October 13, 2007

College notes: Converse volleyballers playing for a cure
By DAN ARMONAITIS

The Converse volleyball team is playing for something much bigger than wins and losses this month.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the All-Stars are participating in "Dig For the Cure." Converse is one of 80 college volleyball programs nationwide that have teamed up to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The All-Stars are seeking pledges for each team dig they make during their Conference Carolinas match against Anderson on Oct. 30. Information on how to pledge can be found on the school's athletic Web site.

"I think this is really important, especially because of the fact that we're a women's college and this disease tends to affect women a lot more than men," first-year Converse head coach Ginny Alexander said. "It's a chance for us to give back to the community and raise some awareness for a worthwhile cause."

Members of the local Upstate Susan G. Komen chapter and other awareness supporters will be on hand at all Converse home matches in October - including tonight's match against Mount Olive and Saturday's match against Barton - distributing literature about the disease.

Fans can also purchase a pink memorial ribbon for a loved one who is battling or has survived breast cancer. The ribbons will be on display in the gym during all home matches this month.

Alexander said that she first became involved in the "Dig For the Cure" program during the mid-1990s when she was head coach at Utah State and it was brought to her attention by then-Cal State Fullerton head coach Mary Ellen Murchison, a two-time breast cancer survivor.

"I started my involvement out of respect and support for her, and I've been doing it ever since," Alexander said.

CONVERSE: The cross country team tied with Carson-Newman for first place out of seven teams at the Belmont Abbey Crusader Classic last Saturday, marking its best performance of the season. The All-Stars had three runners finish in the Top 10, including graduate student Carrie Powell who was fifth with a time of 20:15 in the five-kilometer race. … The soccer team (1-13, 0-8) scored its first Carolinas Conference goal of the season during a 2-1 loss to Lees-McRae on Wednesday, ending a three-game scoring drought.

LIMESTONE: The volleyball team (11-13, 9-3) fell out of a first place tie with Lees-McRae in the Conference Carolinas standings following a loss at Anderson on Wednesday. Sophomore outside hitter Melissa Thomas established a career high with 24 kills during a win against Belmont Abbey last week and was named Conference Carolinas Player of the Week. … Women's golfer Katie Clayton finished second at the Lenoir-Rhyne/Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate on Tuesday after losing a playoff against Morgan Bell of Montevallo. … The men's soccer team (7-4-1, 3-3-1) is ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast Regional rankings. … The men's and women's swimming teams will begin their seasons tonight by hosting Gardner-Webb at the Timken Aquatic Center.

SPARTANBURG METHODIST: Men's cross country runner Jeremy Vangnes, a sophomore out of Broome High School, captured the individual title at the Belmont Abbey Crusader Classic last Saturday, while sophomore Becca Prichard won on the women's side. The wins marked the second individual first-place finish for each runner this season. The Pioneers also captured a men's team title. … The volleyball team has three players who rank in NJCAA Top 20 for service aces per game. Freshmen Tiffany Dean is 14th (.820), Kayla Potter is 16th (.804) and Jen Kelley is 20th (.774).

USC UPSTATE: Men's soccer player Jack Burridge, a freshman striker, scored three goals last week to help lead the Spartans (2-9, 2-2) to their first two NCAA Division I victories. … Volleyball player Jesicah Ambrisco, a sophomore outside hitter, needs just 24 kills to become the 21st player in school history to reach 600 in her career. … Through its first 10 games, the women's soccer team got goal contributions from 11 different players and three others had at least one assist.

WOFFORD: The men's soccer team (2-8-1, 0-4) will play eight of its final nine regular season games at home beginning with a match against UNC Asheville on Monday that was rescheduled following a rainout. … Women's soccer player Blair Green, a sophomore forward, netted her first career goal, a game-winner, during the Terriers' 3-0 victory against The Citadel last Friday. … The volleyball team captured its first Southern Conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion last Saturday. Wofford (7-21, 1-6) rallied for a 3-2 win against Western Carolina after dropping the first two games. … The women's golf team recently added a fall tournament to its slate, this weekend's America's Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational in Augusta, Ga.