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(10/24/12 9:01pm)
The Mercer men’s golf team recently competed at the AutoTrader Classic at the Berkley Hills Country Club in Duluth, Ga. After finishing sixth at the Brickyard Collegiate, the Bears looked to improve upon their performance in their last tournament of the fall season.
After the first day of play which consisted of the first two rounds, the Bears rounded out the day with a combined stroke count of 595 which was good for third place.
“The guys played good, but we kind of stubbed our toe at the end,” Mercer head coach Steve Bradley said. “The 10th hole is the hardest hole on the course and we made a double and triple on it. Other than that, we were solid this afternoon and if we play well tomorrow can move into second.”
Junior James Beale led the way for the Bears as he fired a 70 and a 74 in the first two rounds, leaving him in a six-way tie for fifth place overall with several of the country’s top collegiate golfers, including the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion.
“Those guys are good players and so is James,” Bradley said. “He shot three-over in the second round with a double on ten that I know he wishes he could have back. He’s gone back to just playing golf and let go of self-imposed expectations, and he’s playing great right now.”
Junior Hans Reimers was tied for 19th place overall after finishing with scores of 75 and 72 in the first two rounds of play. Sophomore Trey Rule was tied for 28th overall after shooting 78 and 71. Senior Thomas Holmes posted scores of 72 and 78 and was tied for 32nd. Freshman Jeffrey Heinicka, Jr. rounded out Mercer’s competitors with a 36-hole total of 151. He was tied for 37th place overall.
Senior John Gregory Joseph recorded scores of 72 and 76 while competing as an individual and is tied for 22nd place overall.
“Trey bounced back from a 78 to lead us in the afternoon and Hans also showed a lot of fight,” Bradley said. “I’m very proud of our effort.”
Mercer shot 289 in the final round of play to complete the tournament with a three-round total of 874. At the conclusion, the Bears were just eight strokes behind in-state rival Georgia State for second place while another in-state rival, Georgia Southern captured the team title with a stroke count of 859.
Head Coach Steve Bradley credited his players on a well played tournament.
“Obviously to finish third is nice, we had a shot at second, but Georgia State just played slightly better than us over the last five holes,” Bradley said. “Our guys have come a long way over the past six weeks. Trey’s tie for 11th finish was his career-best, James had another top-10 finish and Hans played solid for the second-straight tournament.”
Junior James Beale took home the team’s best individual finish, tying for eighth place overall with a three-round total of 216. Sophomore Trey Rule’s final round 70 combined with scores of 78 and 71 in the opening two rounds to place him tied for 11th overall. Junior Hans Reimers finished in a tie for 17th at the event with a three-round total of 220, while freshman Jeffrey Heinicka, Jr. used 225 strokes and tied for 31st place. Senior Thomas Holmes capped his tournament with a 79 on Tuesday and tied for 50th place at 229. His classmate, John Gregory Joseph, shot 76 on Tuesday and tied for 27th at 224.
“Overall I’m very happy with our play in this tournament and happy with the fall and how we’ve gotten better,” Bradley said. “The guys have a competitive fire now and after we take a couple weeks off we will get right back after it to get ready for the spring.”
James Beale’s performance in the AutoTrader Classic garnered him his third Atlantic Sun Conference Golfer of the Week honor this season.
Mercer is now finished with its fall schedule and will take a few months off before resuming play in the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational at the Sawgrass Country Club on Feb. 24, 2013.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
In their last 5 matches, the Mercer women’s volleyball team has come up victorious in only two of those competitions. While playing some of their best volleyball to date, some efforts weren’t strong enough to secure those all important conference wins and they now see themselves in a battle to earn a spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament against several other teams in the last few weeks of play.
The first match-up for the Bears was a rematch against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers. Mercer previously defeated ETSU in front of their home crowd, and looked to take the momentum from the previous win into this competition. Unfortunately for the Bears, ETSU came up on the victorious end this time taking the match 3-1.
The Orange and Black lost the first set 19-25, but battled back to win the second set 25-23. The Bears could not muster up enough strength to take the match however, and lost the next two sets (18-25, 18-25).
Leading the way for Mercer was sophomore Caroline Carlton who knocked down 15 kills. Senior Charlayna Braxton put down nine of her own while senior Jenn Katona and freshman Molly Locke each contributed seven apiece.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez was able to dish out 37 assists in the losing effort.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior libero Emily Rochefort contributed 24 digs while senior teammate Jamie Duffy was able to add 18 of her own. Monica Sanchez and Molly Locke aided the team getting seven digs of her own.
After coming up short against ETSU, the Bears looked to rebound against in-state rival Kennesaw State University. The team did just that and won the game in five sets (22-25, 25-18, 25-12, 11-25, 15-8).
Freshman Molly Locke led the team in kills with an impressive number of 16. Sophomore Caroline Carlton was not far off knocking down 15 of her own. Seniors Jamie Duffy, Jenn Katona and Charlayna Braxton also had impressive nights adding 11, 10 and nine kills, respectively.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez had an impressive outing and sent out 51 assists on the day.
Defensively four players reached double digit digs with Jamie Duffy leading the way with 19. Junior libero Emily Rochefort added 16 of her won, while Molly Locke and Monica Sanchez earned 15 and 13 of their own.
With another conference win in the books, the ladies looked to add another tally in the win column against the Spartans of USC Upstate. The Bears came up short and lost the match in three sets (19-25, 19-25, 14-25).
Freshman Molly Locke led the team in kills with eight while senior Jenn Katona was able to knock down seven of her own. Senior Jamie Duffy and sophomore Caroline Carlton also contribute six apiece.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez was able to amass 21 assist in the match, while junior setter Carly Iannarino was able to come in and contribute six of her own.
Junior libero Emily Rochefort added 22 digs in the match while Molly Locke amassed 16 of her own. Senior Jamie Duffy also contributed in the dig category with 11.
In the next match, the Bears saw themselves in a tight competition against the league leaders from Florida Gulf Coast University. The Orange and Black were able to take the match to five sets, but despite a resilient effort, came up on the losing end. The Bears took the first set 26-24 but lost the next two sets (26-28, 25 20). The ladies were able to bounce back in the fourth with a win of 25-18, but ultimately lost the fifth and final set 8-15.
Three players attained double digit kills with freshman Molly Locke pacing the Bears with 21. Senior Jamie Duffy and sophomore Caroline Carlton contributed 13 and 12, respectively.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez was able to obtain 51 assists in the match
Junior libero Emily Rochefort led the team in digs with 21, while Jamie Duffy and Molly Locke contributed 18 and 16, respectively.
After coming up just short against FGCU, the Bears were able to get back to winning ways against Stetson University. The Orange and Black defeated the Hatters in an impressive 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-19) fashion.
Sophomore Caroline Carlton paced the team with 15 kills while freshman Molly Locke was not far behind her knocking down 14.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez dished out 41 helpers in the competition.
Junior libero Emily Rochefort and Molly Locke each were able to add 14 digs in the winning effort.
The next match for the Bears is Oct. 26 vs. the Dolphins of Jacksonville University at 7 p.m. The Bears will also take on the University of North Florida the following day (Oct. 27) at 3 p.m. The game against North Florida will also double as senior night honoring the six seniors on the squad. Charlayna Braxton, Jamie Duffy, Jenn Katona, Madison Petsos, Monica Sanchez and Codi Schepp will all be honored for their service to Mercer University.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
In the last four games of the season, the Mercer women’s soccer team has won three of those matches, claimed a first-round bye in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, and broken a program record for wins in a season with 12 on the year. It is no doubt that head coach Tony Economopoulos has had a successful debut season for the Bears, and he looks to continue that success going into the conference tournament.
On Oct. 12 the women’s soccer team took on the Dolphins from Jacksonville University. The first half of play saw both teams go back and forth. Neither side was able to break through and get the important first goal, although Mercer did have the best chance of the half.
In the 20th minute, sophomore Tess Patton took a shot that hit off the far post and back into play to keep the game level.
The Orange and Black would not waste any time coming out of the halftime break and jumped in front of the Dolphins in the early moments of the second half. Sophomore Lauren Gassie cut inside on the left edge of the 18-yard box and hit a shot that was saved by Jacksonville’s goalkeeper Jill D’Amico. However, the rebound went right to sophomore forward Washida Blackman who drilled a shot into the back of the net to give Mercer a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.
This was all the Bears needed to claim the victory over their competitors and with this win they clinched a spot in the conference tournament.
“We had a game plan coming in of how we wanted to play against this team because they played a different formation,” said Economopoulos. “We came out and we executed well. We dominated the game statistically, we created quite a few chances, and we knew coming in that if we got a result tonight we would clinch a spot in the postseason,” added Economopoulos.
