Fall season a success
Wednesday, December 12,1984/THE BLUE BANNER/9
THE SOOCER TEAM battled its way to the District Chae-
piooslilp gaK before losiqg a tougli battle.
By Jim Gardner
If there were a win-
loss record for athletic
programs, UNCA could
chalk up a victory for
its fall season, accord
ing to Athletic Director
Ed Harris.
I*m very pleased with
the season overall," he
said.
The men's soccer team,
the wMnen*s volleyball
team, and the cross coun
try team all contributed
to the success of the
program, according to
Harris.
The men's soccer team.
vdiich finished its season
with a 14-6-2 record,
battled all the way to
the NAIA District 26
championship game before
losing to Catawba, a team
it had beaten earlier in
the season.
The wcmen's volleyball
team, 19-8 for the year,
advanced to the NAIA. Dis
trict 26 playoffs for the
first time.
Their match with Mars
Hill early in the season
was comparable to the
Battle of Gettysburg, ac
cording to Harris. UNCA
won the first game 15-1,
but narrowly lost the
next two games.
"That game was very ex
citing," said Harris.
"The crowd was one of the
most involved I've ever
seen at a volleyball
match."
The cross country team
finished fifth in the Big
South Conference. That
was no small feat, Harris
said.
"I'm extremely pleased
with the cross country
team," said Harris.
"After having very little
time to prepare for the
season. Coach Bob Hartman
did wonders with them."
Although the basketball
season is young, both the
men's and women's teams
have started impressive
ly, according to Harris.
The Lady Bulldogs, de
fending NAIA national
chanq>ions, lost by 23
points against Tennessee
Wesleyan in their second
game of the year, but
that may have been a
blessing in disguise,
said Harris.
"Getting beat by 25
points gets your atten
tion," he said. "Every
body is keying on them
because they are defend
ing champions. Getting
beat like that early in
the season will make them
a stronger team in the
long run."
Since that loss, the
women have beaten every
Division 1 team they have
faced, including Western
Carolina University.
An early season high
light for the men's team
was sharing the court at
the Asheville Civic Cen
ter with the UNC Tarheels
Nov. 21. Although the
Bulldogs didn't play the
Tarheels, the exhibition
gave UNCA good exposure,
said Harris.
That exhibition was re
flective of the growth of
the entire athletic pro
gram at UNCA, he added.
One indication of the
program's growth is the
greater depth of the var
ious teams, said Harris.
The women's basketball
team, for example, had
only nine players last
This Week
Baaketliall
Dec. 15, UNCA men vs.
Milligan at Milligan,
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15, UNCA women vs.
Winston-Salem State at
Winston-Salem, 6 p.m.
year. This year they have
15.
With increased par
ticipation comes some
problems, however, said
Harris.
"Our biggest problem is
lack of facilities," he
Staff photo by Phil Ross
said. "We badly need more
outdoor facilities."
That problem should
disappear next year, when
UNCA constructs a base
ball complex across from
the soccer field, Harris
said.
THE JAEfI BDUUDOGS are depending on strong team effort
to the NAIA national title. Staff photo by Phil Ross
IHB WQHEN'S OTJJtraATJ. TEAM aade it to the Districts.
Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins
THIS YEAR TflE BOUDOGS are a reflection of the growth
and depth of DlCA's athletic program.
Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins