Volleyball Rolls Through RRAC Tournament, Clinches Nationals Bid

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Texas A&M University–Texarkana volleyball team completed a dominant run through the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament this past week at the Xavier University of Louisiana Convocation Center, sweeping both Louisiana Christian University and Our Lady of the Lake to claim the 2025 RRAC Tournament Championship and secure the program's first-ever berth in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

TAMUT opened the tournament with a convincing 3–0 (25–18, 25–22, 25–14) semifinal victory over Louisiana Christian University. The Eagles delivered a strong offensive outing, hitting .308 as a team and finishing with 47 kills. Senior outside hitter Paulina Dobreva led all players with a dominant 15 kills on a .448 clip, adding an ace and 13 digs for 16.5 points.

Right side Candace Fuchs posted an efficient 10 kills while middle blocker Macyen Doskocil hit .571 with four kills and added two blocks. Kaitlyn Cabral added 9 kills, and the setting duo of Zoe Martinez and Ashley Rhame combined for 35 assists and 3 service aces. Libero Lauren Herz anchored the back row with 6 digs, while TAMUT out-dug LCU 46–35 and controlled the net with 4 total blocks.

In Friday's championship match, the Eagles carried their momentum into a 3–0 sweep (25–14, 25–17, 25–23) over Our Lady of the Lake to capture the RRAC Tournament crown. TAMUT struck for 35 kills on .223 hitting while holding the Saints to just .106 offensively.

Dobreva again paced the offense with 10 kills, 2 aces, and 12 points, while Cabral delivered 9 kills and 9 digs in a strong two-way performance. Fuchs and Doskocil continued to be difference-makers at the net, combining for 8 block assists, while middle blocker Kelby Coutee added 3 block assists. Martinez (20 assists) and Rhame (5 assists) guided the attack, and Herz collected a match-high 17 digs as the Eagles posted 47 digs as a team.

With the championship run, the Eagles rise to 24–6 on the season and officially punch their ticket to the NAIA postseason.

Earlier today, the NAIA announced the Opening Round matchups, and Texas A&M–Texarkana will head west to face the No. 14-ranked Lady Mustangs of The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. First serve is set for Saturday, November 22, at 6 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. CST.

Texas A&M–Texarkana now prepares for its first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship, entering the national stage backed by a dominant tournament performance and a season defined by relentless growth and execution.

Stay connected with @TAMUT_Athletics on social media for Nationals coverage, updates, and more as the Eagles fly west for the Opening Round.