The next game for the Orange and Black was against North Florida. It was the team’s last home game of the season, so in tradition they honored the seniors who have served this team for four years. Seniors P.A Upson and Danielle Hesse were both recognized prior to the match.
The team helped send out their two seniors in resounding fashion as they claimed a rousing 3-0 victory.
The Bears scored their first goal just 52 seconds into the match. Sophomore Tess Patton collected a loose ball in the UNF box, pushed through two Osprey defenders, and drilled a shot past the UNF keeper to put Mercer ahead.
Patton did not rest on her laurels though as she scored her second goal of the game in the 19th minute. Junior forward Nadja Kolliesuah dribbled past her defender on the right side of the field and sent in a cross to Patton. Patton settled the ball and volleyed it into the back of the net putting the Bears up 2-0.
Mercer earned their third goal just seven minutes later. Sophomore Lauren Gassie sent in a corner kick that found the head of junior transfer Devon Fry to put the team up 3-0.
Mercer held the 3-0 advantage going into halftime and was not able to put in any more goals in the second half. Although the Bears slowed down offensively in the second half, their defense remained strong and was able to keep a clean sheet.
Head coach Economopoulos and his squad then traveled to Deland, Fla. to take on the Hatters of Stetson University. The Bears scored a goal in each half to secure the 2-0 win and a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
“We knew coming [in] that it was going to be a tough environment and they were playing very relaxed,” said Economopoulos. “We knew we had struggled against them in recent years in the regular season, but I challenged my seniors to go out and win and we were able to get the result, so I am very happy.”
The Bears netted their first goal in the 28th minute of the match. Senior Danielle Hesse collected a pass from Washida Blackman and put the ball in the back of the net from eight yards out.
The team would not score again in the first half, but found the net in the second.
Junior Casey Barrett put the game out of reach. Tess Patton sent in a free kick that ricocheted off of the Stetson goalkeeper. The rebound found Barrett in the box and she put it away for her third goal of the season.
The Bears were now in a perfect position. With a win or tie against their next opponents, the Bears would secure the first regular season title since 2008. The team looked to exact revenge as they lost to the same team they would be playing for the regular season conference championship that they played against in the previous season in the conference tournament.
Unfortunately, the Orange and Black could not find the net and lost the match to a talented squad from Florida Gulf Coast University.
“It was a great battle between the two top teams in the conference,” said Economopoulos. “It could have gone either way, but you have to give them credit. They are a great team.”
With the loss the Bears gave up tournament hosting rights to the Eagles of FGCU. After a bye in the first round, the team will hit the field in Ft. Myers, Fla. on Nov. 2 for the semi-finals.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
The Mercer women’s golf team recently visited the LPGA Invitational located in Daytona Beach, Fla. After the team’s most recent success winning the Eat-A-Peach Collegiate, head coach Gary Guyer and his team looked to take their momentum into the LPGA Invitational and came back with an impressive performance.
After the first day of play, the Bears saw themselves on pace for a top finish. With a team score of 312 the Bears were only two strokes behind the tournament leaders in the first round.
“Today’s conditions were perfect,” Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. “The course is in great shape and ready for good ball striking. If you strike the ball well then you will score well. If you do not strike the ball well then it can bite you. It bit a couple of our players today.”
Junior Lacey Fears scored a 73 in the opening round, which gave her second on the individual leader board and one stroke behind the overall leader. Fears’ classmate Mary Alice Murphy booked an opening round 77 and was tied for 11th place.
“We are too good a team to be shooting scores in the 80s,” Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. “Thank goodness for Lacey and Mary Alice. These two continue to perform when they are not playing their best.”
Sophomore Sarah Louise Brown is tied for 23rd overall after shooting 80 on Friday. Senior Kaitlin Marrin used 82 strokes and is tied for 37th place while senior Aurelie Wiriath signed for an 83 and is tied for 44th place.
The second day of play saw Lacey Fears shoot a 75 to pace her team to retain their third place standing and move into a tie for first place overall individually.
Senior Aurelie Wiriath shaved eight strokes off her day one total, carding a 75 to move into a tie for 18th place individually. Junior Mary Alice Murphy, sophomore Sarah Louise Brown and senior Kaitlin Marrin all shot 83 in the second day of play. Murphy’s 36-hole score of 160 positions her 27th on the individual leader board, while Brown is tied for 36th (163) and Marrin is tied for 45th (165).
The final day of play saw Lacey Fears take home the individual trophy by shooting a 76 in the final round. As a team, Mercer’s Sunday total of 311 slotted the Bears third of 14 teams. Mercer’s 311 combined with scores of 316 and 312 in the opening two rounds helped the Bears record their fifth-straight top-five finish dating back to last season.
Head coach Gary Guyer was very pleased with Fears’ performance on the week.
“Lacey played very consistent all three days,” Guyer said. “The course was set up pretty tough so you had to have a lot of patience to score well. She putted very well this week and that was her key to her victory.”
“This tournament had a very good field and a lot of top players were coming after Lacey today,” Guyer said. “She withstood the challenge and finished strong. She continues to excel in her college career and I’m proud of her.”
Junior Mary Alice Murphy and senior Aurelie Wiriath both tied for 19th place overall with tournament scores of 236. Murphy carded a final round 76 while Wiriath shot 78.
Sophomore Sarah Louise Brown fired an 81 on Sunday and tied for 35th place with a 56-hole score of 244. Senior Kaitlin Marrin rounded out Mercer’s competitors with a tie for 51st after shooting 87 in the final round.
“For some reason the team could not get it on track this week,” said Guyer. “I need to do a better job preparing us for competition.”
The Bears wrap up their fall season at the Lady Paladin Invitational on Oct. 26-28 in Spartanburg, S.C.
(10/10/12 4:02pm)
The Mercer women’s volleyball team has dropped three of their last four matches bringing their overall record to 7-10 on the year and 3-4 in conference play.
The first match-up for the Bears was against the Norse of Northern Kentucky University. The Orange & Black faltered, losing in three straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-18) to a talented Northern Kentucky squad.
The Bears were quiet offensively as no one on the team registered double digit kills on the night. Freshman Molly Locke led the team in kills with eight, while seniors Jamie Duffy and Charlayna Braxton each knock down seven kills apiece.
Junior Emily Rochefort was able to amass 17 digs in the match while Jamie Duffy added an impressive 14 digs of her own.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez recorded 27 assists in the match versus the Norse.
One statistical category that has normally been a staple for the Bears, but was not at all present against Northern Kentucky was blocking. The Bears were only able to keep four Northern Kentucky hits from crossing to their side of the net. Charlayna Braxton led the team in this category with two solo blocks and one block assist.
The next contest for the Bears was against the visiting Bison from Lipscomb University. Again, the Bears would drop the match in a 3-1 (19-25, 17-25, 25-18, 23-25) decision.
Head Coach Damian Elder and his squad were able to step up their game on both sides of the ball since their last outing versus Northern Kentucky, but it was still not enough to hold off a competitive Bison squad.
Senior Jamie Duffy was able to knock home 10 kills in the losing effort, while sophomore Caroline Carlton and freshman Molly Locke were able to put away eight and seven of their own respectively. Seniors Charlayna Braxton and Jenn Katona contributed six kills apiece in the match.
Junior libero Emily Rochefort led the team with 21 digs. Freshman standout Molly Locke was not far behind as she was able to rack up 18 digs of her own. Senior Jamie Duffy added 12 digs of her own.
Duffy’s combination of 10 kills and 12 digs was good for her fourth double-double of the season. Senior Monica Sanchez was Mercer’s most efficient attacker, collecting a season-high five kills on 12 attacking attempts. Her five kills came in conjunction with 33 assists and nine digs.
Coach Elder knew that things were not good enough for the Bears.
“We definitely need to go back to practice and figure out some offense. It was a little bit better in the last two sets. We got some production from our middles, which is great. That’s something we’ve been waiting for,” Elder commented.
“We tinkered with the line-up a little bit today. We figured we didn’t have much to lose against the defending champs, so we tried a couple of different things and some things worked, some things didn’t. So we’re still trying to get the right people in the right places,” Elder added.
The next match saw the Orange & Black regain winning form while they took on the Ospreys from the University of North Florida.
In a highly contested match, Mercer was able to take the win away 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 19-25, 25-19, 15-12) in a five set thriller.
Senior Jenn Katona and freshman Molly Locke led the attacking onslaught for the Bears each finishing the match with an impressive 16 kill performance. Sophomore Caroline Carlton added 11 kills of her own.
The match-up against the Ospreys saw Mercer playing lights out defense. Five Bears notched double-digit dig efforts. Leading the way for the Orange & Black was junior libero Emily Rochefort. Rochefort put on a defensive clinic collecting 30 digs. Senior Jamie Duffy was also exceptional on defense chipping in 20 digs of her own. Freshman Molly Locke tallied 17 digs in the win for the Bears. Seniors Monica Sanchez and Codi Schepp amassed 14 and 10 digs respectively to round out the double-digit dig efforts for the Bears.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez passed out 48 assists in the winning effort.
