I .aiircti l ickcr
{ T he B LUE B ANNEr}
SPORTS
Page 4
Volleyball
completes
regular
season
Bv Megan Kav^K
The women's volleyball team
won 1 against Presbyterian
College in their I'inal game of
the regular season, giving them
their I Ith win and a confidenee
boost as they begin C'onterenee
tournament Thuisday.
■■f'ven though we won the
game, you want to do it right,
so that when they press you,
like we knew
that they
would some
where in the
mateh, we
we're on top
and we don't
fall apart."
said Head
Coaeh Julie
Torbett said.
r h e
H u I I d o g s
played a sloppy first mateh.
aeeording to Torbett.
t'reshman Kelsey Henorden
and sophomore l.auren Picker
tied lor kills with I.S each, and
the Mulldogs finished the match
with bS total kills.
"I tion't think they were a bad
team, but I think we came out
stronger, and we weren't going
to lose, because it's senior
day,” said senior Ashley
Wrighlenberry. "We've lost a
lot this year, and we just want
to have good confidence going
into the tournament next
week."
Sophomore IJridget Holiday
led defense with 20 digs.
Ifenorden contributed 16 digs,
and RaqucT Miotto addetl
another l."^ digs. The Mulldogs
took a quick two-point lead for
the second game. The team
struggled to keep the lead
throughout the match, but man
aged to take the win with a
final score of .JO-24,
"We just let them come back
at times when we shouki have
shut them down, so they had a
good game, and we didti't fight
back the way we should Inive,"
saiti sophomore Kaitlyn
McDaniel.
Presbyterian led the third
game, hut the Mulldogs kept the
score dose, utitil Presbyterian
won .'0-2.S.
"fimotions were high. That
comes from being a young
team, not having a lot of w ins,"
Torbett said. "That team has a
winning record and has had a
very good season, and I think
that the fact we jumped on
them for the first two games
really hurt them, because they
don't know how to lose, and we
are just now figuring out how
to win."
The Mulldogs lost focus in the
third game aeeording to
Wrightenberry.
"We fell a little in the third
game, and we let our focus
down a little, and comtminica-
tion. but overall, 1 think it was
a good win," Wrightenberry
said.
Holiday said the team was
overconfident after the first
two games, which helped
Presbyterian win the third
game.
"1 think we just lost our focus
there, but we were able to pick
it back up in the last game."
Holiday said.
The Mulldogs recovered for
the fourth and final game, and
won JO-22.
"Well, of course, we like to
win. On senior day. and we
everything that was going on.
bulldog bash, a good crowd, we
of course like to produce a
win," Torbett said.
The team held a post-game
homage to Wrightenberry. the
only senior on the team, who
played her final home match
-Saturday.
"We were really excited we
pulled off the win, mostly for
■Ashley, because it was all about
here today." McDaniel said.
SI 1 VOLLI VUALl pa(;k 5 |
Men’s Basketball season perfect
The Bulldogs begin the regular season with a perfect 3-0 record^ their best start ever
B> Nora Sloney and Devon Don
‘•if ; NVinim & SftJitis Eonr#
The .Men's Masketball team
begins the regular season with a
perfect J-0 record, shattering the
previous 2-0 start record held by
the I9S9-1990 team. The Mulldogs
have convincingly recorded victo
ries against Furman, Lees-
McKae. and Mrevard at the Justice
Center,
Record set against Brevard
The Mulldogs held Mrevard to a
team record low of J5 points as the
team went on to win the game 75-
J5 Tuesday night.
"This was a great team effort,”
said Head Coach Eddie
Miedenbach. "The defense for our
team really stepped up to the plate
tonight. There have been great
efforts by the entire team in prac
tice and players are stepping up
and wanting to contribute to the
team's success. I could not be
more happy for these guys.”
I'he Mulldogs were led in scoring
by red shirt freshman John
Williams who went a perfect 5-5
from the field and 2-2 from the
free throw line. Williams also led
the team in bkK'ks with three.
"This game we emphasized
defense and it worked," Williams
said. " When 1 was out there on the
court, like my teammates, 1 was
trying to do whatever 1 could to
help us out and get win. So far this
season has gone well for us and I
hope that we continue to add to our
success."
While Williams led the team in
blocks for the game against
Mrevard, Junior center Kenny
Cieorge leads the Mig South with
17 blocks on the season. George
was named the Big South player of
the week for his first two games of
the season averaging IJ.5 points,
8.0 rebounds and 7.5 blocked
shots.
"It feels good to be able to con
tribute this year. George said. "I
am stronger, and fast as I can be,
plus as a team we are all on the
same page. As the year continues
we hope to continue to succeed on
the court.”
Kenny Cieorge is the type of
player that when you put him in
the game he changes team’s
offenses altogether according to
Miedenbach.
The Mulldogs allowed Brevard
only 16 points in the second half
and scored 26 of their 75 points off
of turnovers.
"We get better everyday," said
Photos By Cunt Lathinghousf. -Staff Photographer
senior forward Vincent James.
"We are happy to be J-0. This year
the team has been stepping up and
Coach B. and the rest of the coach
ing staff have been preparing the
team well and it has shown on the
court."
.James steps us up for Bulldogs
Sunday’s game against Lees
McRae proved to be another solid
win for the Bulldogs as they
played without their starting sen
iors for most of the game. Garland
sat out due to a finger injury and
Smithson's hand was injured prior
to halftime, taking him out for the
rest of the game.
