Todd Lowery has reloaded.

The second-year Scorpion head volleyball coach has built another strong team that has its sights set on some lofty goals in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Championships in Iowa this December.

Last year, the Scorpions were 31-1 in the regular season, and finished the year with a 34-3 mark after reaching the Elite Eight of the national tournament.

Lowery has lofty expectations for the Scorpions again in 2010.

"I was very pleased with what we accomplished in our first season here last year," Lowery said. "We had a great regular season and made a deep run into the national tournament."

The Scorpions' three losses came to three teams who were in the Final Four of the NAIA Tournament, two who met for the championship. UTB/TSC saw its season come to a close in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Fresno Pacific University.

"We always see missed opportunities when we look back on a season," Lowery said. "Although we came up a little short of being in the Final Four, we missed out by losing to great teams, which makes it a little easier to swallow at the end of the day."

UTB/TSC went 31-1 in the regular season, including a 16-0 run in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Scorpions did not lose a single set in RRAC games, going 48-0 in the 16 matches.

Lowery has coached seven years in the NAIA level and has taken all seven teams to the NAIA National Tournament.

"I feel like we are going to have great carry over into this season," Lowery said. "It takes time to develop a program the players that are return know what we expect on and off the court now. Although we will have a lot of new faces the one that are here are the ones that want to buy into our concept of a team and group."

Winning the RRAC again is the first priority to get a ticket to the NAIA National Tournament.

"Our goals once again will be to win the conference and make an appearance at the national tournament," Lowery said. "We have put together a much more difficult schedule with the goal to be better prepared at the end of the season both physically and mentally."

• Fresno Pacific University, No. 1 ranked and three-time defending NAIA national champion, October 29, at Irvine, Calif.
• Concordia University (Calif.), No. 2 ranked and NAIA national tournament semifinalist, October 29, at Irvine, Calif.
• Lee University (Tenn.), No. 4 ranked and NAIA national tournament semifinalist, October 16, at Savannah, Ga.
• Biola University (Calif.), No. 6 ranked and NAIA national tournament qualifier, October 28 at Irvine, Calif.
• Columbia University (Mo.), No. 7 ranked and NAIA national tournament qualifier, Sept. 4 at Columbia, Mo. and Sept. 18 at Garza Gym
• Lubbock Christian University, No. 22 ranked and NAIA national tournament qualifier, Sept. 17 at Garza Gym.
• University of Mobile (Ala.), No. 24 ranked and NAIA national tournament qualifier, Oct. 15 at Savannah, Ga.

Outside hitter and NAIA Second Team All-America Arlene Ferreira and middle blocker Valquiria Caboclo transferred, but Lowery recruited some new international players who are expected to make big names for themselves in 2010.

"We have several transfer coming in that are going to contribute right away," Lowery said. "I'm very excited about our recruiting class, this will easily be the deepest team I have had a chance to work with.  We have a number of players that can play several positions, another key is everybody we signed really wants to be here." 

Talented all-around players Rafaella Dornelas and Erica Chimak return for their second year, and middle blocker Talita Milasauskas is in her fourth year in the Scorpion program. All three are from Brazil and will form the nucleus of the returning group.

"Rafaella, Erika, and Talita are going to be our leaders this year," Lowery said. "I could not be happier with this group.  All of them lead primarily by example these three have tremendous work effort and love to complete."

Several new players that we expect to have big impact.

Paula Barros is a solid all around player as a setter and a outstanding hitter. Ana Guerra is expected to log significant playing time as middle blocker, and Danika Markovic is a very athletic outside hitter.

Other new international recruits include outside hitter Michelle Marques, middle blocker Katharina Nobel, setter Tamires Ferreira, and defensive specialist Gregner Gotay-Quinones.

Providing depth will be senior Jacque Touchet, juniors Belinda Carreon and Anayeli Trevino, and freshman Lauren Berletch.

"The strength of this team is going to be balance we have great attacker in every position this year.  Our defense and serve receive should be much improved as well."