Newspapers / Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.) / Oct. 1, 1977, edition 1 / Page 8
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Page 8 - CROSSROADS • October, 1977 i Tennis season promises to be ‘very good’ *.» 1; iHiilV^i' \.. .B1 - ‘ f! : ^ * ■ .Mh T.J. Reilly, (lus Pena and Steve Reilly greet Roger Martin, a Gastonia native, to the nets at BAC. Rebuilding year seen for Hussey’s boys frmt Coach Hobby Hussey's Belmont Abbey College basketball team is hoping to bounce back Irom the disap pointing 11-16 record ot the 1976-. 77 season. The t.'rusaders, in a steady rebuilding process under Hussey, who is entering his seventh season at the helm, have a host of returning let- termen from the 1976-77 squad. One of the leading returnees is senior Desmond 'Dennis. The 6'7" senior center from Washington, D.C. led the Crusaders in scoring last year with a 14.1 point per game average, and in rebounding, averaging 9,7 rebounds per’ game. Dennis, who has been a starter since his freshman year, is an aggressive player who pos.sesses a strong inside game. His keen outside shooting touch helps make him a very flexible- player. He played mostly at the center position last .sea.son, but he can also play lorward when called upon to do so. Also returning for his senior season is ?>'T' guard Bobby Moran. 'I'he Bethesda. Md. red head was the playmaker on last season's squad. He led the team in assists with 119. averaged 8.0 IK)ints pt'r game, and shot 50.8 percent from the field. .lunior .Mike l.ittle.iohn, a guard, should also figure into the Crusaders’ plan ol attack. He had several excellent games last season, coming otf the bench to put some offensive punch into the act when it was needed. While playing in only 22 games, he scored 171 points. He shot .57.7 per cent Irom the field and was an 83.3 percent free throw shooter. Sophomores .Jack Campbell and Billy Holmgaard should be much improved over last season, gaining needed ex perience over the past year. Campbell, a starter as a fresh man. can play either gur'rd or forward. In his initial season as a Crusader, he averaged 8.6 points per game and hauled in 88 rebounds. Holmgaard was4 spark-plug, coming off the bench and giving the team a big lift. He played in only 25 games, scoring 126 points and hauling in 75 rebounds. Newcomers David Kershaw, Stan Parker, Lawrence Carter, and Edward Jenkins should also play key roles in the Crusader attack, as Hussey continues to rebuild his still young squad. “Though our record does not indicate it, we had a very good team,” commented Hussey. “There was not a game we could not have won, and it’s a shame our team had to be judged on its record. “We are still relatively young,” continued Hussey. “We have a good nucleus returning, and our seniors should give us the maturity we need. Some of our younger guys are still learning. “We have a very tough schedule ahead of us, one that includes Old Dominion, Seton Hall, and traditional rival Gardner-Webb. All of these, along with the regular District 26 rivals, should give us all the competition we need. It is really going to be a challenging year,” Hussey concluded. “We are going to have a very good tennis team this year, " an elated Belmont Abbey t'ollege tennis coach Mike Heidy has been telling everyone the last few weeks. Heidy has reasons tor being so optimistic. His three top players from last year’s team. Spike and '1'. J. Reilly and Ed Perry have returned. fhey have also been joined by fresh man Roger Martin, one of Gaston County's lop tennis stars. “We have four top players,” said Reidy. Along with lour or five other guys that are really working hard, they are going to make this spring very in teresting.” To get the season kicked off early, '1. ,1. Reilly won a tall tennis match at Gardner-Webb College. The match pitted the lop tennis players from several area colleges. Reilly downed Ed Herron, U.NC-Asheville s number one player, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, to win the cham pionship. Reilly, in his march lo the crown, had to also down Gard- ner-Webb's number one player, Randall Troydjen, but he easily handled him, 6-3. 6-2. “'1'. J. was just playing super tennis,” Reidy commented following the tournament. “He played up to his poten tial; his whole game was lops. He served well, his ground strokes were good, and his volley was excellent. He just totally demolished all ol his opponents. “We also had two other players entered. Steve Reilly won two matches before losing lo Herron in the quarterfinals. Perry also played well. Martin was playing in another tour nament in Gastonia, or he would have been with us as well.” Martin is a new addition lo the Crusaders' tennis program. Having only been playing competitive tennis for two years now, he is one of the top five players in Gaston County. He has had several top finishes in local tennis events. “Roger is just reaching his capabilities in tennis,” com mented Reidy. “He just keeps getting better and better. He works very hard and I am very happy to have him here at Belmont Abbey. ■“All of the guys are working very hard, and we have a strong nucleus to work with. W'e have one more match for the fall season against UNC-Charlotte, and that should give us ample tune-up for the fall schedule. We will all be ready for the spring. “With the spirit the guys have shown and the good attitudes we have combined with the hard work, Belmont Abbey College tennis is going to be a strong point. I’m just happy to be representing Belmont Abbey College with such a strong program. I feel that we will do an excellent job representing the College. I’m very excited about it,” Reidy concluded. Soccer balances record at 3-3 The li(77 edition ol the Belmont Abbey College six-cer team has a current record of :i- 3, as new coach George Ken nedy is building a new program with a young squad. The ( rasaders lace a very lough schedule, already playing such powers as UNC-Chapel Hill, Warren Wilson, and Ap palachian. The young squad dropped games lo these teams, HNC-CII by 6-1, Appalachian, 6- I. and Warren Wilson. 41. 'I’he first Crusader victory of the 1977 season came against St. Andrews ('ollege by a score ol 4- ;J. h'ekri .Soussi drove home two goals in that one as the young squad led 3-0 at hall lime. Soussi added two more goals and freshman Chip Smith contributed two assists as the (’rusaders notched victory number two against UNC- ('harlotle, 2-1. The Crusaders were never behind, as the UNC- (' goal came late m the game. Victory luimtH'r three lor the ( rasaders came against UNC- Greenstxiro, with a score of .5-1. .Soussi drove home three more goals, and Chip Smith and Bill h'igaro contributed one more each as the Crusaders broke open a 1-1 tie at the halftime, and scored an impressive victory. “We are getting better each time now, and with the ad ditional work, we will become a great team. “We have a lot of young players on the squad. They lack the needed experience to compete in heavy college competition. The three teams that we lost to are all ranked in the South. Appalachian is ranked third. Chapel Hill, sixth. and Warren Wilson, eleventh. These are very, very tough teams to break a young squad in against. “The games do not get any easier, as the season progresses. I / V / j A, Alan Gross. Dave Fierce and F ekri Soussi charge an opponent in a match earlier this year.
Crossroads (Belmont, N.C.)
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