The UT Tyler soccer squads are looking to clinch berths in the American Southwest Conference Tournament with two matches this weekend at Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex.
Today, the Patriots meet rival East Texas Baptist at 5:30 p.m. (women) and 7:30 p.m. (men) and on Saturday they take on rival LeTourneau at 1 p.m. (women) and 3 p.m. (men).
Both UT Tyler teams are fifth in the ASC and six teams make the postseason.
In the women's race, the Patriots are 10-4 overall and 5-3 in league play, while ETBU is 5-7-1 and 4-4-1. Hardin-Simmons (13-1, 9-0) has clinched first place and will host the postseason tournament in Abilene Nov. 7-8 and 10.
In the men's division, the Patriots are 8-2-4 overall and 5-2-1 in conference. ETBU enters in sixth at 7-6-4 and 2-4-3.
Mississippi College (10-3-3, 5-0-3) leads the race with Hardin-Simmons (7-3-5, 5-0-4) right behind. So the men's tournament will be either at Clinton, Miss., or Abilene Nov. 7-8 and 10.
The winners of the tournaments receive automatic bids to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Patriot kickers ranked fifth
The UT Tyler women's soccer team is in the NCAA rankings for the first time in program history.
The Patriots are ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division III West Region according to NCAA.com.
Hardin-Simmons is first, followed by Trinity (Texas), Linfield (Ore.), and Puget Sound (Wash.).
Hurley honored
UT Tyler women's soccer goalkeeper Macy Hurley was named the American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Hurley was lights-out in goal, giving up just two goals in two matches.
Hurley, a senior from Sulphur Springs was stellar against No. 11 ranked Hardin-Simmons, holding the third-highest scoring team in the nation to just one goal in 90-plus minutes of play to go along with 10 saves.
She finished the week with 14 total saves and a 1.00 goals-against average.
Brummett earns award
UT Tyler volleyball player Breanna Brummett was named the American Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Brummett helped the Patriots go 2-1 and clinch a spot in the postseason.
Brummett, a junior from Little Elm, was once again stellar in her outside hitter position, finishing the weekend with 39 kills to lead the team.
Her total for the season now sits at 364 while boasting a 3.60 per set average, which ranks as the top kill performer in the conference.
Brummett also finished the conference regular season with 59 service aces which also led the ASC.
Volleyball squad in playoffs
The UT Tyler volleyball team closed out the American Southwest Conference regular season in fifth-place, securing a spot in the postseason for the fourth time in program history. With three non-conference matches remaining, the Patriots have tied the record for wins in-a-season with 21.
The Patriots (21-10, 10-8) with the fourth-best win total in conference-play this season, finishing with 10 wins in ASC-play.
Brummett has been one of the top players in the conference. The junior has been the leader of the young squad.
Freshman setter Rebecca Floyd has been stellar so far this season, leading the conference in assists with 10.30 per set played, and a total of 1123. Floyd has set records for assists (52) in a match against Concordia-Texas.
No. 5 seed UT Tyler will face No. 4 seed Hardin-Simmons, the defending ASC champ in the first round of the tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Richardson.
The Cowgirls (19-11, 14-4) and Patriots faced each other twice this season with HSU winning both matches. The second match of the season was epic, with the teams going five sets (26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12)
The winner of the match will take on No. 1 seed UT Dallas at 7:30 p.m. later that night.
UT Tyler will have three matches to prepare for the ASC postseason, playing in the LeTourneau Invite beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday against Rust College in Longview. The Patriots have two matches on Saturday at LeTourneau — 10 a.m. vs. University of Dallas and 4 p.m. vs. Centenary.
2013 American Southwest Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament
UTD Activity Center, Hosted by The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson
Day One: Thursday, Nov. 7
Game 1 — No. 3 East Texas Baptist vs. No. 6 Concordia-Texas, noon
Game 2 — No. 4 Hardin-Simmons vs. No. 5 UT Tyler, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 — No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Winner Game 1, 5 p.m.
Game 4 — No. 1 UT Dallas vs. Winner Game 2, 7:30 p.m.
Day Two: Friday, Nov. 8
Game 5 — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, noon
Game 6 — Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 — Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m.
Game 8 — Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7:30 p.m.
Day Three: Saturday, Nov. 9
Game 9 — Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, noon
Game 10 — Championship / Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 3 p.m.
Game 11 (if needed) — Game 10 Teams, 5:30 p.m.