In the next match, the Bears were on the other end of a five-set thriller. The Bears lost 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 25-18, 8-15).
Several Mercer players had impressive attacking efforts with four Bears collecting double-digit kills. Leading the way was senior Jamie Duffy with 16 kills. Freshman Molly Locke and sophomore Caroline Carlton each added 15 kills of their own while senior Jenn Katona added 12 kills.
Three Bears were able to achieve double-digit dig efforts with Emily Rochefort leading the way with 24. Senior Jamie Duffy added 22 digs and freshman Molly Locke was able to add 16 digs herself.
The Bears took on the East Tennessee State Buccanneers on Tues. Oct 9 after the paper went to press.
The next match-up for the Bears is away against Kennesaw State on Oct 13.
(09/26/12 9:43pm)
The Mercer women’s volleyball team has gotten back to their winning ways picking up four wins and only dropping two matches in the last six contests.
On Sept.14, the Bears traveled to Winthrop University for the annual Winthrop Classic. The first match-up for the ladies was against the host school Winthrop.
Head coach Damian Elder’s squad got a match-high 14 kills from freshman Molly Locke and a double-double from senior setter Monica Sanchez in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-14) loss to Winthrop as part of the Winthrop Classic on Friday evening.
After dropping the opening set to Winthrop, Mercer led 22-18 in the second stanza before Winthrop stormed back with a 7-1 run to claim the frame. In the third set, the Eagles raced out to a 7-1 lead before sealing the victory.
Sanchez’s double-double effort was her second of the season, earned with 18 assists and 12 digs. Locke narrowly missed her own double-double, recording nine digs in the losing effort.
At the conclusion of the match, Mercer held advantages in both kills (33-32) and digs (56-55).
Junior setter Carly Iannarino contributed a match-high four service aces in the loss, while adding six digs and five assists.
Day two of the Winthrop Classic saw the Bears win against both Western Carolina and North Carolina A&T.
A number of eye-popping stats highlighted the victories as the team concluded play at the Winthrop Classic. Mercer topped Western Carolina 3-1 (17-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-18) before downing North Carolina A&T 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-22).
Against Western Carolina, Mercer’s most efficient combination of freshman Molly Locke and senior Monica Sanchez both turned in impressive double-double efforts. Locke led all players in the match with 23 total kills while also adding 18 digs, two block-assists and two service aces in the match. Locke’s 23 kills marked Mercer’s highest single-match kill total since Amiee Frutchey had 23 kills in a five-set match against South Carolina State on September 18, 2010.
Sanchez’s second-straight double-double was earned with 49 assists, 10 digs, three kills and a block-assist. Her 49 assists was her largest total for the Mercer Bears and represented the third time this season she has posted 40 or more assists in a contest.
The Bears’ defeat of the Catamounts was hard-fought, as Mercer dropped the opening set and was forced to go to extra points to earn the second and third set victories. In the second set, back-to-back kills by Locke helped the Bears break away from a 24-24 tie. In the third set, the score was tied 24-24 once again before a pair of Western Carolina attacking errors lifted Mercer to the win.
In the second match of the day, junior Emily Rochefort led a Mercer back-line defense that limited North Carolina A&T to a .081 hitting percentage. In the four set win, Rochefort piled up 43 digs, marking the highest single-match dig total for an Atlantic Sun player since Jacksonville’s Shelley Walroth collected 46 against Florida Gulf Coast on October 17, 2009.
Against North Carolina A&T, Mercer stumbled out of the gates and dropped the opening set again. In the second set, Mercer broke away from a 20-20 tie with a 5-1 run to even the match score at 1-1. In the third set, Mercer raced out to a 5-0 lead and never trailed on the way to a 25-15 victory. The final set, Mercer held a slim 22-21 advantage before closing on a 3-1 surge.
Senior Jamie Duffy narrowly missed her second double-double of the year against the Aggies, racking up a team-high 13 kills and nine digs. Her classmate Charlayna Braxton chipped in eight kills and three block-assists, while Madison Petsos was credited with seven kills.
After picking up two wins in the Winthrop Classic, the women’s volleyball team turned their focus to the most important stretch of the season: conference play.
In their home-opener, the Bears took on conference foe ETSU. ETSU was predicted to finish third in the conference in pre-season voting, so the squad knew that they were going to be a more than formidable opponent.
Freshman outside hitter Molly Locke posted her fifth double-double of the season to lead Mercer volleyball team to a statement victory over East Tennessee State on Tuesday night at Hawkins Arena. Mercer won the match 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-17).
After edging the Lady Bucs in a back and forth first set, the Bears went full throttle at the outset of the second frame. Mercer raced out to a 6-1 lead and never looked back en route to the 25-16 victory.
By the third set, Mercer’s home court advantage had the visitors on their heels. The Bears broke away from an initial 3-3 tie with a 6-3 surge and never trailed the rest of the way.
Locke smashed a match-high 15 kills and collected 13 digs, establishing the ninth time this season she had led or tied for the team lead in kills. Her 28 attacks came with just four errors, equating to a .393 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Caroline Carlton and senior Charlayna Braxton were also especially effective against the ETSU front-line defense. Carlton pounded out nine kills with only one error, while Braxton crushed seven kills with just two miscues. Carlton’s efforts registered a .444 attacking efficiency while Braxton booked a .357 hitting percentage.
Senior setter Monica Sanchez topped 30 assists for the third-straight game, collecting 36 helpers in the winning effort. Her 36 assists also came in conjunction with six digs and a pair of kills.
Junior Emily Rochefort, who came into the match ranked fifth in the nation in digs per set (5.83), collected 12 digs, three assists and two service aces.
Next up for the Bears were the Stetson University Hatters.
A trio of Mercer volleyball players notched double-double efforts as the Bears claimed a 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-21, 25-17) win over Stetson at Hawkins Arena.
Freshman Molly Locke registered her team-leading sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 15 digs, while seniors Jamie Duffy and Monica Sanchez also turned in double-double performances. Duffy’s double-dip came by virtue of 11 kills and 18 digs while Sanchez’s night featured 36 assists and 19 digs.
Behind a spirited crowd, Mercer controlled the opening set after the teams traded the first six points of the match. A pair of Stetson miscues gave Mercer a 5-3 advantage, and the Bears would never trail on their way to a 25-17 victory.
At the start of the second set, Mercer lost three quick points and ultimately found itself behind by as many as seven points (10-3). The Bears battled back to close within two points at 21-19, but Stetson held on for a 25-19 triumph.
The third set was the most competitive, featuring 12 tie scores and six lead changes. Mercer held a slim 22-21 advantage in the set before scoring the final three points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Junior libero Emily Rochefort stifled the Stetson attack all night, racking up 27 digs from her back-row position. Her 27 digs helped limit the opponent to a minute .094 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Caroline Carlton led the team in kills for the first time this season, pounding out 12 on 31 attempts in the match. Her 31 swings yielded only four errors as she led the team in hitting percentage (.258) for the second-straight contest.
As a team, the Bears turned in their best blocking performance of the season. Mercer’s 12 total team blocks were the squad’s highest block total since collecting 12 against Stetson on October 8, 2011. Senior Jennifer Katona, senior Charlayna Braxton and Locke all contributed five block-assists to the team total.
In the most recent match-up for the Bears, the team took on the FGCU Eagles.
The Mercer volleyball team’s bid for five-straight wins came up just short as the Bears fell to Florida Gulf Coast 3-2 (25-15, 23-25, 25-13, 23-25, 13-15).
Senior Monica Sanchez turned in a career performance in the loss, tallying her fifth double-double of the year with 50 assists and 10 digs. Her assist total bested her previous high by one and marked Mercer’s highest assist total since Madeline Dolny collected 50 on October 22, 2011.
Freshman Molly Locke and senior Jamie Duffy also had double-doubles on Saturday. Locke crushed a match-high 20 kills and notched 17 digs, while Duffy paired 10 kills with 17 digs. Senior Jennifer Katona led the Bears in attacking efficiency, knocking down eight kills with only a single error on 23 swings.
After the teams split the opening two sets, FGCU raced out to a 5-1 lead in the third set and ultimately cruised to a 25-13 victory. In the fourth set, matters were tied 22-22 before a thunderous kill by Charlayna Braxton and a FGCU attacking error gave the Bears set-point. Moments later, sophomore Caroline Carlton sent the match to a fifth set with a well-placed attack.
In the fifth set, Mercer trailed 4-0 before battling back to tie the frame at eight apiece. Later, the set was tied 11-11 before the Eagles created separation with back-to-back points before winning the set 15-13.
