By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
While football enjoyed an open date last weekend, other Centenary sports provided some bright spots – especially the volleyball team.
VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies, fresh off their first conference victory in four seasons, hit the road for a trio of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference matches this past weekend in Seguin, Texas in a league divisional hosted by Texas Lutheran.
Centenary, previously winless in conference play since a 3-1 victory over the University of St. Thomas on Oct. 9, 2021, recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over the University of the Ozarks inside the Gold Dome on Sunday afternoon.
The Ladies (2-7, 1-2 SCAC) won the first set 25-23, were edged 25-21 in the second set, took set three 25-21, and closed out the victory 25-22 in set four. Centenary, which battled the Hendrix College Warriors through three competitive sets before falling 3-0 on Saturday, used that solid performance even in a loss into a breakthrough win on Sunday.
Following that win over the Celts four seasons ago was eight-straight league losses to end the 2021 season and then three winless seasons in conference play (2022-24) and Saturday’s loss to Hendrix College, making it 57 SCAC losses in a row before the win on Sunday.
The Ladies recorded season highs in digs (71), assists (44) and their 50 kills in Sunday’s win were also a season best. They added 12 service aces, their second-most to the 22 posted against Wiley last month.
Sophomore setter Jadyn Harris was sensational last week for the Ladies in three matches as she totaled 35 assists, 19 digs, 19 kills, 11 aces, and four block assists.
On Sunday in the Ladies’ victory over Ozarks she had a superb overall match with a season-high 19 assists and added a season-high 14 digs, season-best eight kills, and a pair of block assists. She also had seven aces which are tied for the third-most in a match in program history in the Division III era (2011-present) and she finished with a .211 kill percentage with only four errors in 19 total attacks.
MEN’S SOCCER: Centenary split a pair of conference matches over the weekend on the road, recording an impressive 3-1 victory over McMurry on Friday night in Abilene, Texas and falling 4-0 to Schreiner on Sunday in Kerrville, Texas.
Senior goalkeeper Sam Brocato leads the conference in shutouts (3) and ranks second in saves (38) and is tied for 38th nationally in Division III in shutouts. Junior midfielder Jacob Ramsey is tied for third in the conference in assists with three.
The Gents (3-4-2, 1-1-0 SCAC) return to action on Friday at home versus Colorado College (5-0-3, 2-0 SCAC) in a league contest set for 7 p.m. at Atkins Field.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: The Ladies (1-8-1, 0-2-0 SCAC) dropped a pair of conference matches on the road last weekend, 2-0 at Schreiner and 6-1 at McMurry.
Freshman goalkeeper Morgan Stancliff played all 90 minutes in both matches last weekend and ranks in a tie for second in the conference in saves this season (33) while fellow freshman Gracie Rellin is fourth in saves with 31.
The Ladies will return to action on Sunday at home with another SCAC contest against the University of Dallas (3-4-0, 2-0-0 SCAC) set for noon at Atkins Field.
WOMEN’S GOLF: Centenary opened its season with a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Scots Fall Invitational Presented by Bank of Cave City and hosted by Lyon College at The Course at Eagle Mountain in Batesville, Ark.
Centenary shot a 152-over par 728 (373-355). Sophomore Haylee Crowder of Haughton led the way for the Ladies with a seventh-place finish (+28 – 172) with rounds of 89-83.
FOOTBALL: After an open date, the Gents (0-2) return to action this Saturday to face Austin College in Sherman, Texas with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. at Jerry E. Apple Stadium. Look for a preview of the contest in the Friday edition of the SBJ.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu