3J0.2011 I The Blue Banner I 11
Dustin Stuart - Asst. Photography Editor
UNC Asheville pitcher Tommy Houmard hurls a pitch against Coastal Carolina on Sunday.
ngpearso@unca.edu - Sports Editor
First it was Matt Dickey’s
buzzer-beating 3-pointer that
upset them. Then, it was men’s
basketball’s dominant 60-47
victory in the Big South Confer
ence Tournament that brought
tears to their eyes. Now, it’s
baseball’s turn to shake up
Coastal Carolina University.
On day two of their three-day
home series last weekend, the
baseball team pulled out a 3-2
win to end the Chanticleers’ 36-
game Big South winning streak.
Before Saturday, Coastal had
not lost since the 2009 season.
The victory, captured in the
ninth inning thanks to freshman
Nick Collazo’s drawn walk
with bases loaded, also snapped
the Bulldogs’ four-year winning
drought against them.
“We’ve been on the other end
of that streak, but the best way I
can sum it up is talking to Cat-
lin Carter after the game and he
said it was the most fun he had
had here in the last four years,”
Head Coach Tom Smith said.
Coastal, ranked No. 29 in the
USA Today/ESPN Coaches’
Poll, returned to Greenwood
field on Sunday, only to see his
tory repeat itself.
Inning after inning. Coastal
performed and UNC Asheville
answered back - until the 12th.
Loading the bases, the Bulldogs
watched, rally caps and all,
as Collazo scored yet another
game-winning play.
“To beat Coastal once was
awesome, but to beat them twice
in walk-off fashion is something
I’ll never forget,” Collazo said.
Smashing a line drive straight
down the middle, Collazo, by far
the hero of the weekend, opened
up the play for senior Catlin
Carter to bring himself home.
“Nick (Collazo) has been
swinging the bat better of late,”
Smith said. “Earlier on, he was
looking a bit overwhelmed by
college baseball, but he’s proba
bly been the hottest hitter we’ve
had over the last three weeks.”
The Bulldogs walked off with
a 7-6 victory, a cheering fan sec
tion and their first win against
Coastal since 2007.
Increasing their record to 8-5
overall and 3-3 in BSC play,
the team’s next five games are
played on the road.
“As well as we played, I
think all our players know what
they’re capable of, so any effort
less than what we put in this
weekend will be a disappoint
ment,” Smith said.
Sports Profile
Mattie Weingarten
mfweinga@unca.edu - Staff Writer
For sophomore Adrien
Langeard, tennis is more than
a pastime or a meal ticket. It is a
way of life.
“Tennis is my balance. I feel
good when I play well, and I
feel bad when I don’t,” he said.
Hailing from Caen, France,
Langeard has not been on the
UNC Asheville tennis team
long. However, he’s managed to
make quite an impact.
He began the 2010 season at
the top spot, but an injury early
on prevented him from playing
singles for much of the season.
He achieved a 7-6 singles re
cord, with three of the wins be
ing conference victories. He and
teammate Thomas Rees finished
with a 9-8 doubles record.
This season, the duo has
proven nearly unbeatable, with
a 12-1 record. In addition, he’s
10-2 in singles play.
Head Coach Lise Gregory
said Langeard is one of the most
consistent players on the team.
“Adrien is a fighter on the
court. He works very hard, and
he’s positive and feisty,” said
teammate Matthew Waissen.
It has not been an easy road
for Langeard. As well as adjust
ing to a new university and a
new country, his freshman sea
son was plagued with numerous
injuries, making it difficult for
him to reach his potential.
“I’ve had trouble with arm
injuries. Injuries can ruin your
confidence because they can
prevent you from playing, so
when you come back you play
really bad and need time to get
back on track,” he said.
Despite Langeard’s enviable
accomplishments, he is any
thing but complacent. Dissatis
fied with his achievements, he
constantly strives to improve.
“I feel like I haven’t done any
thing great in America yet, but it
will come. My record this year
is not bad, but I would like it to
be better because the two guys I
lost to this year were beatable.
In France, I won a couple of
good tournaments, but wasn’t
happy with that either,” he said.
Of course, no athlete can ac
complish much without help
and encouragement. Langeard
cites several inspirations, both
personal and athletic, with
sistency to tennis
:■ • . ' '■V
Rachael Fisher - Staff Photographer
see FRENCH on page 12 Sophomore Adrien Langeard is 12-1 in doubles action so far.