Junior libero Emily Rochefort added 21 digs, three assists and a service ace in the loss. Senior Codi Schepp had her second-straight match with double-figure digs, booking 12.
Mercer returns to action hosting Northern Kentucky on September 28. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
(09/26/12 9:26pm)
Sunday, Sept. 23 marked the 64th Annual Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, Cal. Jimmy Kimmel received hosting honors this year and started the show off with a pre-recorded comedic bit. Several of the nights’ female stars were seen getting ready in the bathroom when crying suddenly broke out in one of the nearby stalls. Christina Hendricks, Zooey Deschanel and Connie Britton all proceed to look for their fallen sister. Kathy Bates enters the room and punches down the bathroom stall to reveal an overly botoxed Jimmy Kimmel. The women in the bathroom proceed to punch Jimmy Kimmel’s face straight until he is presentable to host. You could tell that we were in for an entertaining night.
The night was dominated by three productions: ABC’s “Modern Family”, Showtime’s “Homeland” and HBO’s original movie “Game Change”.
“Modern Family” star Eric Stonestreet won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He was up against three other “Modern Family” stars. It was inevitable that “Modern Family” would win this award as they have dominated the Emmys since their show’s inception.
Julie Bowen, another member of the ensemble cast of “Modern Family”, won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She was up against cast mate Sofia Vergara.
“Even though Julie keeps winning all my awards, I am still very happy,” Vergara said after the show.
“Modern Family” creator Steve Levitan won the award for Outstanding Direction in a Comedy Series. “I want to thank me for hiring me as a director when no one else would,” Levitan said as he accepted his award. “I would not be standing here if I didn’t have faith in me.”
“Homeland”, Showtimes’s new breakout series, also won four Emmy awards during the night. Claire Danes won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, while Damian Lewis won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. “Homeland” also won an Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Emmy.
HBO’s “Game Change” also took home four awards. This is probably one of the only times Sarah Palin will take some part of winning anything since her last “win” of being chosen as a vice-presidential candidate. The movie chronicles the times before and after Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain’s running mate. Julianne Moore, who played Sarah Palin, took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. The movie also took home awards for Outstanding Direction of a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie.
The night was filled with several funny moments, including host Jimmy Kimmel’s plea to trick everyone who wasn’t watching the Emmys using social media. He urged everyone watching to post something along the lines of “OMG! Tracy Morgan just passed out on stage at the Emmys!” Tracy Morgan obligingly lay down onstage for a solid five to ten minutes.
Probably the funniest bit of the entire night was the “Modern Family” skit about the one actress none of them can stand working with. This cast member was none other than little Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who plays the adopted daughter of the show’s gay couple Mitchell and Cameron. The skit included several insults directed at her cast mates as well as practical jokes that usually ended up in someone falling face-first in the pavement.
All in all, the Emmys was a night to remember. Several of television’s top stars showed up in their best attire (or what they thought was their best attire) and enjoyed a wonderful evening among fellow actors.
(09/12/12 4:00pm)
After one of their best starts in nearly a decade, the Mercer women’s volleyball team saw a short-lived win streak before dropping four straight contests. The Bears are now 2-5 on the year and are looking to improve in upcoming games to better their record before entering into an important and competitive conference schedule.
The first weekend saw the Bears travel to Charleston, South Carolina for the Charleston Southern Tournament hosted by Charleston Southern University.
In their first match-up under Head Coach Damian Elder, the volleyball team lost a four set heartbreaker to a talented Furman University squad. In the first set, the Bears came out to play defeating the Paladins of Furman by just two points 25-23. Despite coming out on fire, Elder’s squad dropped the next three sets (21-25, 22-25, 16-25).
Statistics were incomplete because of a technical issue during the match, but based on the reported statistics freshman Molly Locke led the team with nine kills in the loss.
Not only did Locke lead the team in kills, but she also led the team in digs recording 12 on the afternoon. Senior Codi Schepp and junior Emily Rochefort each were able to accumulate 10 digs in the losing effort.
After video review, full statistics from this match up will be available at a later date.
Despite losing the first match of the year, the team would not let this deter them from gaining their first win of the year and the first program victory under Damian Elder’s leadership against a formidable opponent from Canisius College.
The Orange and Black dropped the first set (18-25) but were able to take control of the next three (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) in a rousing fashion.
The Bears were once again led by freshman Molly Locke. Locke registered an astounding team-leading 16 kills in the first win of the season.
The College Grove, Tennessee native was also able to contribute nine digs. Locke was also able to contribute four block assists to a team block total of 10. Senior captain Charlayna Braxton also registered four block assists as well as a solo block, while senior teammates Jenn Katona and Monica Sanchez each contributed three block assists.
Sanchez narrowly missed her first double-double of the year and dished out 33 assists and contributed nine digs. Rochefort, junior libero, had a team-high 20 digs and added six assists of her own.
The final match of the Charleston Southern Tournament was against the hosts from Charleston Southern. The Bears won the match convincingly in three sets (25-19, 31-29, 25-19).
Yet again, freshman Molly Locke led the offensive charge for the Bears, knocking down 14 kills. Locke earned her first double-double of the year by amassing 14 digs. Monica Sanchez was able to dish out 35 assists, and libero Emily Rochefort tallied 20 digs to help the team get their second straight win.
After the tournament ended both Locke and Sanchez were honored with All-Tournament honors.
Leaving the tournament with an impressive 2-1 record in their first weekend of play, the team headed to a non-conference tilt against in-state rival, Georgia Southern. The Bears lost a hard fought match against the Eagles of Georgia Southern in three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-21).
Senior captain Jamie Duffy had a game-high 21 digs along with seven kills to pace the Bears in the losing effort. Freshman Molly Locke also tallied seven kills to go along with 10 digs, two assists, a service ace and a block. Senior Monica Sanchez had her fourth-straight game with 20 or more assists, dishing out 23 helpers while also adding six digs, two block assists, a kill and a service ace.
Coach Elder and his team then headed to the Georgia State Invitational where they dropped all three matches in one weekend, losing to South Alabama University, Georgia State University and Samford University.
Against South Alabama, the Bears lost a well battled four-set match. After losing the first two sets (22-25, 18-25), the team rallied back and won the third set 25-19. Despite the momentum swing, they were unable to pull out a win and lost the fourth and final set 22-25.
Senior Jamie Duffy earned a double-double by hammering out 11 kills as well as collecting 22 dig. Freshman Molly Locke also posted a double-double with a match-high 15 kills and 13 digs. Senior Monica Sanchez recorded a match-high 43 assists in the loss, while junior Emily Rochefort notched a team-high 24 digs. Senior Jenn Katona was credited with seven block assists, contributing to Mercer’s 8-5.5 team block advantage.
The team then took on Georgia State losing three sets to one. The Bears won the first set 25-18 but then lost the next three (23-25, 15-25, 21-25).
Mercer freshman Molly Locke led the way with an impressive 17-kill, 17-dig double-double effort. Senior Monica Sanchez also contributed a double-double against the Panthers on the strength of 40 assists and 11 digs.
The team then went to face Samford, a 2011 NCAA tournament team. They lost all three sets to the Bulldogs (16-25, 22-25, 31-33).
Duffy led the way for Mercer with 10 kills and only two errors. The Bears split time at the setter position, with Carly Iannarino and Sanchez combining for 31 kills.
For her performance at the Georgia State Invitational, Jamie Duffy earned All-Tournament team honors.
The next stop for the Bears is the Winthrop Classic where the team will take on Winthrop University, Western Carolina University, and North Carolina A&T. The matches will take place on Sept. 14 and 15.
After that, the team will head back to Mercer for their home opener against ETSU on Sept. 18.
(09/12/12 4:00pm)
“Jagged Little Pill” is a very different album for Alanis Morissette who, before the album’s release, had sung dance-pop music. This album reached more genres of rock music, including post-grunge, rock, alternative rock and even acoustic rock music. Lyrically, most of the songs were written by Morissette and Glen Ballard. She sings about broken relationships, hurt, rage and confusion from a feminine perspective.
Neither of Morissette’s first two albums (“Alanis” and “Now is the Time”) achieved much success outside of Canada. In 1993, after leaving MCA Records Canada, Morissette moved from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto.
Living alone for the first time in her life, she met with a large number of talented songwriters; the results, however, frustrated her. A visit to Nashville a few months later also left her with negative results. Morissette began making trips to Los Angeles and working with as many musicians as possible, seeking a talented collaborator with whom she worked well.
During this time, she met producer and songwriter Glen Ballard. According to Ballard, the connection was “instant”, and within 30 minutes of meeting each other they had begun experimenting with different sounds in Ballard’s home studio in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
Ballard and Morissette penned their first song together, called “The Bottom Line”. The turning point in their sessions was the song “Perfect”, which was written and recorded in 20 minutes. Morissette improvised the lyrics on the spot, and Ballard played guitar. The version of the song that appears on “Jagged Little Pill” is the only take that the pair recorded.
