weekly_042406

WEEKLY ATHLETIC SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 27

Women's Tennis at Hillsborough CC (scrimmage) – Tampa, Fla. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 28

Softball at Lynn – Boca Raton, Fla. – 1 p.m.
Baseball at Nova Southeastern – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 29

Softball at Lynn (DH) – Boca Raton, Fla. – 1 p.m.
Baseball at Nova Southeastern (DH) – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – 1 p.m.

Rollins College softball player Stacy Sanders was honored by the Sunshine State Conference on Monday as the softball Player of the Week and by Rollins College as the Tars' Athlete of the Week. The junior from Orlando, Fla. had an outstanding week for the Tars, going 10-22 from the plate with four doubles, three home runs, nine runs scored and nine RBI in seven games. For the week her batting average was .455 and her slugging percentage was a monstrous 1.045.

In two games against Palm Beach Atlantic, Sanders went 4-7 from the plate with six RBI. In the nightcap of the double header, she had a walk-off three run homerun in the sixth inning, giving the Tars the 9-0 victory. In the three-game conference series against Nova Southeastern, Sanders batted .444 with one home run and against Albany State she went 2-6 with two RBI and four runs scored.

The Rollins softball team continued to stay hot during their stretch run, going 6-1 in three different series last week. The week began with a sweep over Palm Beach Atlantic 10-4 and 9-0. That set up a three game weekend series against Sunshine State Conference foe Nova Southeastern. The contests were evenly matched as Rollins took the first two, 4-1, 2-1 before dropping the finale 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Sunday the Tars matched up with Albany State on senior day and swept a doubleheader, 11-0, 10-2 to improve to 42-16.

Junior Stacy Sanders had the big week at the plate, hitting, 10-22 from the plate with four doubles, three home runs, nine runs scored and nine RBI in seven games. For the week her batting average was .455 and her slugging percentage was a monstrous 1.045. Ingrid Schumacher and Nicole Anderson each picked up three wins on the week as each also tossed one complete game shutout.

The Rollins women's tennis team dropped their opening match of the 2006 Sunshine State Conference Tournament, but bounced back with two straight shutouts to finish in fifth place. One of the victories, a 5-0 defeat of Florida Southern, gave Rollins former tennis standout and veteran head coach Bev Buckley her 300 th career victory.

In the opener against Nova Southeastern, the Tars were put in an early hole as they were only able to come up with one doubles point. Anastasiya Shevchenko and Silvia Frandji teamed to down Anna Schmidtmann and Jessica Homerlein 8-5 in the No. 3 match. The region's top ranked duo of Tasi Purcell and Marnie Mahler were upset by Alexa Korotkevich and Ulia Talalenko by a close 9-8(9-7) score with Soni Bernal and Cassie Webster falling to Tsippy Waterman and Andrea Moncada 8-4 in the No. 2 position.

Purcell and Mahler bounced back from their doubles loss with big wins in singles play. Purcell took Korotkevich 7-6, 6-3 in the top position while Mahler downed Talalenko 7-5, 7-5 in the No. 2 slot. Shevchenko was also a winner for Rollins, winning at No. 3 singles 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Waterman bested Bernal 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the No. 3 position, Schmidtmann downed Frandji 7-6(0), 6-2 at No. 5 and Homerlien defeated Webster 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 6 slot.

In the back draw against Florida Tech, The Tars rolled through doubles play, taking each match in decisive fashion. The nation's sixth ranked doubles team of Tasi Purcell and Marnie Mahler downed Michaela Horvathova and Belen Pandre 8-5 in the top spot with Sonia Bernal and Cassie Webster taking Kimoya Tucker and Nicole David 8-4 in the No. 2 position. Anastasiya Shevchenko and Silvia Frandji scored their second shutout of the season in the No. 3 slot, defeating Stephanie Monaco and Aya Nakatsuji 8-0. Rollins sealed up the match with two quick victories in singles. Shevchenko downed Kimoya Tucker 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 4 match while Frandji scored a shutout, 6-0, 6-0 win over Monaco.

