The LeTourneau University volleyball team recently wrapped up the spring portion of its training for the 2016 season. As part of NCAA Division III rules, the YellowJackets are limited in its time that they have for team workouts to go along with self-directed individual workouts as well as strength and conditioning sessions. The YellowJackets return 12 players from a team in 2015 that just missed out on a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament.
To wrap up the spring, the YellowJackets hosted Jarvis Christian, Centenary and East Texas Baptist University for the spring tournament. LeTourneau defeated Jarvis Christian, 25-21, 25-19 and 5-3 and Centenary, 25-15, 25-23 and 8-11. East Texas Baptist defeated the Yellow Jackets, 25-13, 25-16 and 17-14.
LeTourneau University head coach Scott Peluso, who returns for his sixth season as the YellowJackets head coach was pleased with the spring season. “The team came in with a determination to get better and that was very evident from the very first practice. The energy and effort in the gym were fantastic. We identified several areas that we wanted to focus on including improving our serve receive, the Hitter/Setter connections and getting better out of system swings. I felt like we were getting these things accomplished in practice, but you never really know until you face outside competition, and that’s why the spring tournament that we hosted was so valuable to our continued growth. It gave us the opportunity to play multiple lineups and get a good feel for where we are. The team embraced the areas of focus, and those came out during the tournament. Not only did we see growth in the areas of focus we were able to see what areas we still need to work. Overall, it was a great spring season and with our returners and the addition of a solid recruiting class, everyone is excited about the fall.”
The announcement of the 2016 schedule and additions to the recruiting class will be coming, later this spring.
The LeTourneau University softball team was well represented with six selections on the all-American Southwest Conference Team that were announced by conference officials on Monday.
LeTourneau sophomore second baseman Ashlin Roach (Hughes Springs, Texas) and senior pitcher Kayla Cosby (Lindale, Texas) were named second-team all-ASC. Roach, who played and started 41 games, was the co-leader in doubles (12), third in batting average (.330), on-base percentage (.375) and total bases (54), fourth in slugging percentage (.495) and hits (36), tied for fourth in home runs (2) and fifth in RBI (17), runs scored (16).
Cosby emerged as the top pitcher in the rotation in her senior season for the YellowJackets. She posted a 10-10 mark with a 2.45 ERA with 68 strikeouts to lead LeTourneau. She made 25 appearances including 18 starts in 117 innings of work. It is the first post-season honor for Roach and Cosby.
Senior outfielder Brianna Williams (Detroit, Texas) was named to the Second Team At-Large. Williams was the team leader in slugging percentage (.684), runs scored (29), home runs (5), total bases (65), tied for the team lead in walks (10), second in batting average (.400), RBIs (22), third in hits (38) and tied for third in doubles (10). Plus, Williams was also named to the ASC All-Tournament Team on Sunday.
Senior third baseman Megan Hill (San Antonio, Texas) picked up her third all-ASC honor with being named third team all-ASC. Hill was the team leader in batting average (.402), hits (49), RBIs (26), tied for first in doubles (12), second in on-base percentage (.460), total bases (61), third in slugging percentage (.500) and runs scored (21).
Freshman shortstop Kennedi Dillow (Pasadena, Texas) and junior outfielder Courtney Matulis (Pittsburg, Texas) were named honorable mention. Dillow played and started all 42 games with a .302 batting average. She was second in runs scored (23), hits (39), fourth in on-base percentage (.366). Matulis played in 37 games, hitting at a .308 clip for the YellowJackets. She led the team in stolen bases (11), fourth in runs scored (18). fifth in on-base percentage (.345) and hits (33)
In addition, LETU senior Rachel Gauspohl (Cedar Park, Texas) along with Sul Ross State junior infielder Isaura Rodriguez were named Co-Sportsmanship Athletes of the Year.
