1 SAINTS VOLLEYBALL Limestone College Volleyball 2005 Contents Quick Facts……………………………………………..2 Season Outlook Season Outlook………………………………………3-4 2005 Roster…………………………………………….5 2005 Schedule………………………………………….6 Coach and Player Personnel Head Coach Tim Loesch……………………………….7 Assistant Coach Bill Scott ……..………………………8 Volunteer Assistant Bradley Smith…………………….8 Student Assistant Talayna Akrie……………………….8 Juniors………………………………………………9-10 Sophomores………………………………………..10-11 Freshmen…………………………………………..11-12 Opponents 2005 Opponents……………………………………13-14 2004 Results…………………………………………..15 Stats 2004 Stats……………………………………………..16 Record Book……………………………………….17-21 Athletic Department Athletic Directory……………………………………..22 Athletic Training………………………………………23 Athletic Support 2005 Quick Facts Saints Club…………………………………………….24 College Information Facilities Location…………………..…………….…………….Gaffney, SC Limestone Athletic Facilities……………………...25-26 Enrollment…………………….…………….………………....670 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Founded………………………….…………….……………..1845 CVAC Information……………………………………26 President…………………….……….……….......Dr. Walt Griffin Limestone College Athletic Information Limestone College Information……………...back cover Athletic Director……………………….…………...Larry Epperly Asst. AD for Compliance………………………...Dennis Bloomer Senior Women’s Administrator ……………….Vanessa Fulbright Nickname…………………………………….……….Lady Saints Colors…………………………………………........Blue and Gold Affiliation……………………………………...NCAA Division II Volleyball Information Conference….…………..Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Head Coach…….………….…...…………Tim Loesch (2nd Year) Overall Record…….………….…………………….…..……7-24 Record at Limestone….………….…………………………..7-24 Assistant Coaches……...Bill Scott, Bradley Smith, Talayna Akrie Facility……………………….…..……….…………Timken Gym 2005 Media Guide Credits 2004 Record (CVAC)..………….………….………….7-24(0-18) Letter Winners Returning/Lost…………………..….………..6/10 The 2005 Limestone Volleyball Media Guide was Newcomers……………………………………………………....7 written, designed, and edited by Assistant Sports Media Information Information Director Susie Russell with editorial SID……………………………………….………….….Josh Lacy assistance from SID Josh Lacy, Adrienne Lacy, Dr. Walt SID Phone………………………………….……….864-488-8219 Griffin, and Josh Crotzer. SID Fax……………………………………….…….864-902-0714 SID Email…………………………………[email protected] Website Address……………………………...www.limestone.edu 2 SAINTS VOLLEYBALL Limestone College Volleyball Season Outlook After a 2004 season that nearly doubled the Lady Saints’ win total from the previous year, Head Coach Tim Loesch is looking to 2 increase those numbers again in 2005. With a returning core of several quality players including sophomore outside hitter Meredeth Overton (Floyds Knobs, IN), and junior defensive specialist Shannon Zehr (Carthage, NY), as well as an incoming 0 group filled with height, talent, and athleticism, the Saints will be strong contenders in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference 0 this year. Overton had an outstanding freshman year at Limestone. She is ranked at the top of the Limestone College record book in both kills in a single match with 23, and kills in a single season with 5 324. That single season record also ranks her 4th on the career totals list, just over 200 fewer than Limestone’s all time leader Kerrie Williams (2001-2003). Overton is also in the books, ranking 2nd in single season digs with 360, and 4th in both blocks and aces in a single match with 32 and 5 respectively. One of the Lady Saints’ best defenders last season, Zehr recorded 181 digs in 87 games. Also returning is O junior defensive specialist Megan Woods (Charleston, SC) who recorded 95 digs in just 58 games. Limestone fans can look for sophomores Hayley Malool (Hilton Head, SC), and Sarah Briggs (Gilbert, SC) to build off of a year of experience and improve in 2005. U “Our returning squad improved significantly during last season and over the off-season.” Loesch said. “We gained a lot of experience playing at a higher level and improved technique in T many of our volleyball skills. The returning players are also familiar with some of the offensive and defensive schemes that we will use again this year. Furthermore, we made great strides L in our attitude and fitness.” Junior College transfers Michelle Cash (Chesnee, SC), Amber Wise (Brownsville, TX) and Julie Oleson (Seattle, WA) will O add talent and experience to complement the height of incoming freshmen Melissa Thomas (Easley, SC), Samanatha Flannery (Acworth, GA), Lynn Milam (Woodstock, GA), and Alison Hamilton (Purcellville, VA). Thomas and Flannery, at 6-3 and O 6-2 respectively will dominate as middle hitters at the net, along with Milam who stands at 5-11. Hamilton will vie for the K position of setter. Limestone’s trio of transfers will add experience and leadership to a young roster. Last season, Wise was a captain at Temple Community College. She led her team to two North Texas Junior College titles, a Region V Championship, and an appearance at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Cash, a 6-0 middle hitter, and captain at Spartanburg Methodist College, led her team to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Region X Tournament in 2004. Oleson led her team to a 33-15 record at Shoreline Community College in 2004, and was the top defensive specialist at USC Aiken in 2003. 