But the
injuries didn't
phase the
Asheville team.
The rest of the
Bulldogs
stepped up to
shut down the
Bobcats 74-48.
Vincent
James scored 18
points and
George just missed the first triple
double in school history with 15
points, 10 blocked shots and nine
18 J'incent James
Above, senior Guard K.J Garland
blows past a Furman defender
during the Bulldogs first victory
of the .season.
Left, junior center Kenny george
was named the hig .south player
of the week. This season George
lead the Big South conference in
blocks with 17 in just three games
played.
rebounds,
"We battled through some
things today to pick up the victo
ry,” Biedenbach said. “1 was
proud of our effort in the second
half and we came together to
beat a scrappy Lees-McRae
team. There are some things we
need to work on as we gave up
way too many offensive
rebounds (21), but overall it was
a good performance and it’s
always good to win.”
Season opening victory
against Furman
The Bulldogs downed Furman
78-75 Friday night at the Justice
Center, in front of a packed crowd
of L12J fans.
“We played hard for 40 minutes
and our crowd was just terrific as
they gave us a lot of energy,” said
Biedenbach. “Our guys will get
better, and this game was a first
step.”
The team was lead by seniors
Bryan Smithson and K.J. Garland,
both of whom scored in double
digits. Smithson with 24 points
and Garland with 19. Kenny
George came off the bench to
score 12 points, grab seven
rebounds and block five shots.
The Bulldog team came out strong
and secured a 35-29 lead at the end
of the first half.
But Furman was not going down
without a fight. With just 3:51 left
in the second half, the Paladins cut
an 11 -point deficit to two, coming
as close as 77-75 with only 24 sec
onds left. A free throw by Garland
at the 23 second mark secured the
win for the Bulldogs, leaving the
score 78-75.
“We are lucky to have two fifth-
year seniors this year, both of whom
are really good guards who shoot and
handle the ball well,” Biedenbach
said. “We were nervous going into
this game, Furman came in deter
mined with two exhibition games
under their belt. Because of .schedul
ing problems, we haven’t had that
experience this year. I’m definitely
pleased with the win, but we’re going
to have to play better than we did
tonight.” “It was a good win against
a good division one team. We played
pretty well and moved the ball well,”
said junior guard Reid Augst. “Our
main focus was finishing out the
game. We need to learn how to be
comfortable with our lead, not light
ening up in the end of the game. I
think we can accomplish this.”
Bulldogs mangle Montreal, 75-48
By (iordon (lundlach
SlAfK WrIIFR
Freshman Lind.scy Montgomery
dropped 15 points and snagged 15
rebounds in her collegiate debut, as
the women's basketball team blast
ed .Montreat College 75-48 in the
Justice Center Monday night.
"I was pleased with the game,”
said Head Coach Betsy Blose. "It’s
early in the season; there’s a lot to
work on. We can play faster. We’ve
been practicing since August, so it’s
nice to get a game in. The freshmen
got their feet wet. For our opener. I
thought we did a lot of good
things."
Junior Ana Baker led the team
w ith eight steals. Baker scored 11
points for the Bulldogs, and passed
seven assists.
"Ana Baker was amazing. I think
she tied the schtxrl record for steals
tonight. I thought she did a great
job leading the team," Blose said.
The Bulldogs held the lead
against the Cavaliers at the half. 37-
26. but the team was out-rebound
ed, according to Blose.
"I think we started off slow in the
first half, but we picked up momen
tum in the second half," Baker said.
Baker said she was frustrated
when the team was rebounded at
the half.
"That's really what we’ve got to
be, a rebound team. I yelled at
them," Blose said.
The Bulldogs picked up rebounds
in the second half, and finished the
game with 55 rebounds, while
Above, Junior guard Anna Baker recorded 8 steals in the teams home
opener. Right, freshman Lindsey Montgomery recorded a double dou
ble in her first game as a Bulldog.
Montreat managed 40.
Freshman Kiana Rainey and
sophomores Kyla Jones and Rachel
Williams spent the game on the
bench.
"We have some injuries, but
hopefully everyone will be able to
play soon." Blose said.
The Bulldogs lost upperclassmen
from their championship sea.son but
gained five freshmen.
“We have a lot of new people, and
we’re all going to have to .step up.”
Baker said.
The Bulldogs played a full court
press for the entire game. ,ind m.ide
the Cavaliers work h.nd toi eveiv
throw and every movement ilnwn
the court.
"We’re a young team, and we can
run the court. Ninety-four feet, for
40 minutes.” Baker said. "We’ve a
very fast team, that’s what we want
to excel at.”
Freshman Chioma Okoli scored
14 points for the Bulldogs in her
debut, and Baker contributed 10
points.
"I played decently, but I'll have to
step up more. We've lost a lot of
scorers.” Baker said.
Besides Baker’s stellar defensive
performance, the Bulldogs as a
team recorded 19 total steals
against three steals for Montreat.
"We’re fierce on the boards,”
Blose said. “It was a good game
defensively for our team, our young
players really stepped up when we
needed them to.”
Trey Bouvier -Staff Photographer
Montreat has a new coach, which
made the team more difficult o
beat, according to Blose.
The Bulldogs next home garne^'
Friday against Davidson Colleg^'
which started their season 0-L
“Montreat is much better than
year,” Blose ,said.“What we h^
was that our style of play was eftec
five and it was.”