Dustdevil Athletes
Champs on and
Off the Field
The 2015 TAMIU Athletics season picked up right
where the Dustdevils left off in the previous year – proving
that TAMIU is a force to be reckoned with!
Dustdevils also flexed their charitable muscles,
volunteering for numerous local charities throughout the
year. Baseball and softball teams worked closely with
Volunteers Serving the Need (VS-TN), a food drive and
their fifth annual military appreciation fundraiser, which
generated $1,367.
The Volleyball andWomen’s Basketball teams each
held breast cancer awareness games “Dig Pink” and “Play
for Kay,” while women’s basketball team hammered away at
home building with Habitat for Humanity.
With basketball season in full swing, twoTAMIU
players earned selection to the All-Conference Team –
Laredoan Jessica Prieto to the first team on women’s side
while senior man Vadel Faniel earned honorable mention
honors.
Prieto, a graduate of Alexander High School, was a
prime player for the Dustdevils in 2015. She was team
leader in field goals, 3-point shots, blocks, assists, and steals.
She scored double digits in all but four games and recorded
a career-high 31 points against Lubbock Christian University.
Faniel led the men’s team in points, rebounds, and field
goals. He recorded four double-doubles on the season, and
his career-high 25 points against Dallas Baptist.
With weather warming, it was time for the
TAMIU Golf Team to hit the links. At the PGA Minority
Championship, held in Florida, Sophomore Stevie Martínez
shot 75 on day one and 71 on day two to win the individual
championship. His teammates finished the tournament in
second place. The women’s team saw a marked turnaround
from the previous year, shaving 21 strokes to finish seventh.
Out on the diamond, the TAMIU Softball team
qualified for its seventh consecutive Heartland Conference
Tournament. After losing their opening game, the
Dustdevils rallied and fought back to the tournament
championship game, only to come up short of earning an
NCAA regional berth. Two softball players were selected
to the All-Conference team: Brittany Musset and Chelsea
Capello.
Mussett, named to the first-team, had an outstanding
sophomore campaign playing third base after catching as a
freshman. She ended 2015 with a team high .404 batting
average (4th in Conference) and 61 total hits. She also
led the team in doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, and
slugging percentage.
Capello received All-Heartland Conference Second-
Team Honors and lead the team with 35 runs, 27 walks,
and eight stolen bases. She was also awarded the 2014-15
President’s Scholar Athlete Award.
Jake Cardoza was the lone baseball player selected
to the All-Conference team, posting great numbers in his
senior season. He started in 45 of 47 games, leading with a
.328 batting average and a .970 fielding percentage.
With success on the field, on the court and in our
community, Dustdevil student-athletes make us all winners.
New seasons, new games and new chances to cheer
on the Dustdevils are just ahead. Learn more about our
teams and our game schedule at godustdevils.com
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