Morissette later revealed that during her stay in Los Angeles, she was robbed at gunpoint on a deserted street. After the robbery, Morissette developed an intense angst and suffered from daily panic attacks. She was hospitalized and attended psychotherapy sessions, but it didn’t improve her emotional condition.
As Morissette later revealed in interviews, she focused all her inner problems on the album’s soul-baring lyrics for her own health. According to Morissette, Ballard was the first collaborator who encouraged her to express her emotions.
“Jagged Little Pill” peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and certificated 16x Platinum for shipments of 16 million copies, actually selling over 15 million in the United States.
The album was nominated for six Grammy Awards in 1996, and Morissette won “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance”, “Best Rock Song”, “Best Rock Album” and “Album of the Year.” Until 2010 she held the record for being the youngest person to receive the “Album of the Year” award at age 21. Later that year she embarked on an 18-month world tour, beginning in small clubs and ending in large venues. In 1997, she was nominated for two more Grammy Awards: “Record of the Year” and “Best Music Video, Short Form” for “Ironic”. The video “Jagged Little Pill, Live”, which chronicled the bulk of the tour, won a 1998 Grammy Award for “Best Long Form Music Video”. In 1998, “Q” magazine readers voted “Jagged Little Pill” the 19th greatest album of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 327 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
(08/29/12 4:05pm)
Damian Elder, and the Mercer women’s volleyball team is slated to begin one of the most anticipated seasons in recent years. In Elder’s first year at the helm of the volleyball team, much is expected of what is supposed to be one of the best teams in recent times to grace the court for the Bears.
With new leadership, a competitive schedule, and some talented players, the team is looking to improve upon past failings and establish themselves as one of the premier volleyball teams at the collegiate level.
Jamie Duffy, senior captain, commented on how the team adjusted to Elder.
“We all respect and admire Coach Damian. He has brought us together to be a strong, hard working team. We feel very blessed to have such a dedicated and hard working staff. They hold themselves to the same standards they expect to see from us,” said Duffy.
Elder and his assistant coaching staff often participate in team workouts, runs and practices, showing the girls that if they can do it, they have no excuse not to complete the task as well. This particular coaching style allows the team to push themselves as they also have outside competition outside of themselves.
Losing four starters from last year’s squad may seem daunting for some teams, but Elder looks to replace some of last year’s stars with the current players that are putting in hard work on the floor during their preseason.
“Each year it is an adjustment to try and fill the shoes of graduated teammates. Yet, that is always one of the challenges to being an athlete. No matter who is next to you on the court, it is your responsibility to play hard and push each other to be the best. This way, upperclassmen can pass down a cohesive experience to newcomers,” Duffy added.
The Bears are returning a wealth of talent as 12 players from last year’s squad return this year.
Leading the way for the Bears are Senior Middle Blockers Charlayna Braxton and Jennifer Katona. Braxton and Katona combined for an impressive 383 kills last season, splitting time at the Middle Blocker position. Both are expected to help lead a poised bears attack.
Returning at the setter position is Senior Monica Sanchez who was able to dish out an impressive 504 assists in her first year for on the court for Mercer. Sanchez is expected to help lead the Bears attack this year.
Junior Defensive Specialist Emily Rochefort looks to take over the heralded Libero position. The former Libero, Charlotte Harris, was able to garner Atlantic Sun recognition winning Libero of the Year her junior year. Rochefort looks to follow in the footsteps of Harris, and garner the coveted Libero of the Year award and possibly break the record for digs in a single season.
In preparation for the upcoming season, the women’s volleyball team held an Orange and Black scrimmage in order to bolster support from fans across campus, and showcase what they’ve been working on during the off-season.
With a pair of celebrity coaches on the court, the teams were able to produce an exciting match. Bob Hoffmann, the current head coach of the men’s basketball team, and Joel Weems, the athletic director for compliance, manned the sidelines in order to produce a winning product. Bob Hoffmann proved he was king of the basketball court and volleyball court as his team was able to get the victory.
“It was a great turnout. The girls did a great job of advertising it. We probably had 200 people, and we needed it so that we could play in front of people, see what it was like to get nerves out,” said Damian Elder.
“We needed [the fans] to see that were putting a new product out on the floor for Mercer,” Elder added.
The women’s volleyball team ventures to Charleston, South Carolina to take on Furman University, Canisius College and Charleston Southern on Aug. 31.
(08/29/12 4:04pm)
In only his first season, Head Coach Tony Economopoulos has led the Mercer women’s soccer team to a resounding 2-1-1 start in their first two weekends of play.
With conference play looming in the near future, the Bears look to capitalize on these non-conference match-ups to gain experience and confidence going into the always competitive conference schedule.
The squad opened up at home against Southern Mississippi on Aug 17. In what was a competitive and hard fought match that played into two overtimes, the bears were not able to prevail and settled for a 1-1 draw with the Golden Eagles.
The Bears dominated play from the start gaining several chances in the early minutes of the game, but it was not until the 26th minute that the team found the back of the net.
Senior Captain P.A Upson sent a long ball from midfield to sprinting sophomore Lauren Gassie. Running past the last defender, Gassie coolly chipped the ball over the rushing keeper, recollected the ball at her feet and calmly placed the ball in the back of the net giving her team the advantage.
This score would remain until halftime. Early on in the second half, Nadja Kolliesuah gained another chance for the Orange and Black to strike gold as she was viciously taken down in the box. Gassie stepped up to take the penalty kick but a stretching Golden Eagle goalkeeper was able to thwart her attempt and keep the game at 1-0.
Southern Mississippi took advantage of the missed penalty and capitalized later on a header from a free kick that barely beat junior goalkeeper Nikki Atkinson. The game was now tied at one.
Regulation ended and the game went to overtime. Two overtime periods were not enough to produce a winner, so both teams settled for a draw.
After tying their first match, the Bears continued to push to help get Economopoulos his first win as Head Coach of Mercer University. They were able to gain that win for their coach on Aug 19 versus South Alabama.
Not only was this Economopoulos’ first win at Mercer University, but it was also his first win as a Division I head coach.
Although fatigued from their double overtime game earlier in the weekend, the Bears were able to muster up enough energy to secure a 1-0 win.
Again Mercer dominated play from the first whistle, showcasing a well balanced attack and constantly pelting the South Alabama goalkeeper with shots. Although the Bears failed to find the net in the first half, they were able to continue their attacking prowess in the second and forge on to get the ever important first goal of the match.
Again, it was Lauren Gassie who found the back of the net for the Orange and Black. Gassie’s second of the young season came off her right foot to the far post after a nice run at the top of the Jaguar’s box.
Gassie finished with the game-winner and led the team with four total shots.
Forwards Nadja Kolliesuah and Washida Blackman both looked in top form for the Bears, as they were both able to record three shots each in the contest, while goalkeeper Nikki Atkinson made three saves to secure her first shutout of the season.
With the most important first win out of the way, Economopoulos and his squad traveled to take on a formidable and talented SEC opponent in the South Carolina Gamecocks on Aug. 23.
The Gamecocks proved to be too much for the Bears as they dropped the contest 2-0.
Through the first 35 minutes of play, each team had recorded three shots yet it was Mercer that looked to have the momentum going their way, until a Mercer turnover in the middle of the park created a scoring chance for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks countered off an errant MU pass at the midline and a subsequent service inside the MU box was headed on by a leaping Gamecock that forced Mercer’s Nikki Atkinson to push the ball over the cross bar.
On the ensuing corner, South Carolina’s Andie Romness struck a well-placed ball that was headed in by teammate Rea Wilson giving USC the early 1-0 lead.
The Bears were now trailing for their first time ever.
Playing from behind was not something that they were used to, and the Gamecocks were able to strike again in the second half.
The Gamecocks of the University of South Caroline proved to be too much for the Bears to handle and the squad recorded their first loss of the season.
Head Coach Tony Economopoulos was proud of his team’s effort despite the result.
“I thought we played a very solid game tonight against a very high caliber program,” Economopoulos said.
“It was a back-and-forth game and we had a very good chance in the last ten minutes with a shot off the post that could have got us right back in the game. Overall I am pleased with how we played,” Economopoulos added.
After that devastating loss, the Bears then took their talents on the road to Charleston Southern.
It was here the women would gain their footing again and shutout a talented squad from Charleston Southern in a 2-0 victory on Aug. 25.
Again, the Bears proved to be dominant in early game play as sophomore talent Brianna Stampler was able to strike first in the 27th minute of play.
On a breakaway Stampler was able to quickly dribble past the Charleston Southern goalkeeper and place the ball into the net.
Mercer’s goal in the second half came off a set piece in Buccaneer territory.
