Four Bulldogs Receive Big South Conference Honors

Four UNC Asheville women’s soccer players were honored on Wednesday night at the Big South annual awards banquet. Freshman forward Chloe McCleary-Small and sophomore defender Mary Kate Tucker were both named second team all-conference. McCleary-Small, a homegrown talent who was a standout at Asheville High, led the Bulldogs in points (9), goals (4), and game-winning goals (3) in the first season of her UNC Asheville career. Tucker anchored a back line that allowed the fewest goals this season (16) of any team in the Big South. Tucker was also credited with an assist on a game-winning goal from McCleary-Small in the Bulldogs’ September 13^th victory over Tennessee Tech. This is the second consecutive season Tucker has been named second team all-conference.

Freshman Hannah Jeske, who started every match this season as the lone freshman in Asheville’s strong midfield, was chosen for the Big South’s all-freshman team. Jeske had a strong season on both ends of the pitch, supporting the defensive line and taking 12 shots.

Asheville’s senior goalkeeper, Veronica Lazar, was named to the conference’s all-academic squad for the second consecutive year. Lazar capped off an outstanding career this season by posting a 0.84 goals against average and a .855 save percentage – both marks were second best in the conference. In her final match as a Bulldog, Lazar made nine saves on Sunday against High Point to earn the victory and her 13^th career shutout. Lazar, a Health and Wellness major, has a 3.70 GPA.

The 2009 Big South conference honorees:

Chloe McCleary-Small

Second Team All-Conference

Mary Kate Tucker

Second Team All-Conference

Hannah Jeske

All-Freshman Team

Veronica Lazar

All-Academic Team

Women's Soccer Wraps Up Season on a High Note

UNC Asheville capped off the 2009 season with a 1-0 victory of the High Point Panthers on Sunday at Greenwood Field. The senior class was recognized before the match and proceeded to excel on the playing field. McKenna Stockhausen recorded her 12th goal in Bulldog blue in the 12th minute of the match, and Veronica Lazar made nine saves for her 13th career shutout.

The Bulldogs came out on the offensive in the first half, firing several shots on goal, including near misses by Stockhausen and fellow senior Lauren Turnburke. In the 12th minute, Stockhausen beat a High Point defender but was taken out with a dangerous tackle inside the box. The Asheville striker was awarded a penalty kick, which she drove home to the bottom right corner of the net.

High Point responded with a relentless attack for the final 15 minutes of the period, but a strong effort by the Asheville back line and several quality saves by Lazar combined to preserve the lead. Following intermission, the Panthers again came out on the offensive, but the Asheville defense resisted. After a barrage of about 10 minutes, the Bulldog midfielders succeeded in slowing the tempo of the match and keeping the pressure off of the Lazar the rest of the way.

UNC Asheville wraps up with season with a 5-10-1 overall record and a 2-7-0 mark in conference play. The Bulldogs did not qualify for the Big South postseason tournament. As this was the final match for the seven seniors on this year’s squad, I’m including photos of those players – each of whom made significant contributions to Sunday’s victory.

Lauren Turnburke

McKenna Stockhausen

Keri Skelton

Kristina Montuori

Veronica Lazar

Sara Marie Holland

Meagan Bradham

Women's Soccer Preview: Liberty

UNC Asheville will try to snap a four match losing streak on Friday when it hosts Big South-leading Liberty. The Bulldogs (4-9-1, 1-6-0) have struggled to maintain an offensive rhythm in conference play, and their task will not become any easier against the Flames (8-7-1, 5-1-1), a group that has stifled opponents with superb defense.

Liberty goalkeeper Karen Blocker ranks first in goals against average (0.18) and save percentage (.974) in conference play. The sophomore also leads the league with four shutouts. Asheville’s senior keeper, Veronica Lazar, turned in a strong performance in non-conference action but has struggled at times in Big South matches. Lazar ranks ninth in both goals against (1.15) and save percentage (.778) over this stretch. Freshman Megan Dent, who has shared time in goal with Lazar since returning from an injury, has averaged 1.71 goals against and a .667 save rate in three conference matches.

