Volleyball in home stretch

The Sugar Bear volleyball team (15-15, 5-7) is nearing the end of an eight-game homestand. Home has been a good place for the Sugar Bears this season.

“We’ve made it a pretty tough place to play,” head coach Steven McRoberts said. “There’s not another place like it. The fans that come do a good job of being loud.”

The Sugar Bears won two of three last week, putting themselves into a temporary tie with Lamar for second place in the East Division. But division-leader McNeese State (10-3 in SLC) handed the team their second home loss of the season, winning the other seven.

After playing two non-conference opponents, the Sugar Bears head back out on the road, where they spent the first 14 games this season.

“It’s been rough,” McRoberts said about the travel. “For us it all happened early. We were on the road seven out of the first five weekends.

“Coach Hay and myself were starting to get really tired, so we knew the girls must be.”

Still, the Sugar Bears managed a 7-7 record through those first 14, allowing the team to be in within reach of the goals they set before the season.

“One of our goals was to have a winning season. That was a big goal. We’re not only four wins away from having a .500 season but also .500 in the conference.”

This week the Sugar Bears look to go two games over .500 in their next two matches. They were able to beat Centenary 3-0 early in the season and handled UAPB 3-0 last season in Pine Bluff.

Another goal for this season was to be eligible for the conference tournament if NCAA rules allowed. The tournament includes the top eight records from the entire conference. UCA is currently in a tie for 7th.

“That Texas State win, conference-wise, put our program on the map. To be able to beat them and do it in three shows us we’re not too far from being able to compete for a championship in this conference.”

Texas State won the conference tournament last season as a four seed.

The final four games will determine whether the Sugar Bears can get back to .500 in the Southland. They play Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana on the road first. The good new there is that they are at the bottom of the East Division with a combined 2-22 record.

The last two games are at home against Sam Houston State and undefeated in conference Stephen F. Austin.

“I probably didn’t set my expectations high enough because of the unknown. We’ve got three seniors that have done everything we ask, but we’re still young.

“One of the main differences in Division I is that we’ve got to be ready every night.”

UCA is trying to finish with consecutive winning season for the first time since the 93-94 seasons.

Fundrasing Challenge

October 25, 2006

To all UCA Athletic Supporters:

Harold Helton, Mark (Foot) Osburn and Verlon Spencer have been challenged by a Conway businessman to raise $50,000.00 for UCA Athletics by December 31, 2006 and this businessman will match this with a $100,000.00 gift to the UCA Athletic Department Purple Circle.

Therefore, we have established the Helton, Osburn, Spencer Athletic Scholarship at UCA. This scholarship will be administered by the athletic director and can be used for any sport. Donations to this Fund are fully tax deductible because it is set up under the UCA Foundation/Purple Circle which is a 501-c-3 organization.

We ask for your help in raising this $50,000.00. You can mail your tax deductible donation to:
University of Central Arkansas Foundation, Inc.
Helton, Osburn, Spencer Athletic Scholarship
UCA Box 4986
Conway, Arkansas 72035-0001

Or you can call Kathy at the UCA Foundation office at 501-450-5288 and give her your credit card # for your donation.

Thank you, for your support of UCA Athletics.

Harold Helton
Mark (Foot) Osburn
Verlon Spencer