Odessa, TX – With an undefeated record in tow, No. 19 Indian Hills Volleyball heads to the Lone Star State for the Odessa College Invitational, hosted by Odessa College (TX). The Warriors are set for four matches between Friday and Saturday.
DETAILS: 2022 Odessa College Invitational – Odessa, TX
Friday, August 26 – Saturday, August 27
Watch Live: Odessa College Invitational
After opening the season with four consecutive wins, including two against nationally ranked opponents, the Warriors toppled Southeastern Community College 3-0 in the team's home opener Tuesday night to move to 5-0. The Warriors' schedule in Texas features a gauntlet of premier competition – No.2 New Mexico Military at 2:00 PM on Friday followed by host Odessa at 6:00 PM. Indian Hills will then take on No. 11 Salt Lake Community College (UT) at 9:00 AM Saturday followed by the finale vs. New Mexico Junior College at 1:00 PM.
LOOKING AT THE WARRIORS
A number of individuals have powered the Warriors on both sides of the ball early on this year. Sophomore Hennesys Lalane has been the catalyst for Indian Hills as the setter currently leads the nation with 228 total assists this season. Lalane also ranks second nationally with 16 service aces this year.
Lalane has set up a number of teammates at the net, including freshman Larissa Barreiros Scatamburlo who leads the nation with 69 kills through the team's first five matches. Scatamburlo is also hitting a team-high .424 on the year.
Defensively, Sasha Vidal has anchored the Warriors and leads the nation with 120 digs on the year. Vidal is averaging 5.71 digs/set, including three matches with at least 25 digs.
SIZING UP THE BRONCOS
New Mexico Military is coming off a historic season where the Broncos finished as runners-up in the NJCAA National Championship. NMMI is off to a 5-0 start on the year, including three consecutive sweeps at the team's home classic. The Broncos will be making their first road trip of the year when it makes the trek to Odessa.
Baby Moleni and Barbara Guedes Rezende are averaging over 2.00 kills/set for the Broncos while Mio Yamamoto ranks fourth in the nation with 96 digs.
SIZING UP THE WRANGLERS
Odessa, who will have played two matches at their home invitational prior to its matchup with Indian Hills, is also off to a 5-0 start on the year with four sweeps to its name.
Sophomore Daniela Rodrigues is leading the Wrangler offense with 66 kills on the year, second in the nation only to the Warriors' Scatamburlo. As a team, Odessa is hitting .267 on the year, the 10th best mark in the NJCAA,
SIZING UP THE BRUINS
Salt Lake has posted three straight wins to open the year after defeating Miami Dade (FL), Western Wyoming, and Indian River State (FL) in its home invitational last week. The Bruins dropped just two sets during the three matches. Salt Lake is coming of a 22-6 season last year.
Salt Lake has been performing well from the service line with 2.55 service aces/set, which ranks seventh in the nation behind Kanon Miyaki's team-high eight aces.
SIZING UP THE THUNDERBIRDS
New Mexico Junior College will be the Warriors' lone opponent who enters the weekend with a loss, but the Thunderbirds have won three in a row after dropping its season opener, including two consecutive sweeps.
Iva Popovic leads the charge for New Mexico with 47 kills on the year while Lacie Schooley has managed the offense with a team-high 92 assists.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Warriors will head back to the Hellyer Center following their trip to Odessa for two straight home matches. Indian Hills will host DMACC at 6:00 PM on Monday, August 29 followed by Carl Sandburg (IL) at 6:00 PM on August 31.
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