Junior Maria Owen is the linchpin of the Liberty attack. Her 11 points in league play lead the Big South, and she ranks second in goals (4) and third in assists (3). Sophomores Aimee Luurtsema and Silvia Betancourt are tied for fourth, with three goals apiece. Asheville had difficulty converting offensive opportunities over the four consecutive losses, and produced only one goal during the stretch. The Bulldogs’ four conference goals make up the lowest total in the Big South. Katy Beeler leads the team with two conference goals, while Chloe McCleary-Small is the overall leader with four. Senior striker McKenna Stockhausen has only one goal on the year, but leads the team in shots and has had a number of near misses. If this trio of forwards can get back on track on Friday, Asheville will have a good chance to steal a victory from the conference leader.

Liberty defeated UNC Asheville last year, 3-1, in Lynchburg. The Flames also came out on top in 2007, the last time the two sides faced one another at Greenwood Field. Come out and support the Bulldogs as they try to reverse that trend. The match kicks off at 3pm, and admission is free.

Women's Soccer Preview: Winthrop

Women’s soccer will try to bounce back from two disappointing games last weekend when the team travels to Rock Hill, South Carolina, to take on Winthrop. The Bulldogs (4-7-1, 1-4-0) dropped a pair of close matches to Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, despite outplaying their opponents for long stretches. The Eagles (3-9-2, 0-4-1) have struggled early in conference play, and look to turn things around during this weekend’s home stand.

Quality play by midfielders Meagan Bradham, Leilani Halkiotis, and Hannah Jeske enabled the Bulldogs to control possession and maintain pressure on the defenses of Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, but Asheville struggled to convert scoring opportunities. The Bulldogs dropped the two contests, 1-0 and 2-0 respectively, even though they outshot Charleston and equaled Coastal. Despite the losses, goalkeeper Veronica Lazar still ranks first in the conference in goals against average, and will again need to keep the score down against Winthrop. The Bulldogs’ scoring line of McKenna Stockhausen, Katy Beeler, and Chloe McCleary-Small has produced six combined goals on the season¬¬. The trio did an excellent job of creating opportunities in the two defeats, and should build on that success this weekend.

Winthrop has also needed to rely heavily on defense this season. In 14 contests, the Eagles have managed only eight goals – and only one goal in five conference matches. Goalkeeper Kelsy Weavil has had an outstanding season, and she ranks third in the Big South in both goals against average and saves. Nevertheless, the Eagles’ struggles on offensive have them sitting in eighth place in the Big South, and in desperate need of a victory this weekend when they host Asheville and last-place Presbyterian. Junior Tricia Vensel leads the Eagles in scoring with two goals.

The match can be viewed on the Big South Network.

Women's Soccer Preview: Charleston Southern

The Bulldogs are in for a challenge tomorrow afternoon as they host the offensive juggernaut that is Charleston Southern. UNC Asheville (4-5-1, 1-2-0) is coming off its first win conference win of the season last Saturday, a 3-0 romp over Presbyterian. The Buccaneers (9-4-1, 2-1-1) boast the best overall record in the Big South and have overwhelmed opponents all season long with a relentless attack.

Charleston Southern’s 25.43 shots per game total is more than twice that of the next closest team in the conference. The Buccaneers also lead the Big South in corners (5.57), goals (2.93), and assists (2.86) per match. Junior Marky Boyce leads the conference in both goals (8) and assists (7), while senior Sarah Catenacci and junior Caitlin Wesnesky are tied for second in the league with 17 points each. Add junior Michelle Dennis (15 points), senior Jen Vroman (12), and freshman Morgann Wood (12) to the mix, and CSU has six of the conference’s top ten scorers on its roster. It is worth noting that UNC Asheville has played four fewer games than the Buccaneers; however, all six players also rank in the top ten in points per game (with Boyce, Catenacci, Wesnesky, and Dennis occupying first through fourth in the category). The statistics are inflated somewhat by a 14-0 dismantling of Alabama State in the first week of the season (a match that was abandoned in the 71st minute), but the Buccaneers’ attack has been consistently lethal. The fireworks on offense have enabled CSU to get by with a middling performance on the defensive end. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Budros ranks near the bottom of the conference in goals against average (1.42) and save percentage (.656) despite the immense ball control advantage CSU has enjoyed. The Buccaneers’ sole shutout came in their most recent outing, a 3-0 defeat of VMI behind goals from Wesnesky, Lindsey Trexler, and Rebecca Hollstegge.

