UNC Asheville Athletics • August 2017 Bulldog Bites Naber and UNC Asheville Women’s Soccer Off to Strong Start Visit UNCABulldogs.com for all your fall athletics information 2 • Bulldog Bites August 2017 Bulldogs Kick Off the 2017-18 Athletic Year the Right Way With Annual ‘Welcome Back’ ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The start of the letics Director for Student-Athlete Success lete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Presi- Asheville student-athlete pictures that new athletic year obviously brings new Rebecca Nelms commenced with all of the dent Kevin Vannatta. feature all of the student-athletes in several beginnings, which is why to kick off the well over 200 UNC Asheville student-ath- UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. panoramic pictures. year the right way the UNC Asheville letes enjoying a first-class meal provided Grant then spoke to the group about how “It was great to have everyone back in athletics department held its annual “Wel- by Chartwells/UNC Asheville Dining. special of an opportunity it is to be at one place to start the year the right way,” come Back” celebration for the 2017-18 All of the student-athletes then were able UNC Asheville before the guest speaker Cone said. “What was particularly nice athletic year on Sunday, Aug. 20, at Kim- to hear from UNC Asheville Senior Ad- in retired Army Colonel Pete Champagne was to give our student-athletes the unique mel Arena. ministrator for University Enterprises and spoke with all of the student-athletes and opportunity to hear from a Colonel about The special evening that was planned by Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone as well staff in attendance about being a true Bull- leadership. His message truly goes along Associate Athletics Director for Athletics as senior men’s basketball student-athlete dog leader. with our focus on being champions in ath- Operations Terri Brne and Assistant Ath- and 2017-18 UNC Asheville Student-Ath- The evening closed with the annual UNC letics and leaders in life.” August 2017 Bulldog Bites • 3 Achorn Named Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville low Big South institution Gardner-Webb. finish with the top attendance in baseball, “I am excited to join the Bulldog fam- Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone re- During his time with the Runnin’ Bull- softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s la- ily here at UNC Asheville,” Achorn said. cently announced the hiring of Alexander dogs, Achorn helped increase attendance crosse in the Northeast Conference. He “UNC Asheville boasts a lively student Achorn as the Director of Marketing and at Garnder-Webb by over 90 percent. He also helped evolve the Bryant basketball body, a supportive community, success- Fan Engagement. also launched the “Top Dawg” student student section to become a finalist for ful sports programs and provides a great “We could not be more excited to have rewards program that vastly increased stu- Naismith Student Section of the Year and opportunity to create one of the best fan Alexander Achorn join our team here at dent attendance at Runnin’ Bulldogs ath- to an Elite Eight finish in the NCAA Sixth bases in the conference. Janet R. Cone, UNC Asheville,” UNC Asheville As- letic events by over 170 percent. Achorn’s Fan School Pride competition. Brian Hand and the rest of the athletics sistant Athletic Director for External efforts with student promotion helped Achorn also worked with the Minnesota staff have done a tremendous job growing Relations Brian Hand said. “We here at Gardner-Webb win its first-ever “Best Timberwolves and Lynx after finishing his and promoting the athletics programs and UNC Asheville have admired Alex’s work Of” award from the National Association undergraduate degree at the University of I am blessed to have the ability and the over the past couple of years, and we are of Collegiate Marketing Administrators Miami in Miami, Fla. where he obtained support to contribute to the successes of thrilled that he is bringing his top-notch (NACMA). his Bachelor of Science degree in Educa- the department. I am also very apprecia- expertise as well as his high-level energy Achorn finished his time at Gardner- tion, Sports Administration and Market- tive of the Bryant Bulldogs and the Gard- and enthusiasm to our athletics depart- Webb having also earned his Master of ing. While a student at Miami, Achorn ner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs for allowing ment.” Business Administration in Marketing. was the Basketball Chair of the “Category me to grow and develop as an athletics Achorn joins the UNC Asheville athlet- Prior to joining Gardner-Webb, Achorn 5 Spirit Programming Board” and he marketer (along with helping me familiar- ics department after spending the last cou- also spent time at Akron and Bryant. As founded “Storm Surge,” which was the of- ize myself with the Bulldog name) and am ple of years as the Director of Marketing, the Director of Marketing and Promotions ficial student section for Miami men’s and thankful for an opportunity to remain in Promotions and Game Presentation at fel- at Bryant, Achorn helped the Bulldogs women’s basketball games. the Big South Conference.” 