SAN ANTONIO • Our Lady of the Lake University announced June 20 that it will begin competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in fall 2007 with a men’s soccer team and women’s volleyball team. With pompoms in hand, neighborhood children and community leaders cheered as OLLU officials kicked off the summer with a spirited pep rally, complete with Armadillo mascot and cheerleaders.

    As the only NAIA member institution in San Antonio, OLLU will initially complete as an independent team but will eventually compete against 14 other colleges and universities in the NAIA’s Red River Athletic Conference, which includes UT Permian Basin and Texas A&M International. OLLU will be eligible for championship qualification in the 2007-2008 season.

    “My first request from students when I arrived four years ago was for an athletics program and we’re delivering it as our commitment to the development of the whole person that students deserve as part of a university experience,” said Tessa Martinez Pollack, Ph.D., president of OLLU.

    The last intercollegiate athletic program that OLLU offered was in basketball from 1979 to 1985. Since then, OLLU has offered club and intramural sports. “All students, faculty, staff and alumni have been very supportive. We make it a top priority to enhance student life at OLLU and this is one way to generate enthusiasm on campus and get more students involved,” said Jack Hank, dean of Student Life and newly appointed athletics director. “OLLU already has a tremendous amount of school pride and having two competitive sports team will only increase team spirit and spark new traditions,” he added.

    Ralph Bender, founding chairman and vice chair of youth development with the San Antonio Sports Foundation, leads community support on this new initiative and hopes that OLLU’s new sports program will have far-reaching effects into the immediate neighborhoods and stimulate young children to make it a goal to participate in college sports.

    The two sports chosen will allow the university to compete immediately with minor modifications to existing facilities. Upgrades to an existing soccer field and volleyball court will begin this fall. In addition, a training room will be created for student athletes and team coaches will be on staff starting this September.