Volleyball Preview: TLU Takes on Chicago in Opening Round

Texas Lutheran Volleyball vs. University of Chicago

Texas Lutheran: 27-9 (11-5 SCAC) | Chicago: 19-12 (5-2 UAA)

TIME: Thursday, Nov. 10 - 12:30 PST / 2:30 CST

LOCATION: Roberts Pavilion | Claremont, California

TICKETS: Tickets are $6 for single matches, $12 for all day ($4 and $10 for seniors/veterans/students with ID, $3 and $7 for children under 12 – free under 2).

THE MATCHUP

Texas Lutheran and Chicago will meet for the second time ever, on Thursday in the NCAA First Round. Chicago won the previous matchup in 2018, sweeping the Bulldogs at the Illinois Wesleyan Classic. The Bulldogs have also met both potential second round opponents. Texas Lutheran picked up their first win since 2015 over Trinity in the 2022 SCAC Tournament and is 5-37 all-time against the Tigers in the NCAA-era. The Bulldogs are 2-1 all-time against Puget Sound with the last matchup taking place in 2019.

NCAA TOURNAMENT TALK

Texas Lutheran is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2007, and has a 2-2 all-time record in the tournament. Texas Lutheran is 1-1 in First Round matches with their lone win coming in a sweep of Christopher Newport in 2004.

TROPHY TALK

After clinching the 2022 SCAC Tournament Championship, Texas Lutheran won its first SCAC Championship and third championship of the NCAA-era, joining the 2004 and 2007 American Southwest Championships.

LIBERO U

Lexi Morris (Victoria/Victoria West) adds to the Bulldogs' list of SCAC Backrow Player of the Year winners that includes Megan Lee (2013, '14), Jaci Chambers (2018), and Morris herself in the 2021 season. Morris is only the second Bulldog in program history to win back-to-back SCAC Backrow Player of the Year honors - joining Lee. The Bulldogs have won the award five of their 10 seasons in the SCAC. Morris leads the SCAC with her 5.56 digs per set and was in double figures in all 35 matches she played in including 18 matches with at least 20 digs. Morris currently ranks second in NCAA Division-III in digs with 740 digs after leading NCAA Division-III last season with 737. After surpassing Lee and Chambers to become Texas Lutheran's all-time digs leader this season, Morris now ranks third all-time in SCAC history in digs and will finish her career ranked third in SCAC history in digs per set. Morris was SCAC Defensive Player of the Week two times this season.

ALL-SCAC

Including SCAC Backrow Player of the Year Lexi Morris, the Bulldogs had five players named to the All-SCAC teams. Madison Weisinger (Friendswood/Friendswood), the 2022 SCAC Tournament MVP, joined Morris on the First Team. Maddy Schultz (Richmond/Needville), Peyton Sulak (Needville/Needville), and Shavonne Respondek (San Antonio/Madison) landed on the second team. Additionally, head coach Phyllis Fowler was named SCAC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career. Following the SCAC Tournament, Morris, Weisinger, and Tanyse Moehrig (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) were named to the SCAC All-Tournament team.

BLOCK PARTY

Texas Lutheran is averaging 6.61 blocks per match and have tallied 238 total blocks on the season to rank 16th nationally in total blocks. Texas Lutheran opponents are averaging 5.46 blocks per match. The Bulldogs are holding opponents to a .135 hitting percentage this season. The Claremont Regional hosts three teams in the top 25 in total blocks in Trinity (1, 292.0), Texas Lutheran, and Chicago (222.5).

SIDE OUT

• The 2022 season is the first time the Bulldogs have tallied double-digit conference wins since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in the fall of 2013. The 27-win mark ties a program record for most wins in the NCAA-era.
• Senior middle blocker Madison Weisinger earned All-SCAC First Team honors as she leads the Bulldogs with a .339 hitting percentage and 124 total blocks. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Weisinger ranks sixth nationally in total blocks and fourth in block assists (108). Weisinger has recorded 258 kills and is averaging 2.189 kills per set. She has notched double-figure points in 22 matches this season.
• University of Chicago enters the NCAA Tournament receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll after receiving an at-large bid to the tournament. The Maroons are led by All-American middle blocker Ellie Alden, Maya Patel, and Maggie McInerney. Chicago has made the last four NCAA Tournaments and is 6-10 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, losing to Gustavus Adolphus in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

For more information on Texas Lutheran volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Facebook (TLU Volleyball), Twitter (@TLU_VB), and Instagram (@tlu_vb) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).