Sophomore Kristin Hagaman took the try from her defensive position and put a phenomenal cross on the Charleston Southern far post.
Danielle Hesse positioned herself well and was able to get a head on the ball for the goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Maggie Cropp saw her first action of her career receiving the start on Saturday.
Cropp performed well in her debut, turning away four shots en route to her first win in goal.
“It was good experience for her as a freshman,” Economopoulos said. “She was called upon today and she made the saves she needed to and got a good result.”
Economopoulos and the Bears return to Bear Field on Aug. 31 to take on Alabama A&M.
(08/29/12 4:00pm)
Imagine a world where every child is practically born kicking a soccer ball. That is virtually every country in the entire world except for the United States of America.
There is no doubt that the United States produces some of the world’s best athletes which is continually proven in every sport except for soccer. Why is this?
Don’t get me wrong, the United States has produced some phenomenal soccer players, with the likes of Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan making waves on the international stage, but the numbers are so low in comparison to countries like Spain, England, Germany, France and many others that the you are seeing American players less and less in the most competitive leagues in the world.
Things looked up for the American squad in 2002 when they went to South Korea and Japan for the World Cup.
The U.S shocked the world in their very first match by upsetting a phenomenal Portugal side 3-2. With young stars like Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley leading the charge, American soccer was finally starting to gain some respect on the international stage as a formidable opponent.
Not only did soccer gain respect on the international stage, but it also gained respect from a plethora of fans back in the states.
People who had never watched a competitive soccer match before, gathered in front of TVs at home to support our men’s national team.
Fans followed the men’s national team all the way to the quarterfinals of the tournament, where they lost a controversial match to powerhouse Germany.
Men’s soccer was starting to gain some support in the United States, and more and more young players were stepping onto the soccer field for the first time.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany saw a major drop for the United States. Not only did they fail to qualify for the elimination rounds, but they only garnered a measly one point in group play.
That one point was a tie against eventual champions Italy which was the only bright spot of the tournament for a United States squad that was expected to do much more.
In 2010 the World Cup made its way to the continent of Africa for the first time. South Africa was the host and the United States had high expectations.
Landon Donovan and Tim Howard were now veteran players with an immense amount of international experience under their belts.
I had the opportunity to go to the World Cup and actually see the United States play against Slovenia in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This was by my far my favorite moment of my two-week trip to South Africa.
Seeing thousands upon thousands of Americans from all different walks of life, and different parts of the country come together to support their team was extremely eye opening.
I always knew soccer was a fantastic sport with a decent following in the states but I never imagined for it to be like this.
The game was one of the most back and forth affairs I had ever seen. The U.S. was down by two goals at half time and things looked reminiscent of the last World Cup for the U.S. But the Americans came out guns blazing in the second half. Landon Donovan blasted a shot past the Slovenian goalkeeper to put the game within one goal.
Michael Bradley tied the game up with a beautiful finish later in the second half. The game was now level and the U.S. was playing the best soccer they have played in an extremely long time.
The U.S. would score one more goal that was called back due to the referee believing the Americans were fouling despite the replays showing that it was clearly the Slovenians who were infringing upon the rules.
The crowd was in an uproar. I had never seen so many people come together for a sporting event and truly put everything aside to support their home team.
We went through the highs and the lows with the team. We felt the devastation when Slovenia scored their second goal, we jumped in extreme jubilation when the U.S. put away their second goal, and we felt the heartbreak as our team scored a goal that was called back for unjust reasons.
High fiving the people I was with, hugging a complete stranger next to me as the U.S scored a goal, learning how to properly play a vuvuzela and being with fellow Americans watching a sport I love were experiences that I will never forget.
Being able to go to this match really opened my eyes to how American soccer was received by fans across the United States.
It may not have been the most beautiful style of soccer, but it was effective and no matter what the fans rallied behind their team, their fellow Americans.
Today soccer is becoming one of the largest youth sports in the United States and things are beginning to look up.
We are still not where we need to be in comparison to other countries throughout the world, but we are moving in a positive direction.
People who never watched soccer before are beginning to tune their televisions in to watch soccer matches from leagues around the world, and the World Cup is becoming one of the largest events to watch in the United States.
We are still not born kicking a soccer ball like some other countries, but with time maybe we’ll eventually achieve that status.
If American athletes across the various fields of the sporting world grew up playing soccer, there is no doubt that we would become a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
(08/29/12 4:00pm)
Let’s venture back to the year 1998. Hip-hop, rap and R&B were exploring new ways to become more creative and inventive. It was the 90s when we first saw artists blending hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul and reggae to come up with a more universal sound, and these blends produced arguably one of the greatest albums of our generation.
Lauryn Hill’s only solo studio album to date, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” changed the time period and singlehandedly helped define a generation of young, talented black musicians. By exploring her roots and utilizing her talents, Lauryn Hill successfully blended all three genres and was able to create what I consider the greatest album of the 90s.
Hill, a former member of the rap group The Fugees alongside fellow hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean, was on tour with the Fugees when she met Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley. The two formed a close relationship and Hill later became pregnant. It was this pregnancy that helped inspire the album.
“When some women are pregnant, their hair and nails grow, but for me it was my mind and ability to create,” Hill said in an interview.
“Every time I got hurt, every time I was disappointed, every time I learned, I just wrote a song,” Hill added.
Delving in creativity, Hill wrote over 30 songs in her New Jersey studio apartment. A majority of the songs dealt with the hardships going on in her former group The Fugees, as well as other former relationships that ended negatively.
Hill began recording the album in late 1997 in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios, founded by reggae legend Bob Marley.
“The first day in the studio I ordered every instrument I ever fell in love with: harps, strings, timpani drums, organs, clarinets. It was my idea to record it so the human element stayed in. I didn’t want it to be too technically perfect,” Hill stated.
During writing and recording, Hill went back to her gospel roots. Many of her songs were inspired by the gospels of the Bible, and she used these influences to write beautiful and thought-provoking lyrics.
The album was very well received, garnering 4 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone reviewed the album six years after its debut and upped the score to a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, Hill was nominated for 10 awards for her debut solo album, making her the first female to be nominated for that many awards in a single year. She won five of those awards, including Best New Artist, Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Album and Album of the Year.
In 2012, the album ranked at number 43 on Rolling Stone’s list of Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time. It was also ranked on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of the 90s as number five.
Lauryn Hill created one of the greatest albums to ever grace our generation. With songs like “Ex-Factor,” “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing),” this album etched its place in history as one of the greatest pieces of work to grace our earbuds and iTunes libraries.
The album is timeless and is sure to entertain for years to come.If you haven’t already downloaded Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, I suggest you to do so in order to enjoy the best 77 minutes of your life.
(08/29/12 4:00pm)
Coming off of a record shattering, ground-breaking and monumental 2011-12 season, the Mercer men’s basketball team has released an extremely competitive 2012-13 schedule, highlighted by the Paradise Jam Tournament and 13 home contests at the newly named Hawkins Arena in the University Center.
“We’re going to be really stretched in the non-conference portion, which has always been beneficial for our team come conference play,” Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman said. “This season will be no different, and we will see every style of play and be in every part of the country. We’ll be pushed to the maximum to see what our strengths and weaknesses are going into A-Sun competition.”
All in all, the 2012-13 schedule features 13 competitive non-conference opponents in addition to an 18-game Atlantic Sun line up. Of the non-conference matchups, nine are contested away from Hawkins Arena on the road, including three against 2012 NCAA Tournament participants.
Mercer’s season begins on Nov. 10 in the annual Homecoming event, as the Bears play host to the Sewanee, the University of the South at 4 p.m. Two days later, the Bears are back on the Hawkins Arena hardwood floor in a test against in-state foe Oglethorpe at 7 p.m.
The Bears’ battle with Oglethorpe is the team’s final warm-up before traveling abroad to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam Tournament. Other teams participating in the annual event are the University Illinois-Chicago, University of New Mexico, Wake Forest University, University of Connecticut, Quinnipiac University, Iona College, and Mercer’s first-round opponent, George Mason University.
“I think it’s always a great opportunity to see teams on a neutral floor that have had success in the past like George Mason, New Mexico, Connecticut and Wake Forest,” Hoffman said. “Having the opportunity to go and potentially win some games gives you another chance to move the bar for your program in the direction you want to be in.”
Each team is guaranteed at least three games in the Paradise Jam, with a winners and losers bracket extending from the four initial matchups. Mercer and George Mason open the event on November 16 at 2:30 p.m.
After the Paradise Jam tournament, the Paladins of Furman rolls into Macon for a Nov. 25 test before the Bears depart for a three-game road swing at the University of New Mexico, Florida State University and the University of Denver. Those three games are part of a larger segment that sees the Bears on the road for six of seven games over a 25-day span.