On Sunday, Buckley picked up her 300 th career victory in a big way, with her second straight shutout. Rollins rolled through doubles competition, taking all three match-ups in dominating fashion. Tasi Purcell and Marnie Mahler took Meri Gol and Lidia Gandarias 8-4 in the top spot, improving their record to 13-8 on the season. Cassie Webster and Sonia Bernal took Weronika Lomack and Lindsey Willis 8-6 in No. 2 and Anastasiya Shevchenko and Silvia Frandji picked up their eighth straight win, downing Silje Aarum and Alysha Puleo 8-2. Rollins then sealed it up for Coach Buckley in singles, winning two matches in straight sets. Shevchenko won at No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-1 over Lomacka and Webster made quick work of Pueleo, 6-0, 6-0.

In a weekend that epitomized the Rollins men's tennis team's season, the Tars had multiple chances to win in the quarterfinals against Florida Southern, but fell 5-4 before downing Florida Tech 5-2 in the fifth place match. The loss likely ends Rollins season, marking the end of the NCAA's longest consecutive regional appearance streak at 39.

In their match against Florida Southern, Rollins gained the early lead, taking victories in the bottom two singles matches. David Tafur and Jonathan Gomez downed Milos Koprivica and Isaac Galindo 8-4 with Adrian Tan and Michael Schwartz taking Justin LaFlamme and Dustin Dixon in the No. 2 match, also by 8-4. Brian Compton and Carlos Custodio dropped their second straight match for the first time this year, falling 8-4 in No. 1 doubles to Michael Knoedler and Alex Thesleff.

In singles competition, Rollins was again strong at the bottom of the line-up, but couldn't get the decisive fifth victory. Compton was a quick 6-0, 6-2 winner over Thesleff in the No. 5 match while Albin Hubscher took care of LaFlamme 6-3, 7-5 in the No. 6 slot. Gomez was defeated at the No. 4 position by Galindo 6-2, 6-2. The Tars battled to three sets in each of the top three matches, losing the first set, winning the second and dropping the third. David Tafur fell to Adam Flintoff 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the No. 3 position and Adrian Tan was turned back by Knoedler 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the No. 2 position. The No. 1 match featured a pair of the nation's best singles players as No. 16 Milos Koprivica scored a 7-6(4), 5-7(4), 6-3 win over No. 11 Carlos Custodio.

Rollins was able to score the big points in their following match, to take fifth place in the tournament. Rollins began strong, scoring quick wins in the top two doubles matches. Carlos Custodio and Brian Compton teamed to down Keith Kessler and Cliff Giel 8-4 in the No. 1 position while David Tafur and Jonathan Gomez took Christian Smith and Jeremy Green 8-2 in the No. 2 slot. In the No. 3 match, Adrain Tan and Michael Schwartz were defeated by Diego Quiros and Adam Outlaw 8-2. The Tars dropped the No. 1 match as Kessler downed Custodio 6-4, 6-1, but Rollins grabbed three, straight set wins in the bottom of the lineup for the victory. Gomez downed Bonilla 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 3 match, Albin Hubscher defeated Smith 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5 and Brian Irvin won 6-0, 6-1 over Outlaw in the No. 6 match.

The Tars had a successful week going 3-1 in four games played inside the friendly confines of Alfond Stadium. They improved their home record to 21-13 on the year. The Blue and Gold began the week with a victory over NAIA foe, Webber International 2-1 in 10 innings. Then they began a three game weekend series against Palm Beach Atlantic with a dramatic 3-2 victory in their final at-bat. Gene Howard won the game with a RBI double to right field. The Sailfish took the second game of the series, 4-3. But the Tars exploded in the early going in game three. Rollins plated eight first inning runs on the way to a 14-6 thumping of PBA.

Rob Cloar did a great job in relief for the Tars last week. The senior right hander picked up two victories, one against Webber and the other against PBA. Cloar worked five innings surrendering just three hits while striking out nine and allowing batters to hit just .188 against him. Cloar also contributed two hits and four RBI in the Tars' victory over PBA, Saturday. Third baseman Gene Howard led the Tars on the offensive end. Howard lit up pitchers for a .500 batting average, smacking five doubles and knocking in four RBI.