3 SAINTS VOLLEYBALL Limestone College Volleyball Season Outlook Thomas earned Best Defensive Player and All-Region honors at Easley High School. In 2004 she led her team to an almost perfect 2 14-1 record. Flannery, a captain at Kell High School in Georgia, earned All-County recognition her senior year. She led her club team, Christian Sports of Atlanta, to a 2nd place finish in their division of the Southern Region. At Woodstock High School, 0 Milam was twice named captain and was a four time All-County selection. Hamilton led both Loudoun Valley High School and North Sanpete High School to 3A State Championships. She also competed in the 2004 USA Junior Olympic National Volleyball 0 Championships for Northern Virginia Volleyball. Loesch is excited about this year’s new faces. “During our first full 5 recruiting season this past year, we were able to identify and sign several quality players who will have an immediate impact in our conference. Our junior college transfers will bring maturity and college level playing experience to our team, while our outstanding freshmen have extensive club volleyball backgrounds. All the newcomers are expected to see significant court time immediately.” O The Lady Saints are excited to have Talayna Akrie as a student assistant this season. Akrie was a stand out starting setter during her single season at Limestone. She played in all 31 matches last season, recording a Limestone record 890 assists. That record stands at the top of the single season and career record list for the Lady Saints. She also ranks 1st and 3rd in single match assists with 60 and 53 (twice) respectively. Akrie is U one of only two Limestone players to ever record a triple double (26 assists, 25 digs, and 10 blocks vs. Barton) and was honored with the team’s Most Valuable Player Award. Prior to Limestone, Akrie starred at Middle Tennessee State and Colby Community College. Her experience, skills, and leadership will be T extremely valuable to this year’s team. Loesch will also have Bill Scott and Bradley Smith on staff this year. Scott brings extensive coaching and high-level playing experience to the team and L will serve as Loesch’s lead assistant. Smith, a volunteer assistant, will again help train the team. This past season in Denver, CO, he helped his team win the USA Volleyball Men’s A National Championship. O The 2005 season could be the best ever for Limestone Volleyball, and Loesch is ready for it. This year’s team motto is “be the best,” as he will encourage his athletes to excel both on and off the court. He will focus on O teamwork, fitness, desire and determination this season. “We now have the talent in place to compete with anyone in the conference. We are more athletic, more experienced, more skilled, and have more depth than last year. K We should be better in nearly every position compared to last season.” 4 SAINTS VOLLEYBALL Limestone College Volleyball 2005 Roster SAINTS BY POSITION Middle Hitter (4): Aisha Alverado, Michelle Cash, Samantha Flannery, Melissa Thomas: Outside Hitter (5): Ashley Blackwelder, Hayley Malool, Lynn Milam, Merideth Overton, Amber Wise: Setter (1): Alison Hamilton: Defensive Specialist (4): Sarah Briggs, Julie Oleson, Megan Woods, Shannon Zehr. SAINTS BY YEAR Juniors (5): Michelle Cash, Julie Oleson, Amber Wise, Megan Woods, Shannon Zehr: No Name Pos Yr Ht Hometown Previous School Sophomores (4): Ashley Blackwelder, Sarah Briggs, 2 Michelle Cash MH/OH So 6-0 Chesnee, SC Spartanburg Methodist College 3 Sarah Briggs DS So 5-7 Gilbert, SC Gilbert HS Hayley Malool, Merideth 4 Shannon Zehr DS Jr 5-5 Carthage, NY Carthage HS Overton: Freshmen (5): Aisha 5 Megan Woods DS Jr 5-4 Charleston, SC Fort Dorchester HS Alvarado, Samantha Flannery, 7 Hayley Malool OH So 5-8 Hilton Head, SC Hilton Head HS Alison Hamilton, Lynn Milam, 10 Alison Hamilton S Fr 5-6 Purcellville, VA Purcellville HS Melissa Thomas. 11 Meredith Overton OH/S So 5-7 Floyds Knobs, IN Floyd Central HS 12 Amber Wise OH Jr 5-9 Brownsville, TX Temple JC SAINTS BY STATE 13 Aisha Alverado MH/OH Fr 5-9 Naugatuck, CT Emmitt O’Brien HS 16 Samantha Flannery MH/OH Fr 6-2 Acworth, GA Kell HS South Carolina (9), Georgia (2), 20 Lynn Milam OH/S Fr 5-11 Woodstock, GA Woodstock