UNC Asheville counters with the Big South’s best defense. The Bulldogs have the lowest team goals against average in the conference at 0.88. Senior goalkeeper Veronica Lazar, who has taken over full-time duties in the net, leads the Big South in goals against average (0.85) and ranks second in save percentage (.848). Despite the outstanding percentage, Lazar is only eighth in the league in saves per game, a testament to a stout defensive line anchored by seniors Meagan Bradham and Keri Skelton. Offensively, the Bulldogs have benefited from the breakout performance of freshman Chloe McCleary-Small, whose nine points lead the team and are ninth best in the conference. Bradham is second on the team with six points, while senior McKenna Stockhausen and junior Katy Beeler have three points each. Asheville’s performance on Saturday, in which McCleary-Small, Bradham, and Beeler each scored (and Stockhausen tallied her first assist of the year), was a welcome sight as it end a three-game scoring drought for the Bulldogs. To defeat Charleston Southern, Asheville will need to have similar success in generating opportunities on the offensive end.

The match kicks off at 4pm tomorrow at beautiful Greenwood Field. Admission is free, so come out and support the Bulldogs in this critical conference match!

Previewing the Weekend Tournaments

This is an important weekend for UNC Asheville sports, with the volleyball, men’s soccer and women’s soccer teams each participating in their final tournament of the regular season.

The volleyball team is in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for the South Carolina State Spikefest Invitational. The Bulldogs got off to a strong start earlier this afternoon, blanking Winston-Salem State 3-0 for the second time this season. Asheville (9-4) was led in the match by senior Lauren Ficker, who recorded 9 kills with a .500 hitting percentage. Freshman Chelsie Kenley contributed 8 kills, and senior Raquel Miotto had 12 digs. The Bulldogs are back in action this afternoon against Hampton (currently underway). Hampton (2-7) has lost seven consecutive matches headed into the tournament. UNC Asheville faced the Pirates last year, at the USC Upstate tournament, and came away with a 3-0 victory, but the Bulldogs will have to contend with junior standouts Brittany Wynne (56 kills, 25 digs on the season) and Aaryn Harrison (55 kills, 24 digs). On Saturday morning, Asheville will square off against Providence. The Friars (4-9) have a four-game losing streak of their own they look to shed at the tournament. Top performers for Providence include sophomore middle blocker Lauren Fletcher, whose 137 kills and .275 attack percentage are both team highs, and sophomore setter Carly Morrison (31 kills, 352 assists, 89 digs). Because the Friars have not faced Asheville (or indeed any area school) in recent years, it is difficult to set expectations for the match. The same cannot be said, however, for Saturday afternoon’s rematch against Wofford. The Terriers (9-2) are now winners of eight straight, having just defeated Providence - a mark that will likely be extended to nine this evening when they take on Winston-Salem State. Wofford defeated Asheville in a five set battle during last weekend’s Winston-Salem State Invitational. Several Terriers turned in outstanding performances during that match, including senior outside hitter Shanna Hughes (24 kills, .468 attacking, 12 digs), junior outside hitter Stacy Byrd (12 kills, 20 digs), and senior libero Sarah Palmer (25 digs). The Bulldogs are still contending with injuries to a number of key players, including junior standout Kelsey Benorden. To have a shot at avenging their loss last weekend, Asheville will need a strong showing both from veteran leaders like Ficker and Miotto and from new talents like Kenley and fellow freshman Holly Shelton.

Prediction: Asheville 3, Hampton 1; Asheville 3, Providence 2; Wofford 3, Asheville 2.

Men’s soccer will be in Nashville later this evening, to open play in the Hyatt Place Select Invitational on the campus of Lipscomb University. The Bulldogs (1-4-1) will take on Lipscomb (2-2-1) at 7:30 this evening. The Bison are a strong squad whose only losses came at the hands of national powers Michigan and Michigan State. Asheville fell to Lipscomb by a 3-1 margin in Nashville last year. The Bison’s attack is anchored by sophomore Andrew Chamberlain and redshirt junior Miguel DaSilva, each of whom scored goals against the Bulldogs last season, along with freshman Alexander Faulk, who leads the team in goals scored. At noon on Sunday, the Bulldogs will take on Belmont (0-3-1). Asheville defeated the Bruins one year ago in Steve Cornish’s 100th career win. Branden Lassen had his first career goal in the 3-2 victory, and Bryan George recorded the game-winner. Belmont’s offensive leaders this season are freshman Brandon Tarr and sophomore Edgardo Padilla, while senior midfielder Justin Ferguson provides leadership on both ends of the pitch.