4 • Bulldog Bites August 2017 Back-To-Back! Naber Earns Second Straight Big South Attacking Player of the Week CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After earning her colades (Kelsey Dawson and Hilary McKay Jacksonville. goals (4), tied for 16th in goals per game (1.00) first career Big South Player of the Week in 2003). After netting a pair of goals versus the Terri- and tied for 19th in total points (8). honor last week, senior midfielder Courtney Naber led the Bulldogs to a 1-1 weekend ers, she continued to rack up goals as she now The Ohio native, who has played nearly Naber was named the Attacking Player of the where the team defeated Jacksonville 2-1 on has a three-game, goal-scoring streak. During every minute this season, leads the Big South Week for the second week in a row, which the road in overtime and were narrowly de- the previous three games, she has accounted Conference in points, points per game (2.00), was announced by the league offices on Mon- feated by North Florida 2-1 in overtime. for all four of her goals this season including total goals, goals per game and game-winning day, Aug. 28. After scoring the game-winning goal in two game-winners. She is also one goal away goals. Naber is also second in the league in The back-to-back Attacking Player of the overtime at home versus Wofford on Aug. 20, from tying a personal record for most goals total shots (14) and shots per game (3.50). Week honor is the first time in program his- Naber stayed hot as she scored the go-ahead scored in a single season. Naber and the Bulldogs will return to the tory and the third time an individual has won goal versus North Florida in the 57th minute On a national level, Naber is tied for 2nd in pitch on Sunday, Sept. 3 versus UAB. Kickoff consecutive Big South Player of the Week ac- and the game-winner in the 100th minute at game-winning goals (2), tied for 5th in total is set for 2 p.m. at Greenwood Field. August 2017 Bulldog Bites • 5 Venema Tabbed to Benson Hospitality Invitational All- Tournament Team ATHENS, Ga. – UNC Asheville fresh- 3-0 sweep of George Mason on Friday, regular season-opening tournament. combined record of 62-28. man middle blocker Ava Venema put to- Aug. 25, as she connected on seven of her UNC Asheville volleyball will next On Friday, Sept. 1, Asheville will take gether a strong first weekend as a Bulldog 10 (.700) attacks in the match. travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for perhaps one on the host Seminoles and Colorado State. to garner All-Tournament honors at the Venema’s 20 kills on the week were sec- of the team’s toughest challenge of the Both programs finished 2016 with more Benson Hospitality Invitational. ond only to UNC Asheville junior outside season in Florida State’s Home2 Suites by than 20 wins on the year and each finished Venema hit an impressive .372 in UNC hitter Cara Guthrie, who ended her efforts Hilton – Tallahassee Seminole Tourna- second in their respective conference reg- Asheville’s three matches to lead the Bull- in the three matches with 30 kills. ment. All three of the Bulldogs’ opponents ular season standings. On Saturday, Sept. dogs in the category. Overall, Venema averaged 2.22 kills per in Tallahassee advanced to the NCAA 2, UNC Asheville will face off against She was also incredibly proficient in the set in Asheville’s three matches in their Tournament last season and boasted a TCU. 6 • Bulldog Bites August 2017 UNC Asheville Volleyball Great Jen Peterson Returns to Program as Assistant Coach ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville vol- ville volleyball team and an alum.” the Biltmore Volleyball Academy. She is also am thankful to Janet R. Cone for this oppor- leyball head coach Frederico Santos recently Jennifer Baker Peterson earned numerous a former assistant coach at Mars Hill. tunity as well. I had a tremendous experience announced the addition of Jen Peterson as an accolades during her playing career. She was Peterson also has extensive high school as a student-athlete at UNC Asheville and assistant coach. a two-time Big South All-Academic selection head coaching experience at North Bun- hope to bring my passion and knowledge to “I am pleased to have Jennifer Peterson (1998 and 1999). Peterson garnered Big South combe High School, Asheville School and help further the great tradition of volleyball at added to the volleyball program,” Santos said.