ROLLINS COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Dan Walters

Senior – Men's Golf

Lititz, Pa.

 

Senior golfer Dan Walters defended home turf and tied for second place at the Rollins College Invitational at Forest Lake Golf Club in Ocoee last week. The Lititz, Pennsylvania native recorded a pair of one under par 71's on the first day and finished up with a 73 in the final round for a score of 215. He led the Tars contingent as Rollins placed fourth of the 12 teams in the event. Walters has finished among the top 15 in each of the Tars three tournaments this fall and leads the team with a 72.12 stroke average.   

 

 

VOLLEYBALL CLIMBS UP SSC STANDINGS WITH REVENGE WIN OVER ECKERD

Last week:

Rollins 3, Eckerd 0 (30-16, 30-22, 30-18)  

 

Record: 22-9, 6-5 SSC

 

The Tars volleyball team stayed in the hunt for a regional berth with a decisive 3-0 home victory over Eckerd last week. The win avenges an earlier loss to the Tritons as Rollins fell 3-1 at St. Petersburg earlier in the year. The Blue and Gold trailed only six times the entire night and led from start to finish in game three for the 30-16, 30-22, 30-18 win.

 

Rollins' asserted its dominance early against Eckerd. The Tars got off to a quick 11-3 start in the opening game and never looked back. The Tars defense tightened the screws on Eckerd and forced 11 hitting errors. The Tritons hit for a -.114 hitting percentage in the first game. The second game didn't get much better for Eckerd. Rollins kept up its tough defense, this time only allowing a .095 hitting percentage while forcing nine hitting errors. The Tars got off to a 21-13 start and would take the second game 30-22. Rollins could sense victory was close at hand in the third game, and they took advantage. The Tars were able to hold Eckerd to a negative hitting percentage once again at -.025. Rollins took a big 18-7 lead to start off the game and would end up bulldozing the Tritons 30-18.

 

For the Tars, it was the first time this season they were able to hold an opponent to a negative hitting percentage, -.009. Rollins on the other hand, hit for one of their best percentages in recent memory, .299.

 

Lorena Orlandini and graduating junior Julia Caner each had game high totals of 12 kills on the night with Orlandini also posting a great hitting percentage of .391. Senior Allison North added nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage. And Christina Reinders also contributed nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage to the offensive effort. Sophomore libero Kim Cline led the defense with 16 digs.

 

The Tars sent their four seniors; Julia Caner, Lindsey Crosby, Whitney Jones, and Allison North, out in style with an impressive victory.

 

Due to travel concerns and time constraints, the Rollins versus Barry match that was rescheduled for Sunday, November 6 in Miami Shores was cancelled. Up next, the Tars will continue through the revamped Sunshine State Conference schedule with four matches this week. Rollins hosts Saint Leo on Tuesday, November 8 at 5 p.m. before finishing up their home slate on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Tampa. The weekend brings a trip to south Florida as Rollins clashes with Nova Southeastern on Friday at 7 p.m. and Lynn on Sunday at noon.  

 

SSC VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS
	SSC				OVERALL
	W	L	PCT		W	L	PCT
Tampa	11	1	.917		23	3	.885
Florida Southern	11	2	.846		29	3	.906
Barry	8	2	.800		15	8	.652
Rollins	6	5	.545		22	9	.710
Saint Leo	5	8	.385		11	17	.393
Lynn	4	7	.364		9	11	.450
Florida Tech	4	9	.308		9	21	.300
Eckerd	3	8	.273		12	13	.480
Nova Southeastern	1	11	.091		5	17	.238

 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DOWNS STETSON TO OPEN EXHIBITION SEASON

Tars top pick in SSC preseason poll

Last week:

Rollins 74, Stetson 54 (exhibition)

 

Record: 0-0, 0-0 SSC

 

Glenn Wilkes, Jr. has his Rollins women's basketball team hitting on all cylinders already as the Tars blew past Stetson 74-54 in an exhibition game in DeLand on Saturday night.

 

The teams went back and forth to begin the contest, which was being played on the floor named for Wilkes father and legendary Hatters head coach, Glenn Wilkes.

 

Former SU forward Joslyn Giles led the Tars with 20 points and five rebounds while Larissa McDonough recorded a double-double for Rollins, rolling up 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jen Musgrove added 11 points for the Tars.

 

After going back and forth for the first five minutes , Musgrove drained a long ball that sparked a 17-0 Rollins run and put the visitors up 26-10. The hosts battled back and pulled to within five at 28-23 with five minutes to go in the half, but Rollins was able to hold on and with the help of a McDonough trey in the final seconds, went into the locker room with a 41-29 advantage.

 

It was more of the same in the second half as the Tars offense kept the pressure on and the defense maintained the double-digit lead throughout for the 20-point win.