Prediction: Lipscomb 2, Asheville 1; Asheville 1, Belmont 0.

Finally, women’s soccer will be in Cullowhee this weekend for the Catamount Classic Tournament. The Bulldogs (3-2-0) will face two very tough opponents, beginning with a match this evening against Elon. The Phoenix (2-2-1) have an undefeated record thus far against Big South opponents, taking out High Point and Coastal Carolina earlier in the season. Players to watch for Elon include senior Molly Calpin and freshman Ceci Jensen, who lead the team in scoring, and senior Sydney Little, who has been outstanding in goal this season (17 saves, .850 save percentage). Up next will be the tournament-hosting Lady Catamounts (2-3-1) who have played very well this season against a number of national powerhouses. Western came up one goal shy of upsetting both Tennessee and Miami, and played Dayton to a draw earlier this month. The Lady Catamounts also defeated Gardner-Webb in their only matchup against a Big South program to date. Western’s stars include Rachael Shomper and Nikki Lombardo, who lead the team in scoring, and junior goalkeeper Caitlin Williams, who has played every minute of the season, recording 29 saves with a .829 save percentage, despite the caliber of the Lady Catamounts’ opponents. The Bulldogs did not face Western last year, but lost in each of the last three matches between the two. Extending back to last season, each of the last seven games for UNC Asheville have been decided by one goal, so there is reason to expect the Bulldogs be competitive this weekend. The play of freshman Chloe McCleary-Small (3 goals, 1 assist) has been very encouraging on the offensive end. If she and the other Asheville attackers are able to find the net this weekend, the Bulldogs will be an upset threat in both matches.

Prediction: Elon 2, Asheville 1; Western Carolina 1, Asheville 0.

Women's Soccer Comes Up Short Against Furman

UNC Asheville fell to Furman yesterday, 2-1, in a match at rain-soaked Greenwood Field. The Paladins caught the Bulldogs off guard early, jumping out to a 1-0 lead only 43 seconds into the match when Furman midfielder Lucy Martin scored off of the game’s first corner kick. Furman continued their attack in the 6th minute, when Martha Hall recorded her 7th goal of the season. Asheville goalkeeper Megan Dent made a nice save on a shot by Hall, but the ball rebounded straight back to the Furman striker, who finished off the play. Staring a blowout in the face, the Bulldogs rallied back to shut out the Paladins rest of the way. In the 10th minute, Katy Beeler found a wide open Chloe McCleary-Small, who nailed a shot from 10 yards out to bring Asheville within a goal. Unfortunately, quality scoring opportunities were few and far between, and the Bulldogs were unable to come up with the equalizer. Furman controlled the ball for much of the match, with 16 shots to Asheville’s 7, and an 11-4 advantage in corners. The Bulldogs made a few solid pushes in the second half behind McCleary-Small and senior Meagan Bradham, but were unable to slip a shot past Furman keeper Jessica Smith.

The Bulldogs had a number of factors working against them in the match. Playing shortly after a two hour downpour, players had to contend with a wet, muddy field which made connecting passes a real struggle. Asheville was also without its offensive leader, senior McKenna Stockhausen, who sat the match out with an injury. In spite of these factors, the Bulldogs played with tenacity on defense to hold the potent Furman offense scoreless for the final 84 minutes of the match. Also encouraging was the play of McCleary-Small. The freshman is now Asheville’s leading goal scorer, and managed to create two more good scoring opportunities in the second half. Her development as a scoring threat should dramatically improve the Bulldogs’ attack (Asheville has only 3 goals through 4 games). UNC Asheville will be back in action on Sunday when they take on Tennessee Tech (1-4) at Greenwood Field. Kickoff is at 2pm. The Bulldogs have defeated Tennessee Tech in three of the last four seasons, including a 2-1 victory last year in Cookeville.

Women's Soccer Preview: Furman

The Bulldogs are in for their toughest test of the young season tomorrow when they face the Paladins of Furman University at beautiful Greenwood Field. Asheville (2-1) comes into the match on a hot streak thanks to back-to-back shutout victories over Wofford and East Tennessee State. Southern Conference-leading Furman (4-0) is coming off a dominant performance at the Jacksonville University Invitational tournament over the weekend.