Post season honors for the Rollins women's golf team have begun rolling in as seniors Charlotte Campbell and Mariana De Biase and women's head coach Julie Garner were all honored by the Sunshine State Conference.

Senior Charlotte Campbell (Heathrow, Fla.) was selected as the Sunshine State Conference Golfer of the Year for the second time in her illustrious career while earning a spot on the All-SSC team for the fourth time. She was a unanimous pick for Freshman of the Year in 2003, was named Golfer of the Year in 2004 and became the first two-time recipient in 2006. Campbell leads the conference with a 74.71 stroke average, winning three tournaments, posting six top-five's and seven top-10's. Her victories came in the Yale Fall Intercollegiate, the Lady Moc Classic in Lakeland and the Ryder/Florida Intercollegiate Championship in Miami. In her three years with the Tars she has also been named first team All-American and national Player of the Year three times.

Senior Mariana De Biase (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the 2006 Sunshine State Conference Tournament champion, was also named All-SSC for the fourth time in her career. She posted a 75.00 stroke average on the season, which was second best in the SSC. Along with her conference crown, she grabbed three top five finishes and finished eighth or better in each of the Tars eight tournaments this season.

Head Coach Julie Garner, in her 10 th season leading the Tars, earned SSC Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in her career. She has led Rollins to a conference best six titles, including the last three straight. In May, she will look to guide Rollins to their unprecedented fourth straight NCAA Division II National Championship.

The Rollins women begin their run to a fourth straight regional and national championship May 1-2 at Stonebrook Golf Club in Pensacola, Florida.

Rollins men's golfer Dan Walters (Lititz, Pa.) was honored for the second straight season as All-Sunshine State Conference, it was announced Monday. The senior led the Tars with a 72.83 stroke average and earned medalist honors at the 2006 Sunshine State Conference Championship. On the year he won one tournament and finished runner-up three different times.

The Rollins men's golf team will look to defend their NCAA Division II South Region title May 1-3 at The Territory near Duncan, Oklahoma.

I am so excited to extend to you a wonderful opportunity to “Share the Vision” of Rollins Women's Golf. David Lord, Rollins class of 1969 and a member of the board of Trustees, has graciously donated his home at Reunion, Florida, site of the LPGA Ginn Open for use by the women's golf team during the entire LPGA event, from April 27-30. David's house is located just off the number one green of the Palmer course with a spectacular view. His home is a perfect venue to celebrate the return of the LPGA to Orlando, as well as to share the history and tradition of excellence that Rollins women's golf has enjoyed since the beginning.

Attached is your personal invitation to the brunch and hospitality house. The brunch on Saturday will celebrate all of the legendary women who have helped establish the Rollins women's golf program as one of the premier teams in the country. We are honored to have Carolyn Bivens, the Commissioner of the LPGA, as one of our honored guests. We will gather to venerate our successes, including Marlene Streit's induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, as well as the 14 USGA Championships won by Rollins golfers. And, the house will be open all four days of the tournament for Rollins friends and family to enjoy some refreshments as they soak in the LPGA atmosphere. Please check our website after April 1 for updates on events. Please RSVP to me via email at jgarner@rollins.edu , or call (407) 646-2601.

I hope you caught some of the season's coverage on the Golf Channel on “College Central.” We have received wonderful press with a very nice quote about Rollins Women's Golf and a “College Dynasty.” I am so proud of our team, their performance on the golf course and their ability to excel in the classroom. Our team GPA was 3.52 for the fall semester, which was the highest of any team at Rollins. Immediately following the brunch on Saturday, we will take the first step in NCAA regional tournament play to capture our fourth consecutive NCAA National Championship!

On behalf of the 2005-06 women's golf team, we look forward to seeing you at Reunion as we host this exciting and fun event, share our vision for growing the golf program, unveil our plans for a new on-campus short-game facility and honor the Legends of Rollins Women's Golf. If you have any questions, or need any further information, please don't hesitate to contact me. GO TARS!!