 

Rollins shot 43 percent (22-51) from the field in the contest with McDonough going 6-11 (3-4 three-point) and Giles shooting 5-11.The Tars also out rebounded Stetson 44-34 on the night. Nefertiti Walker led Stetson and all players with 21 points.

 

Rollins will host Seminole Community College in another exhibition contest on Tuesday, November 8 at 7 p.m. in Winter Park. The Tars regular season begins on Tuesday, November 15 with a home match-up against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.

 

Entering the season with back to back Sunshine State Conference tournament titles, the Rollins women's basketball team was the overwhelming favorite to take the 2005-06 SSC crown as the Tars were first in the conference's preseason poll. Voting for the preseason polls was conducted among the head coaches and sports information directors within the league.

 

Last season the Tars finished tied for fourth place during the regular season, but rebounded to win the conference championship for the second consecutive season. The team finished the season with a record of 21-10 and earned the team's eighth trip the NCAA Division II Tournament. Tars head coach Glenn Wilkes, Jr. returns for his 20th season as head coach, where he has accumulated a record of 418-139 (.750). In those 19 seasons, the Tars have won nine regular season SSC titles and six SSC tournament titles.

 

Returning for the Tars this season are All-SSC second team and All-SSC Tournament team selection Larissa McDonough , SSC Tournament Most Valuable Player Joslyn Giles and SSC All-Freshman team member Jennifer Musgrove . McDonough (10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Giles (10.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg) will combine with fifth year senior Randi Weiss (5.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) to lead the front court, while Musgrove (9.0 ppg, 1.7 apg) and senior Sally Johnston (5.8 ppg, 2.1 apg) will lead the back court.

 

The Tars received 11 of the possible 18 first place votes in the poll. Nova Southeastern was selected to finish second, followed closely by Florida Tech, Tampa, and Lynn. Florida Southern, Barry, Eckerd, and Saint Leo rounded out the poll.

 

2005-06 SSC PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POLL

 

SCHOOL	POINTS (1st PLACE VOTES)
Rollins	31 (11)
Nova Southeastern	56
Florida Tech	59 (3)
Tampa	64 (2)
Lynn	95 (2)
Florida Southern	101
Barry	108
Eckerd	134
Saint Leo	162

                             *Teams earn one point for each first-place vote, two for second place vote, etc.

 

 

MEN'S GOLF FOURTH AT ROLLINS INVITATIONAL

Last week: at Rollins Invitational (Forest Lake G.C. – Ocoee, Fla.)

Rollins A - 4 th of 12 teams

Rollins B – 11 th of 12 teams

 

The Rollins men's golf team turned in the best score of Tuesday's final round and finished fourth in the 12 team Rollins College Invitational, hosted by Forest Lake Golf Club of Ocoee.

 

The Tars put up 288 stokes on the day and finished with a 12 over par 876 while the Rollins B squad finished up in 11 th place with 910 strokes after shooting 306 in the final round.  

 

Dan Walters played solid, consistent golf in the tournament and finished in a three-way tie for second place with a one under par 215. The senior carded a pair of 71's on day one before posting a 73 in the final round. Rollins' Jeff Golden came on strong toward the end of the tournament and tied for 11 th place with 215 strokes after rounds of 75, 71 and 73 while Tim Acquaviva jumped into a tie for 13 th place after scorching the course for a 70 in the final round to finish with 220 strokes (73-77-70) for the event. Daniel Laughlin saved his best for last, posting an even par 72 on Tuesday to tie for 27 th place with 225 shots (78-75-72) and Darren Lundgren tied for 37 th with 229 strokes (75-77-77) for the Tars.

 

The Rollins B team was paced by Bobby Leopold, who turned in rounds of 73, 77 and 78 to tie for 33 rd at 228 strokes. Ronald DeNunzio tied for 41 st place, shooting 78 in his first round and 76 in the last two for 230 strokes while Todd Shagin totaled 231 strokes (79-71-81) and tied for 44 th . David DeNunzio shot under par in the final round, firing 71 to go along with a first round 83 and second round 79 and tied for 47 th with Bill Tompkins tying for 49 th with 234 strokes (75-75-84).

 

Sunshine State Conference foe Lynn University ran away with the team title, posting scores of 285, 286 and 290 for a three under par 861, 12 shots better than runner-up Columbus State. Hoyt McGarity of Lynn used a first round 67 to take medalist honors with a six under par 210 (67-72-71).

 

The Rollins men's golf team will next play at the Stetson Invitational, held at Victoria Hills, on November 7-8. The Tars are currently ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division II GCAA/Bridgestone Coaches Poll. South Carolina-Aiken and Cal State-Bakersfield hold the top two spots with Florida Southern and Rollins coming in a third and fourth. The Tars received one first place vote in the poll.

