ARKANSAS STATE

Van Provence  Assistant Sports Information Director  [email protected]  870-972-2707  870-897-5010 (cell)  870-972-3367 fax ARKANSAS STATE at Texas Southern Tournament 2008 ASU Volleyball Schedule August 29 & 30  Houston, Texas  TSU Health & P.E. Arena Date Opponent Time/Result Aug. 29 Mississippi Valley St.% 1 PM SERVING IT UP: Arkansas State’s volley- tions for each team is now 12 per set. at Texas Southern% 5 PM ball season gets underway Friday afternoon Aug. 30 The Citadel% 11 AM Sept. 2 vs. UT-Martin 7 PM when the Red Wolves open play in the Texas HEAD COACH CRAIG CUMMINGS: Sept. 5 Samford^ 3 PM Southern University Season Opener Craig Cummings is entering his 13th season Sept. 6 Morgan State^ 1 PM Tournament. Arkansas State opens play in as head coach of the Red Wolf volleyball pro- at Kansas City^ 5 PM the tournament with a Friday doubleheader, gram, making him the longest tenured coach Sept. 12 Southeast Missouri St.# 5 PM taking on the Devilettes of Mississippi in ASU volleyball history. Sept. 13 at Southern Illinois# Noon Western Illinois# 5 PM Valley State at 1:00 p.m. The Red Wolves During his 12 seasons at Sept.19 Presbyterian+ 11 AM will be back on the court at 5:00 p.m. to take Arkansas State, Cummings at Western Carolina+ 6:30 PM on the host Texas Southern Tigers. ASU will has compiled an impressive Sept. 20 Norfolk State+ 10:30 AM wrap up play in the tournament Saturday 224-161 record, picking up Sept. 25 vs. New Orleans* 7 PM against The Citadel, taking on the Bulldogs three Sept. 26 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette* 7 PM Coach of the Year honors Sept. 28 vs. Louisiana-Monroe* 1 PM at 11:00 a.m. Oct. 2 at South Alabama* 7 PM along the way. During the Oct. 4 at Troy* 1 PM 2006 campaign, he became THE TEAMS: The tournament will serve Craig Oct. 7 vs. Memphis 7 PM just the third coach in ASU as the season opener for all four teams. Cummings Oct. 10 vs. Middle Tennessee* 7 PM volleyball history to eclipse Oct. 11 vs. Western Kentucky* 3 PM NEW ERA AT ASU: The ASU- 200 victories, and last year Oct. 16 at New Orleans* . 7 PM moved into second place on the ASU all-time Oct. 17 at Louisiana-Lafayette* 7 PM Mississippi Valley State volleyball matchup wins list. Cummings reached another mile- Oct. 19 at Louisiana-Monroe* 1 PM will be the first volleyball match in which stone in 2007 as well when he topped the Oct. 24 vs. Florida Atlantic* 7 PM Arkansas State University will compete as Oct. 25 vs. Florida International* 7 PM 300 career victories mark and he now stands the Red Wolves. After 77 years of competi- Oct. 28 at UALR* 7 PM at 305-271 through 18 seasons as a head tion as the Indians, the Red Wolves mascot Oct. 31 vs. Denver* 7 PM coach. OCt. 2 vs. North Texas* 1 PM was adopted in January 2008 after many Hampered by injuries throughout the Nov. 4 vs. UALR* 7 PM hours of work by the University’s Mascot season, Arkansas State finished 12-19 a year Nov. 14 at North Texas* 7 PM Selection Steering Committee. The job of ago, including an 8-10 mark in the Sun Belt Nov. 16 at Denver* 1 PM the committee was to make a new mascot Nov. 20-22 SBC Tournament Miami, Fla. TBA Conference. Although ASU finished the year Dec. 4-6 NCAA Tournament-Sub Regionals TBA recommendation to Chancellor Dr. Robert below .500, the season did produce several L. Potts and the University administration. memorable moments. Arkansas State fin- % - Texas Southern Tournament (Houston, Tex.) The committee recommended “Wolves” at a ished the regular season on a high note, win- ^ - UMKC Tournament (Kansas City, MO) Jan. 31 meeting, and the Red Wolves mascot ning three straight matches on the road in # - Southern Illinois Tournament (Carbondale, Ill.) evolved from that point. + - Western Carolina Tournament (Cullowhee, NC) Louisiana. ASU began the late season surge * Sun Belt Conference Match with a 3-0 win at Louisiana-Monroe, fol- All Times Central Time ASU vs. MVSU, TSU and The Citadel: lowed by a 3-1 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette. Arkansas State holds a 2-0 lead over Arkansas State completed the sweep through Mississippi Valley State in the all-time Louisiana when they defeated New Orleans series between the two schools. ASU and 3-0 to close out the regular season, earning a MVSU met last season at the Central berth in the Sun Belt Conference Arkansas Invitational, with ASU defeating Tournament in the process. The 2007 sea- the Devilettes 3-0. Arkansas State has never son also was highlighted by senior middle blocker Robin Aaron being named to the All- Arkansas State Quick Facts faced Texas Southern or the Citadel on the volleyball court. Sun Belt Conference team for the third con- Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas secutive year, and senior Katie Peil’s ascent Enrollment: 10,869 to the top of the career assists chart. Peil fin- RULE CHANGES FOR 2008: Volleyball Nickname: Red Wolves ished her career with 5,048 assists, becom- games have a new name. The term “game” Colors: Scarlet and Black ing the only player in ASU history to top the has now been changed to “set.” The number Arena: ASU Convocation Center (10,727) 5,000-assist mark. Conference: Sun Belt of points required to win a set has been During his tenure at Arkansas State, Head Coach: Derek Pittman changed as well. The number of points Cummings has guided the Red Wolf program Overall Record: 305-271 (18 Years) required to win sets one through four is now to four Sun Belt Conference regular season Record at ASU: 224-161 (12 Years) 25, with the fifth set still being played to 15 championships, and one appearance in the points. The maximum number of substitu- 2008 Arkansas State Soccer 1 astateredwolves.com NCAA Volleyball Tournament. His most Poly participated in eight straight NCAA Allen joined the Georgetown pro- recent championship came in 2004 when Tournaments from 1982-89, a run that gram in August 2006 after spending ASU took home the SBC East Division title, included three Elite Eight appearances nearly two years at State posting an 11-3 mark in Sun Belt play, and