FORT WORTH -- Eighth-ranked UTB/TSC had an easy first match and a tough second one in two volleyball victories in  the Wesleyan Hughes Classic hosted by Texas Wesleyan University Friday.

The Scorpions breezed to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mid-American Christian University (Okla.) in their opener by scores of 25-6, 25-9, 25-7.

In the evening match, UTB/TSC outlasted Loyola University (La.), 3-1. The Scorpions took the first set easily, 25-8, but dropped the second, 21-25. UTB/TSC won the final two sets to close out the match, 25-15, 25-17.

The Scorpions continue play in the tournament with a single match at 11 a.m. Saturday against Brenau University (Ga.). Loyola shut down Brenau, 3-0, in a Friday morning match.

UTB/TSC put together an amazing .443 hitting percentage, collecting 29 kills in 61 attacks with only two attack errors. They added 13 more points on serves, with Danika Markovic leading the way with eight aces. The match took only 54 minutes.

UTB/TSC also had seven team blocks. Ana Guerra combined on four blocks and Paula Barros and Talita Milasauskas three each.

Milasauskas led a balanced Scorpion attack with nine kills. Guerra and Erica Chimak had four kills each. Barros had 18 assists and Markovic had 11 digs.

MACU had a hitting percentage of negative .179, with 12 kills and 26 attack errors.

The evening match was much tougher for the Scorpions, who pulled out the big power game.

Markovic had 17 kills to lead the Scorpions' front-line attack, while Chimak had nine kills and Milasauskas and Michelle Marques eight each. Guerra and Barros added seven kills each, while Barros had 43 assists.

Defensively, the Scorpions were beasts at the net, with 11 team blocks. Milasauskas and Marques had five each, Guerra four and Barros three.

Chimak led the back-line effort with 14 digs.