The Paladins are led by two lethal sophomore strikers. Martha Hall was just named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for her performance in the tournament, and leads the SoCon in goal scoring with six goals over just four games. Hall recorded her first career hat trick on Sunday, with all three Furman goals in a 3-1 win against North Florida to close out the tournament. The week before, it was Alexa Jones who earned SoCon Player of the Week honors. Jones has five goals on the season, and is second in the SoCon behind her teammate in goals scored. Other standouts include upperclassman midfielders Lucy Martin and Chelsea McKie, both of whom were named to the Jacksonville All-Tournament team, along with Hall and sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Smith.

The Bulldogs are no strangers to Furman – the squads have faced off each of the last three years, with Furman coming out on top each time. Asheville’s best chance against the Paladins came last year in Greenville. Then-freshman Leilani Halkiotis scored her first career goal (and Asheville’s first of the season) in the 82nd minute to force overtime, but Furman would shut the door in the 96th minute to take the match 2-1. The Bulldogs last defeated the Paladins in 1995.

Tomorrow, however, UNC Asheville will be prepared to rise to the occasion. The Bulldogs have an answer for Hall and Jones in the top-notch defense of seniors Megan Bradham and Keri Skelton. The tandem goaltending effort of senior Veronica Lazar and freshman Megan Dent has also been highly effective. Dent has not allowed a goal in 135 minutes of work, and Lazar has made eight saves with only one goal allowed (also in 135 minutes). On the offensive end, the Bulldogs may be developing a one-two punch of their own with senior McKenna Stockhausen and freshman Chloe McCleary-Small, who scored the game-winning goals against Wofford and ETSU, respectively.

The match will be one of the biggest on the UNC Asheville campus all year, so we encourage all Bulldog fans to come to Greenwood Field tomorrow and enjoy what promises to be an intense battle between two elite soccer programs.

Prediction: UNC Asheville 2, Furman 1

Recapping a Huge Weekend for the Bulldogs

The long weekend was a very successful one for UNC Asheville athletics, with women’s soccer, men’s soccer, and volleyball all in action. Over a total of seven matches from Thursday evening through Monday, no Asheville team was defeated.

Women’s soccer kicked off the weekend on Thursday night when they traveled to Spartanburg to take on non-conference rival Wofford. Senior McKenna Stockhausen recorded her first goal of the season in the 18th minute of the match on a long pass from Megan Bradham to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage. Thanks to a stellar combined effort in goal by freshman Megan Dent and senior Veronica Lazar, that was the only goal Asheville would need. Lazar made four saves in the second half and the back line provided tough defense on the road to hang on for the shutout victory. The next challenge for women’s soccer came on Sunday afternoon, when they faced another challenge on the road against East Tennessee State in Johnson City. This time, it was an underclassman that delivered for the Bulldogs. Freshman Chloe McCleary-Small, a former Asheville High standout, notched an unassisted goal in the 58th minute, the first of her career. The Lady Bucs responded with a strong attack for the final 20 minutes of the match, but the Bulldogs held on for the 1-0 victory behind another four save performance from Lazar. Coach Michele Cornish continued her goalkeeper-by-committee approach, with Dent playing the first half and Lazar the second, and the result was the Bulldogs’ second consecutive shutout. Asheville (2-1) is currently in sole possession of second place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will play a huge home match tomorrow afternoon at Greenwood Field against undefeated, Southern Conference leading Furman (match preview to follow later today).