2016 All-ASC Softball Teams
Individual Awards
Player of the Year – Raven Rodriguez, UT Tyler
Pitcher of the Year – Kelsie Batten, UT Tyler
Freshman of the Year – Melissa Livermore, UT Dallas
Newcomer of the Year – Kaylee Prather, UT Tyler
Co-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year – Rachel Gauspohl, LeTourneau / Isaura Rodriguez, Sul Ross State
Coaching Staff of the Year – UT Tyler
(Head Coach Mike Reed, Assistant Coaches Whitney Wyly, Cody Gipson, Christa Hartnett, Sarah Gipson, Anthony Springer)
First Team
Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown / HS |
1B | Lacey Lindsey3 | Jr. | East Texas Baptist | Leander, Texas / Leander |
2B | Linzie Lewis | Fr. | East Texas Baptist | Maypearl, Texas / Maypearl |
SS | Raven Rodriguez4 | Sr. | UT Tyler | Houston, Texas / Waltrip |
3B | Leah Brown3 | Jr. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Waco, Texas / Crawford |
C | KK Stevens3 | Jr. | UT-Tyler | Plano, Texas / Plano East |
OF | Melissa Livermore | Fr. | UT Dallas | Frisco, Texas / Wakeland |
OF | Kaylee Prather | Jr. | UT Tyler | Elysian Fields, Texas / Elysian Fields |
OF | Lindsey Vasquez | Jr. | East Texas Baptist | Hallsville, Texas / Hallsville |
UT | M.J. Ledkins | Jr. | Hardin-Simmons | Mineola, Texas / Mineola |
DP | Jayme Perez3 | Jr. | East Texas Baptist | Austin, Texas / James Bowie |
P | Kelsie Batten4 | Sr. | UT Tyler | Huntington, Texas / Huntington |
P | Raquel Tello | So. | East Texas Baptist | Katy, Texas / St. Pius X |
P | Lauren McLeod | Jr. | UT Dallas | Manchaca, Texas / Austin Westlake |
First Team At-large
P | Alaina Kissinger3 | Jr. | UT Tyler | Telephone, Texas / Sam Rayburn |
P | Savannah Settle2 | So. | Louisiana College | Natchitoches, La. / Natchitoches |
OF | Haleigh Moore | So. | Univ. of Ozarks | Van, Texas / Van |
Second Team
Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown / HS |
1B | Karley Free2 | So. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Henderson, Texas / Henderson |
2B | Ashlin Roach | So. | LeTourneau | Hughes Springs, Texas / Hughes Springs |
SS | Kaitlyn Hollingshead3 | Jr. | East Texas Baptist | New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon |
3B | Vanessa Carrizales3 | Sr. | UT Tyler | Austin, Texas / St. Michaels |
C | Cori Drake | Jr. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | North Zulch, Texas / North Zulch |
OF | Kourtney Cummings | Fr. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Grandview, Texas / Grandview |
OF | Sydnie Darden2 | Sr. | Hardin-Simmons | Brownwood, Texas / Brownwood |
OF | Alexis Padilla | Sr. | East Texas Baptist | Houston, Texas / North Shore |
UT | Angelica Arroyo | Fr. | Concordia Texas | Buda, Texas / Hays |
DP | Sara Navarro | Sr. | UT-Dallas | San Antonio, Texas / Warren HS |
P | Darian Thacker | So. | Louisiana College | Jena, La. / Jena |
P | Celese Tirres | Sr. | Howard Payne | Grand Prairie, Texas / Grand Prairie |
P | Kayla Cosby | Sr. | LeTourneau | Lindale, Texas / Lindale |
Second Team At-large
OF | Brianna Williams | Sr. | LeTourneau | Detroit, Texas / Detroit |
OF | Kristin Lopez | Sr. | UT Tyler | Houston, Texas / Aldine |
P | Karen Tennis | So. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | League City, Texas / Bay Area Christian |