a (1982, 1983, 1985). The Cal Poly coaching University at Chico as the assistant 25-8 overall record on the season. staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year in women’s volleyball coach and head the Big West Conference in 1985 and 1989. In 2004, the then-Lady Indians closed out men’s club coach. the regular season by picking up victories in In 1990, Cummings began his career as a “I am truly excited that Julie agreed 13 of their last 14 matches on their way to the head coach by taking over the Mustang pro- title. The Tribe also posted an undefeated gram. In 1992, his Mustangs posted a 22-11 to come to Arkansas record at home with a 14-0 mark at the record and were ranked fourth in the State and our volleyball Convocation Center. Also under Cummings' Northwest Region. That same year he was program,” ASU Head tutelage, outside hitter Giedre Tarnauskaite named Northwest Region Coach of the Year Coach Craig Cummings was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of by the American Volleyball Coaches said. “She brings with the Year and setter Katie Peil picked up SBC Association. her a wealth of experi- Freshman of the Year accolades. During his time at Cal Poly-SLO, ence from the Big East Cummings' crowning achievement so far Cummings coached 19 All-Americans. Conference, training the was a three-game victory over Arkansas- In recognition of his coaching excellence setters and coordinating Asst. Coach Little Rock in Little Rock, Ark., on Nov. 21, at Cal Poly, Cummings was named to the the offense at Julie Allen 1999, that gave him his first SBC Tournament coaching staffs at three straight U.S. Olympic championship and ASU's first NCAA Festivals (1993-95). As an assistant for the Georgetown University Tournament appearance since 1995. South squad in 1993, Cummings earned a during the last couple of seasons. With In 1999, Cummings guided the Lady Indians gold medal for his efforts. In 1994 and 1995, some very talented candidates in the to a 21-11 record on the season. The 21 wins Cummings served as head coach of the West pool, Julie stood out as the best, allow- were the most for ASU since the 1999 cam- squads, finishing second and fourth. ing our program to take advantage of paign and returned ASU to the upper echelon He has been a member of the American her experience and expertise and help in the Sun Belt Conference. Volleyball Coaches Association since 1983 us climb back to the top of the Sun Belt ASU won another Sun Belt Conference and a member of USA Volleyball since 1980. Conference.” title in 1999 when the Lady Indians finished In addition to his work with the U.S. Olympic After graduating from the with a 28-7 record, including a stellar 14-2 Festivals, he has served on the Board of University of Portland in 2002, Allen Directors and Selection Committee of the mark in conference action. The Lady Indians was the head volleyball coach at finished atop the league standings and went National Invitational Volleyball on to win the Sun Belt Conference Championships. He has been a member of Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Ore. Tournament title and gain the NCAA the NCAA Division I Northwest Region until 2003. She was a lead coach for the Tournament appearance. The 28-win cam- Advisory Committee and the AVCA Empire Volleyball Club in Santa Rosa, paign was the highest win total for ASU Northwest Region Division I All-American Calif. from 2000-2004. under Cummings and the most since the 1993 Committee. Allen is also a graduate of the NCAA season in which ASU picked up 32 victories. Cummings has been a clinic speaker for Women’s Coaches Academy, which is Eight of Cummings' teams have won 20- West Coast Clinics in Palo Alto, Calif., and at designed for women coaches who are or-more games-after a 24-win campaign in the 1990 and 1996 National (Junior ready and willing to increase their indi- Cummings' first season in 1996, ASU had a )Volleyball Festival. Cummings was also vidual effectiveness through learning 21-12 record in 1997, a 23-11 record in 1998, instrumental in the development of the San advanced skills and strategies that Luis Obispo Juniors Volleyball Club, serving a 28-7 mark in 1999, a 20-11 record in 2000, directly affect their personal and team a 21-11 mark in 2003, 2005's 25-8 record and on its Board of Directors. last season’s 21-14 mark. Cummings was born in Fort Sill, success. Cummings was named the head volleyball Oklahoma, on March 28, 1957. He and his A four-year setter at Portland, Allen coach at Arkansas State in May of 1996. He is wife Carol have two children, Drew (18) and stands at fifth on the Pilots’ all-time the fifth coach in the program's 29-year his- Alex (16). Cummings, a 1982 graduate of Cal career assists list with 2,042. tory. He had spent the previous six seasons as Poly-San Luis Obispo with a degree in “Julie is a bright young lady with a head coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly-San Physical Education, earned a master's degree lot of energy and has an outside-the- Luis Obispo, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. in Physical Education in 1987 from Cal Poly- box mentality towards developing new As a player, Cummings played three sea- SLO. ways to train the team,” Cummings sons for the Cal Poly men's program from said. “She will coordinate our recruit- ASSISTANT COACH JULIE ALLEN: 1978-80. A member of the Western ing efforts as well as handle the video Julie Allen joined the Arkansas State Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the Cal systems throughout the year.” Poly men played against some of the top col- volleyball staff as an assistant coach on legiate men's teams ever to step foot on a April 1, 2008, after two seasons at floor. Georgetown. Cummings began his coaching career in 1981 as the head coach of the Cal Poly-SLO men's program, posting a record of 23-10. Cal Poly discontinued its men program the fol- lowing year and Cummings went to work as an assistant coach of the women's team and remained there until 1989. During his term as an assistant coach, Cal