“Our frequent flyer miles will be up,” Hoffman said. “As a college basketball player you want to have experiences. We’re going to play in some storied places; The Pit in Albuquerque has hosted the final four. There will be excited fans that we’ll be playing in front of that love hoops at a high level.”
On Dec. 8, the team hosts Alabama A&M before returning to the travel circuit for games at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama. The Dec. 22 trip to Alabama marks the end of Mercer’s non-conference slate.
The quest for an Atlantic Sun championship begins on the final day of 2012 in a home conference opener against Stetson University. Other notable home A-Sun matchups include a Jan. 2 clash with Florida Gulf Coast University, a weekend set with East Tennessee State University and University of South Carolina-Upstate on Jan. 17 and 19, and a senior-day welcome to Macon for the league’s newest member, Northern Kentucky University, on Feb. 23.
“I couldn’t sit here and tell you in my mind who’s going to win the league this year; there are many teams that have that opportunity,” Hoffman said. “It will be down to the end as it has in the past. It will be fun to see those teams compete in the non-conference against some other leagues and continue to show how good our league is. Once we get into conference play, there are going to be some really good teams with losses.”
For the final time, Mercer gets a chance to host the A-Sun Tournament on March 6-9 with a shot at an NCAA Tournament bid on the line. The 2013 A-Sun Tournament marks the fourth-straight year the event has been held on the Macon campus.
“We need to start the name change of the arena off right,” Hoffman said. “We’re undefeated on the floor of Hawkins arena, and it would be a great way to get our first appearance in the NCAA, coming out of our own conference on our own floor. We’re excited about our potential.”
The sky is the limit for a Bears team that lost just two seniors from last year’s 27-win, CollegeInsider.com Tournament Championship team. In all, the team returns over 80 percent of its scoring and over 85 percent of its rebounding from a year ago.
(08/29/12 4:00pm)
Head Coach Susie Gardner and the Mercer women’s basketball team released its 2012-13 season schedule on, featuring contests against schools from the Big East, ACC and SEC.
The Bears 2012-13 season features 14 home games, and six contests against teams that participated in post-season play in either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT one year ago.
“I think there is always an excitement when a new year begins and our players definitely feel it just as we do as coaches,” Gardner said. “We had eight first-year players last year and to me an athlete changes the most between their freshman and sophomore year. We can tell already that they have more confidence and that they know what is expected from them moving forward.”
Susie Gardner’s squad opens their season as part of Homecoming Weekend following the men’s basketball game, taking on Division II opponent Brevard College in Hawkins Arena at the University Center on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
After a road contest at Troy University on Nov. 14 and a home match-up against Jacksonville State University on Nov. 17, Mercer travels to South Bend, Indiana to take on the 2012 NCAA Tournament runner-up the University Notre Dame on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Notre Dame finished last season with a 35-4 overall record and returns two starters from last year’s squad, including the All-American point-guard Skylar Diggins.
After leaving Indiana, Mercer travels to Furman University on Nov. 24 and hosts Davidson University on Nov. 28 before a rematch with in-state powerhouse the University of Georgia on Dec. 4. The Bulldogs were 22-9 overall in 2012 and return four starters from a team that made their 18th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament last season.
“Anytime the average fan picks up our schedule obviously the Notre Dame, Georgia and Florida State games stand out the most,” Gardner said. “At the same time, you look at schools like Davidson and High Point, from similar mid-major conferences, and it makes for a very competitive non-conference schedule.”
Following road games at Georgia Southern University and ACC member Florida State University that bookend a home date against Alabama State University on Dec. 16, Mercer concludes its non-conference match-ups with a home game against High Point University on Dec. 21. Quite possibly the highlight of the 2011-12 season for Mercer came in the form of a 75-67 win at High Point, who went 20-13 overall and was selected to participate in last year’s WNIT.
“Coach Wierzba is in charge of our scheduling and we work together to schedule games that will challenge our players and give us different looks,” Gardner said. “You want teams that will press you, teams that will zone you, teams with shooters and teams that have athleticism and I think we have combined all those styles to make this a very challenging group of non-conference games.”
The Bears open competition in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a daunting home doubleheader against Stetson University on Dec. 31 and Florida Gulf Coast University on Jan. 2. Stetson finished 2012 with a school record 23 wins and a berth in the WNIT, while FGCU made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance last season after winning the 2012 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship.
Other matchups on the Orange and Black’s conference schedule include a three-game home stand from Feb. 2-11, featuring games against in-state rival Kennesaw State University, Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida.
Mercer has the advantage of once again hosting the 2012 Atlantic Sun Women’s Basketball Championship for the fourth and final time beginning on March 6.
“One of the biggest draws for me coming to Mercer two years ago was when President Underwood expressed to me his desire to host the conference tournament at Mercer and to keep it here,” Gardner said. “Our goal this year is to be one of the top eight teams in our league and to participate in our conference tournament. For our program to grow and take that next step our players need to experience playing in a pressure packed post-season tournament and I think we have a great shot to do that this season.”
The Bears do have a tremendous amount of talent returning to Mercer, with all five starters and 99 percent of their scoring back in the fold for the upcoming 2012-13 season.
(08/15/12 4:01pm)
Every four years, the entire world comes together as one for the largest sporting event in the world, the Olympics. The world watches in anticipation, hoping their home country’s athletes can bring home the coveted gold medal. With the Olympic Games being such a large competition, many athletes in the different realms of athletics have the opportunity to showcase their talent for the entire world to see.
Although it may not be as large as some of the country’s larger athletic programs, Mercer University has an Olympic tradition of its own. A few athletes and coaches who have graced Mercer University with their presence have been able to participate in the Olympics.
James “Jimmy” Carnes attended Mercer University from 1952 to 1956, where he played for the Mercer Bears basketball team and was a javelin-thrower and high-jumper for the Bears track and field team.
After a successful collegiate campaign in both sports, Carnes took his skills and began coaching at the high school level.
After graduating college, Carnes accepted his first job as a physical education teacher and assistant coach for the football, basketball and track teams at Druid in DeKalb County, Georgia.
In his second year at Druid Hills, he was named head coach of the track team. From 1957 to 1962, Carnes’ Druid Hills track teams were a perfect 52–0 in dual meets and captured six Georgia high school state championships, and he was recognized as the Georgia coach of the year six times.
After being successful at a high school level, Carnes began to be highly sought after in collegiate athletics. In 1962, Carnes became the head cross country and track and field coach at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
His Furman track and field teams were 16–3 in dual meets, and won both the Southern Conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships in his two seasons there.
After the 1964 track season, Carnes accepted the head coaching position at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. From 1965 to 1976, Carnes’ Florida Gators track and field teams finished in the top three in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) fifteen times, won two SEC indoor track championships, and compiled a 93–3 overall record in dual meets.
Among his many Gators track and field athletes were sixty-five SEC individual champions, four NCAA individual champions and twenty-four All-Americans.
It was obvious that Carnes had a knack for coaching, and this led him to be instated as one of the coaches for the U.S Olympic team.
Carnes served as the assistant coach of the U.S. men’s track and field team for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
He was named the head coach of the U.S. men’s track and field team that was forced to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as a result of the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
Carnes was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 and the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2008.
Cindy Brogdon, a former Mercer athlete, played for Mercer University in 1976 and 1977 before transferring to the University of Tennessee.
Brogdon was the first Georgian to play as a member of a United States Olympic Basketball team and helped the 1976 U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team to a silver medal at the Montreal Summer Olympic Games while she was only a freshman at Mercer University.
In 1999, Brogdon was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame for her dedication and contribution to the sport of women’s basketball.
Although Mercer University may not be necessarily known for their athletics, these two athletes are absolute proof that Mercer University has helped produce some of the top athletes and coaches of all time and true Olympians who have helped progress their sport.
(08/15/12 4:00pm)
Great Britain definitely did the entire world a huge favor by topping their confusing and outright weird opening ceremony performance with a more than entertaining closing ceremony. The night was filled with fireworks, strobe lights and—most importantly—a vast array of music.
The organizers of the event paid homage to some of Britain’s musical legends, the most important of whom was Freddie Mercury, the outlandish, outrageous and influential front man of the rock sensation Queen.
The tribute to the late, great Freddie Mercury was a heart-wrenching one. It was almost as if he was actually there performing once more in front of a live audience. Queen guitarist Brian May took the stage and rocked out on his guitar with a solo before Jessie J joined him onstage for a rendition of one of Queen’s biggest hits, “We Will Rock You”.
What was shocking, though, was that the organizers did not find time for Queen’s musical staple, the song that defined a generation, the song that is still played at the final of every major sporting event: “We Are the Champions”. Maybe the line “No time for losers” hit a little too close to home for some of the competitors. Nonetheless, in a tribute to Queen it should have been included.
