, capitalizing on a pair of walks to score two runs in the frame.
Sami Perry led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Jenavieve Purcell. A second walk, this time drawn by Ariel Morbeck, put runners on first and second for the T-Birds. Following a stolen base by Perry, Heather Richardson hit the first of two RBI singles by Southern Utah, with Darleen Fernandez recording the second during the next at-bat.
Boise State answered with its second and third home runs of the day in the bottom of the third and added another run in the bottom of the fourth until another lead-off walk by Southern Utah led to a Thunderbird run in the top of the fifth. Purcell began the frame with the free pass to first and later rounded the bases on the second RBI single by Richardson during the game.
Three more runs by Boise State in the bottom of the sixth rounded out the 7-3 decision for the Broncos.
Runs continued to come in bunches for BSU in Game 2 as Boise State rattled of innings of four, five and three runs over the first, second and third innings en route to the 12-0 decision. Thunderbird hitters were kept at bay during the game as Southern Utah was held without a hit for the first time all season.
SUU will look to regroup today when the T-Birds face Seattle University and Boise State as the tournament continues.
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Southern Utah University's women's tennis team pushed its record to 2-0 as it swept to its second straight road win over a Division II school Friday at San Rafael, Calif. The Thunderbirds prevailed over Dominican University 9-0, winning every match in straight sets.
After sweeping the three doubles matches at 8-2 or better, the Thunderbirds proceeded to sweep through singles as well. Sophomore Olia Tatarchenko, playing at No. 3 rather than her customary No. 2, didn't lose a game in posting a 6-0, 6-0 win over Michel Freitas, and the Thunderbirds won at four of the positions by 6-1, 6-1 counts.
Ksusha Nazarova got the stiffest competition at No. 1 singles, as Irina Morozova took her to 6-4 in the first set before falling 6-1 in the second. Alex Ivanova topped Shannon McCarthy, 6-1-, 6-1, at No. 2, while Danica Ingwaldson won by the same score over Jamie Fernandez at No. 4. Kirrily Burden won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 over Anh Truong and Afton Staheli got past Ryan Paulus by the same count at No. 6.
Nazarova and Tatarchenko defeated Morozova and McCarthy 8-2 at No. 1 doubles, while Burden and Ivanova prevailed by an 8-1 score over Freitas and Fernandez and Ingwaldson and Staheli beat Paulus and Truong 8-1 as well.
Next up for the Thunderbirds is a match at San Jose State today.