2008 Arkansas State Soccer 2 astateredwolves.com 2008 ASU Red Wolf Volleyball Roster

Numerical Roster No. Name Pos. Ht Cl. Hometown Previous School 1 Erin Neeley DS 5-5 Jr. Jonesboro, Ark. Westside 2 Kaelynn Benson DS 5-4 Fr. Trumann, Ark. Trumann 3 Christin Baker MH 5-10 So. Edmond, Okla. Edmond North 4 Cayla Fielder MB 6-1 Fr. Jonesboro, Ark. Westside 5 Jordan Williams DS 5-7 Fr. Jonesboro, Ark. Nettleton 6 Kristen Catalane OH 6-1 So. Bonham, Texas Bonham 7 Brittany Crislip S 5-8 Fr. Houston, Texas Clear Lake 8 Heather Bowman DS 5-8 Jr. Fort Smith, Ark. Southside 9 Charlyn Ursell OH 5-10 Fr. Houston, Texas New American School 10 Mandy DeWalt OH 5-8 Jr. Houston, Texas J. Frank Dobie 11 Mafo Joelle OH 6-0 Sr. Yaounde, Cameroon Mo. St.-West Plains 12 Laura Bennett S 5-8 So. Kansas City, Kan. St. Thomas Aquinas 13 Brittany Hoag OH 6-1 Fr. Crosby, Texas Crosby 14 Laurel England OH 6-0 So. Rochester, N.Y. Irondequoit 17 Konae Purcell OH 5-11 Jr. Aiea, North Idaho College 18 Heather Gillion DS 5-8 Sr. Cardwell, Mo. Southland

Alphabetical Roster No. Name Pos. Ht Cl. Hometown Previous School 3 Baker, Christin MH 5-10 So. Edmond, Okla. Edmond North 12 Bennett, Laura S 5-8 So. Kansas City, Kan. St. Thomas Aquinas 2 Benson, Kaelynn DS 5-4 Fr. Trumann, Ark. Trumann 8 Bowman, Heather DS 5-8 Jr. Fort Smith, Ark. Southside 6 Catalane, Kristin OH 6-1 So. Bonham, Texas Bonham 7 Crislip, Brittany S 5-8 Fr. Houston, Texas Clear Lake 10 DeWalt, Mandy OH 5-8 Jr. Houston, Texas J. Frank Dobie 14 England, Laurel OH 6-0 So. Rochester, N.Y. Irondequoit 4 Fielder, Cayla MB 6-1 Fr. Jonesboro, Ark. Westside 18 Gillion, Heather DS 5-8 Sr. Cardwell, Mo. Southland 13 Hoag, Brittany OH 6-1 Fr. Crosby, Texas Crosby 11 Joelle, Mafo OH 6-0 Sr. Yaounde, Cameroon Mo. St.-West Plains 1 Neeley, Erin DS 5-5 Jr. Jonesboro, Ark. Westside 17 Purcell, Konae OH 5-11 Jr. Aiea, Hawaii North Idaho College 9 Ursell, Charlyn OH 5-10 Fr. Houston, Texas New American School 5 Williams, Jordan DS 5-7 Fr. Jonesboro, Ark. Nettleton

Head Coach Craig Cummings Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 1982 Assistant Coach – Julie Allen (University of Portland, 2002)

2008 Arkansas State Soccer 3 astateredwolves.com