The moment that struck everyone as odd was definitely when comedian Russell Brand came out riding in a floral-decorated van singing tunes from Willy Wonka. After he finished butchering one of the best movies of my childhood, he continued to butcher a hit from one of the best musical groups of that country. He lip-synced to The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus”.
British comedian Eric Idle took to the stage, singing the Monty Python hit “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. The crowd whistled along to the familiar tune, and maybe some of the Olympians who did not do as well as they’d hoped left with an uplifting message.
The most anticipated performance of the night was that of the 90s pop sensation the Spice Girls. The Spice Girls obviously did not have the same spice that they used to have when it came to dance moves, but they still wowed the crowd singing a mash-up of their biggest hits, “Wannabe” and “Spice Up Your Life”. When cameras panned to the watching athletes you could see the crowd revert back to their childhoods, jumping up and down and singing along, probably very similar to what they used to do in their bathroom mirrors with hairbrush in hand. The girls definitely looked like their old selves. Maybe a tour is in the works? One can only dream.
The closing act was none other than The Who, who performed probably one of the most iconic songs of all time, “Teenage Wasteland”. Despite their age, The Who can still rock out like they were back in their heyday. They finished off the night with a performance of “My Generation”. It was a truly monumental and memorable performance.
The night ended and the crowd dispersed, but London 2012 will continue to live on in the hearts, minds and ears of many for years to come. Let’s see what Rio can give us in 2016.
(08/15/12 4:00pm)
As the school year begins, several athletic teams across campus are already in preparation for their competitive seasons.
Men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, and volleyball have all begun preseason training.
The men’s soccer team brings a wealth of experience onto the pitch this fall. Led by Atlantic Sun Conference first team member Josh Shutter and second team member Joey Heavner, the bears look to improve upon last year’s Atlantic Sun semi-final performance.
From his center-back position, Shutter was able to amass an impressive three goals and four assists, while Heavner was credited for one goal and seven assists. Shutter was also named to the preseason All-Conference team.
Last year’s leading goal scorers junior Ehjay Henry and senior captain Will Betts will look to have yet another impressive season on the field. Last year, Henry and Betts both tallied five goals apiece to pace the bears towards a successful season.
With eleven freshmen added to the squad the bears should be all set to have another successful season. The bears were predicted to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun conference.
Head women’s coach, Tony Economopoulos, enters his first year as head coach for the bears. Economopoulos and the women’s soccer team looks to improve upon last year’s impressive run that saw them in the Atlantic Sun Tournament Finals.
Unfortunately, the bears came up short in that final, but the bitterness of last year’s defeat is sure to be fresh in their minds. Junior Nikki Atkinson, who had a stellar sophomore season in goal for the bears, is set to be the net minder for the bears again this year. Atkinson boasted a 0.74 goals against average while amassing an incredible .806 goals against average.
Also leading the bears is senior captain P.A Upson. Upson had an incredible season in the back line for the bears last year. Upson was one of the few people to play in all 20 matches for the bears last year, and was able to score two goals as well as tally two assists.
Also returning is sophomore Washida Blackman, who tallied four goals in her freshman year.
Women’s volleyball is also working to improve upon last year’s performance under former head coach Noelle Rooke. In the winter, Rooke was replaced by current head coach Damian Elder. Elder began making improvements to his squad last spring during the Sand Volleyball season, and is continuing to push his players to become better all around the court.
Leading attacker for the bears last year was senior Jennifer Katona. Katona was able to knock down 255 kills last year.
Also returning for the bears is senior setter, Monica Sanchez. Sanchez was able to dish out 504 assists last year, and looks to continue to be the playmaker for the bears this fall.
Men’s and women’s cross country is looking to have another impressive year. The men’s team is led by Junior Sony Prosper and Seniors Jacob Law and Chris Svidesskis.
The women’s team’s front runner is Kacie Niemann. Both squads look to steadily improve throughout the year to make a run at a conference title.
This fall should be an interesting one for the bears with several head coach changes within the athletic department. Despite the new personnel, each team is expected to have a positive and successful season.
(04/25/12 7:57pm)
Macon has qualified as a candidate for a one-million dollar prize in a nationwide contest to help feed the hungry and less fortunate.
Wal-Mart is running the Facebook campaign as part of its Fighting Hunger Together initiative.
The initiative is highlighting over 200 communites throughout the United States where unemployment rates are high.
Wal-Mart will award the community with the most votes the one-million dollar prize. If Macon receives this honor the money
will go to the Middle Georgia.
Community Food Bank Ron Raleigh, Executive Director of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank said, “The dollars will definitely be used, and we can find a home for them. It’s just mind-boggling for me to think that, ‘oh I might have a million dollars to try to spend. Wow!’”
The contest all boils down to an online vote. The highest vote getting cities will receive a cash prize. The money will go to the winning city’s local food bank.
“If we can’t get the most votes, maybe we can get the second most or the 20th most. As long as we’re in the top 20, we’re good to go,” said Raleigh.
Cities making the top twenty will receive $50,000 each. Raleigh has already started making a wish list of things that are needed at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.
“The higher-end protein items will definitely be on my wish list if we get the million dollars.
Then I would chase that with fruits and vegetables,” Raleigh added.
Margie Kennedy from the House of Grace Church in Cochran stops by the food bank twice a week to stock up the church’s pantry.
“To put together a meal, the fruit is kind of expensive. A lot of people pass over the fruit and go to other things,” she said. “We have a small food bank. We have anywhere from 15 to 35 families that come on any given day that we are open.”
On a million dollar budget, Raleigh says about 150,000 to 200,000 families will get a nice hearty meal.
To cast your vote for Macon to win and to help feed local families, go to Wal-Mart’s Facebook page and click the Fighting Hunger tab. You will be able to vote every 24 hours. The contest runs until April 30th.
(04/25/12 7:20pm)
The Mercer women’s sand volleyball team lost three matches in the inaugural Atlantic Sun Women’s Sand Volleyball Championships, knocking them out of the tournament and keeping them from winning a title.
Damien Elder’s team was eliminated from contention for the Atlantic Sun Championship on the first day of play, dropping a pair of contests. Mercer was defeated by Jacksonville 4-1 before losing to North Florida 5-0 at the JU Dolphin Beach Volleyball Complex.
The first flight team of Cassie Roy and Jamie Duffy lost to Jacksonville in a highly contested two-set match, falling short in the first 22-20 and 21-19 in the second against North Florida, the pairing of Roy and Duffy were unable to pull out a win losing in two sets 21-13 and 21-16.
In the second flight, Jennifer Katona and Monica Sanchez lost both sets to Jacksonville 21-16 and 21-13. They also dropped the match to North Florida in two sets as well losing both sets 21-15 and 21-16.
Mercer’s lone point of the day came in the third flight against Jacksonville, as Mercer’s pairing of Caroline Carlton and Emily Rochefort claimed a straight-sets (21-16, 21-13) victory over Niatha Cullen and Nicole Teplitz. After winning a competitive match against JU, Rochefort and Carlton could not pull out a victory against North Florida losing in two sets 21-16 and 23-21.
The fourth flight team made up of Charlayna Braxton and Madison Petsos lost to Jacksonville in two sets in a highly competitive match, dropping the first set 25-23 and the second set 21-16. They also lost both sets to North Florida’s fourth flight team 21-12 and 21-18.
In the fifth flight, Erin Brett and Lizzie Knapper could not garner a win in an intense three-set match. The Bears’ duo would take the first in an impressive 23-21 fashion. They would then drop the next two sets 21-17 and 17-15. Against North Florida, Brett and Knapper lost in two sets, 21-13 and 21-16.
On the second day of play, the sand volleyball squad took on Florida Gulf Coast. Mercer fell by a 4-1.
After claiming a 21-18 first set victory, Mercer’s No. 1 pairing of Cassie Roy and Jamie Duffy dropped the second set by a 21-15 margin, setting the stage for a deciding third frame. Roy and Duffy edged Kaitlin Holm and Holly Youngquist 15-12 in the third set to book Mercer’s only point of the afternoon.
Jennifer Katona and Monica Sanchez lost the second flight in two sets losing the first 21-14 and the second 21-11.
Emily Rochefort and Caroline Carlton also dropped both sets in the third flight match-up, being edged out 21-13 and 21-11.
Charlayna Braxton and Madison Petsos lost their fourth flight matchup in two sets as well, dropping the first 21-12 and only narrowly losing the second 22-20.
Lizzie Knapper and Erin Brett played two extremely close sets, but were unable to prevail against Florida Gulf Coast’s fifth flight team. They lost the first set 21-18, and the second 22-20.
The Bears then went on to face Stetson University. With no one being able to garner a victory, each Mercer pairing lost in two sets.
This concludes the women’s sand volleyball inaugural season. The team will now focus on their indoor season beginning in the fall of 2012.