 

 

WOMEN'S GOLF SIXTH AT ROSS RESORTS-PINE NEEDLES

Last week: at Ross Resorts-Pine Needles (hosted by Rollins)

6 th of 12 teams

 

Playing at the same course as the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and among very tough Division I competition, the Rollins women's golf team took sixth place at the Ross Resorts Pine Needles Invitational after Tuesday's final round. The event was hosted by the Tars at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

 

Rollins totaled 933 strokes in the three round tournament with scores of 312, 307 and 314.   Mariana De Biase put together a solid two days, shooting 76, 75 and 74 to finish tied for sixth place with 225 strokes. Charlotte Campbell posted a final round 79 to go with scores of 76 and 77 on day one and finished 15 th at 232 strokes while Vanessa Vela   went 79, 79, 80 to tie for 27 th place with 238 shots.   Marie-Pierre Bernier carded 81 and 76 on the first day and finished with an 86 to tie for 40 th place at 243 strokes with Caitlin Barry tying for 47 th place with 246 strokes (82-83-81).

 

Rollins got a spectacular performance from newcomer Cristina Gugler, who shot 229 (81-72-76) and tied for 12 th place, but was playing as an individual and didn't factor into the team score. Also playing as individuals for Rollins, Catherine Hicks (86-84-90-260) finished tied for 63 rd place and Kelly McEnerney (87-87-88-262) was 64 th .

 

“It was a great experience to play a U.S. Women's Open venue, and be the host school for such a prestigious event,” said Rollins Head Coach Julie Garner.   Mrs. (Peggy Kirk) Bell is a big part of our legacy of excellence at Rollins, and we are willing partners in this elite intercollegiate invitational.   Our team learned a lot from their play this week, and we have a great appreciation for the classic Donald Ross course design.   Pine Needles is a beautiful facility, and the renovation of the course in anticipation of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open has given an already great course even more teeth!”

 

Augusta State won the team trophy as they tied Georgia State with 905 strokes, but had their fifth player post a better final round score. Yale took third with 918 strokes, followed by Princeton (923) and Richmond (930) in fourth and fifth, respectively. Emilie Guery of Augusta State took the individual medalist honors, shooting rounds of 75, 70 and 74 for a six over par total of 219.

 

The Rollins event was the last of the fall season for the Rollins women's golf team as the Nova Southeastern Invitational was cancelled do to the lingering effects of Hurricane Wilma. Rollins will head into the spring season with a national ranking of number one in the latest GolfStat rankings.

 

ARONSON CAPS OF FANTASTIC FRESHMAN SEASON AT NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL

Last week: Kristina Aronson 33 rd at NCAA Division II South Region Championships

 

Rollins freshman Kristina Aronson capped on her fantastic freshman season with a 33 rd place finish at the 2005 NCAA Division II South Region Championships on Saturday. The Duvall, Washington native went 24:08 in the race, which was hosted by Saint Leo and Florida Southern at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

 

Aronson had one of the best seasons in Rollins harriers history as she recorded two individual victories and finished no worse than 10 th the entire regular season. She was also honored as the Sunshine State Conference runner of the week twice in the 2005 season.

 

 

ROWING TEAM SLICES THROUGH WATERS AT HEAD OF THE HOOCH

Last week:

Men's championship 4+ - B team 7 th place, A team 9 th place

Men's championship 8+ - 7 th place

Men's Master 8+ - 4 th place (Rollins class of '73)

 

The men's rowing team was back at it last weekend with a very busy, but successful trip to the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Tars fielded a varsity 8 for the first time this year and took 7 th place with a time of 15:37.2. The crew of Lindsay Erdmann (cox), Drew Brodnax, Collin Campbell, Skylar Wilson, David Bagby, Brandon Koch, Shawn Taveres, Eric Fraser and Sean Weigold were up against the best crews in the east as Georgia Tech won the event with a time of 15:00.6 with Rollins beating teams from Clemson, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

 

Two Rollins crews participated in the varsity 4 race with the B team edging out Texas for seventh place and the Tars A team taking ninth. The B team of Colleen Reagan, Tavares, Wilson, Fraser and Weigold posted a time of 18:02.1, 0.7 ticks ahead of UT while the Tars A boat of Erdmann, Brodnax, Campbell, Koch and Bagby stopped the clock at 18:07.0. Rollins head coach Shawn Pistor got into the action and led a group of Tars alumni in the men's master 8 race. The crew of Snowden Smith, David Kidd, Herb Sheppard, Roy Newman, Pierce Ward, Patrick Crowell, Keith Young, Scot Hall and Shawn Pistor went 15:43.6 to a fourth place finish.

 

The Tars crew team will finish up the 2005 fall season on November 12 at the FIRA Fall Classic in Melbourne.