Third Team
Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown / HS |
1B | Jackie Mendez3 | Sr. | UT Tyler | San Antonio, Texas / Wagner |
2B | Ravin Wilson | Fr. | UT Dallas | Dayton, Texas / Dayton |
SS | Myranda Hinojosa2 | Jr. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Edinburg, Texas / Edinburg |
3B | Megan Hill3 | Sr. | LeTourneau | San Antonio, Texas / Smithson Valley |
C | Lauren Williams | Jr. | Hardin-Simmons | Abilene, Texas / Abilene |
OF | Gaby Muniz | Sr. | Howard Payne | Midland, Texas / Midland |
OF | Stefanie Polderman | So. | UT Dallas | Vancouver, B.C., Can. / Rockridge Secondary |
OF | Devon Walter | So. | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Southlake, Texas / Carroll |
UT | Not awarded | |||
DP | Hannah Oler2 | So. | Univ. of Ozarks | Needville, Texas / Needville |
P | Sydney Coffey | Sr. | Concordia Texas | Houston, Texas / Spring Wood |
P | Shelby Burrus | Jr. | Concordia Texas | Eastland, Texas / Eastland |
P | Jackie Gonzalez | So. | Sul Ross State | El Paso, Texas / Montwood |
Third Team At-large
C | Kourtney Herrera | Jr. | Louisiana College | Marrero, La. / John Ehret |
1B | Mattie Stine | So. | Louisiana College | Hackberry, La. / Hackberry |
3B | Jessica Bowden | Sr. | East Texas Baptist | Pearland, Texas / Pearland |
Honorable Mention
Pos. | Name | Cl. | School | Hometown / HS |
1B | Kara LeLeux | Sr. | Hardin-Simmons | Cypress, Texas / Cypress Ranch |
1B | Brooke Jones | Sr. | Concordia Texas | Rowlett, Texas / Sasche |
1B | Brittany Perkins | Jr. | UT Dallas | Grapevine, Texas / Grapevine |
2B | Katelyn Joyner | Jr. | Hardin-Simmons | Mt. Pleasant, Texas / Mt. Pleasant |
2B | Jessica Johnson | Sr. | Louisiana College | Deville, La. / Buckeye |
2B | Morgan Loredo | So. | Concordia Texas | Leander, Texas / Vista Ridge |
SS | Braleigh Middleton | Jr. | Hardin-Simmons | Abilene, Texas / Wylie |
SS | Ellen Bairnsfather | Sr. | Louisiana College | Monterey, La. / Monterey |
SS | Haley Dennett | Fr. | Concordia Texas | Edinburg, Texas / Edinburg |
SS | Kennedi Dillow | Fr. | LeTourneau | Pasadena, Texas / Deer Park |
3B | Zuriah Leyva | Fr. | Sul Ross State | Carlsbad, N.M. / Carlsbad |
3B | Regan LeJeune | So. | Louisiana College | Grand Lake, La. / Grand Lake |
OF | Courtney Matulis | Jr. | LeTourneau | Pittsburgh, Texas / Harmony |
OF | Jordan Mason | Jr. | Louisiana College | Vivian, La. / North Caddo |
OF | Sarah Truelove | Sr. | Hardin-Simmons | Temple, Texas / Temple |
OF | Taylor Ervin | Sr. | UT Dallas | Oak Ridge, Texas / Oak Ridge |
OF | Darrian Doederlein | So. | Sul Ross State | Lamesa, Texas / Lamesa |
OF | Emma Martino | Fr. | Concordia Texas | Austin, Texas / Westlake |
DP | Alexis Vines | So. | Hardin-Simmons | Lubbock, Texas / Monterey |
DP | Shelby Doederlein | Sr. | Sul Ross State | Lamesa, Texas / Lamesa |
DP | Jade Green | Fr. | UT Tyler | Mineola, Texas / Mineola |
P | Dominique Lopez | So. | Sul Ross State | El Paso, Texas / Riverside |
Two-Time All-Conference Selection2
Three-Time All-Conference Selection3
Four-Time All-Conference Selection4
Danny Kambel
LeTourneau University
Sports Information Director
www.letuathletics.com