Men’s soccer played the only home match of the weekend, facing off against Brevard College on Friday afternoon at Greenwood Field. Although Asheville took a while in finding the net, the Bulldogs dominated early. Brevard was not allowed to attempt a shot in the first half. The scoreless tie was broken in the 40th minute, when sophomore Branden Lassen scored on a strike from the top of the box, assisted by sophomore Alex Koslick and freshman Zachary Odum. In the second half, the Bulldogs widened the gap. Sophomore midfielder Connor Holzinger hit the upper left-hand corner of the net on a brilliantly placed free kick from about 20 yards out in the 46th minute. In the 73rd minute, Odum beat the Brevard keeper from 15 yards for the 3-0 advantage, with Koslick recording his second assist of the day. The Tornadoes showed some signs of life in the final 25 minutes, attempting their only two shots on goal in the match, but sophomore Lassi Hurskainen and freshman Derrick Filip were each able to record a save. The young Bulldogs showed real promise during the match, with Holzinger delivering a stellar performance on both sides of the ball, and Odum (who was named man of the match) demonstrating his offensive prowess in only his second match in the blue and white. On Monday evening, Asheville faced a stiff challenge on the road against Wofford. The Terriers, one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, had the Bulldogs on the defensive throughout the match, recording 26 shots to Asheville’s 5. Nonetheless, UNC Asheville (1-1-1) was able to escape with a 0-0 draw. Filip, making his first career start in place of the injured Hurskainen, played all 110 minutes in goal and recorded 10 saves. The biggest moment of the game came in the 21st minute, when Asheville was whistled for a handball in the box and Wofford was awarded with a penalty kick. Filip made the critical save on the ensuing shot from Armin Kinigadner. The Bulldogs’ best scoring opportunity came in the 108th minute, when a header from sophomore Jake Sides was saved by Wofford keeper Thomas Hunter. The draw places Asheville in a tie for 6th place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will face another uphill battle this weekend at the Davidson adidas Classic. Asheville will face undefeated Davidson on Friday, and then Big East heavy Georgetown on Sunday.

Fresh off their convincing victory over Western Carolina on Wednesday, volleyball traveled to Spartanburg over the weekend to take part in the USC Upstate Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs’ performance was nothing less than dominant. Asheville opened play on Friday against tournament favorite North Carolina State. After dropping the opening set, the Bulldogs went on to win three straight to upset the Wolfpack for the second year in a row. Asheville was led by senior Lauren Ficker (14 kills), junior Kelsey Benorden (12 kills, 19 digs), junior Rachel Guinane (career high 9 kills, 42 assists), and senior Raquel Miotto (24 digs). The Bulldogs faced two more matches on Saturday, but the first set against NC State proved to be the only one that Asheville would lose at the tournament. The first matchup of the day came against the Citadel, a team the Bulldogs defeated in a dramatic five-set match on August 29th. On Saturday, Asheville cruised to a three-set victory. Ficker (14 kills), Benorden (10 kills, 16 digs), and Miotto (19 digs) again paced the Bulldogs. The final test came against USC Upstate. Asheville easily defeated the tournament host in straight sets, holding the Spartans to a .000 attack percentage and never allowing more than 15 points in a set. A familiar group of players led the way for the Bulldogs – Ficker (12 kills), Benorden (14 kills, 12 digs), and Miotto (16 digs). As soon as the action on the court stopped, the accolades began to roll in for the tournament champion Bulldogs (6-2). Ficker, with 40 kills and a .405 attack percentage, was named tournament MVP. Joining her on the all-tournament team are Benorden, who now has six double-doubles on the season, Miotto, who is now only 64 digs shy of becoming the Big South and Asheville’s all-time leader, and Guinane. Earlier today, we were notified that Lauren Ficker has been named the Big South Offensive Player of the Week, and Raquel Miotto the Big South Defensive Player of the Week. Asheville is now in first place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will take a much-deserved rest this week, but will have another busy weekend, as they travel to the Winston-Salem State Tournament, beginning on Saturday with matches against Savannah State (2-4) and East Carolina (2-4).

Bulldogs Weekend Recap

It was a big weekend for UNC Asheville athletics, with volleyball and women’s soccer opening regular season play. The volleyball schedule began with a bang, with the Bulldogs playing four matches over the course of two days at the RTP Hilton/NCCU Tournament in Durham. Play began Saturday with a dissapointing 3-1 loss to UNC Wilmington, despite strong performances from junior Kelsey Benorden (22 kills, 14 digs, .439 attack percentage), senior Raquel Miotto (24 digs), and freshman Holly Shelton (10 kills, .571 percentage). The Bulldogs rallied on Saturday evening, however, to defeat South Carolina State in straight games. The match turned out to be a momentous occasion for Miotto, who reached 2,000 career digs, becoming only the 2nd player in UNC Asheville and Big South history to pass this milestone. Offensively, the Bulldogs were driven by Benorden (9 kills) and senior Lauren Ficker (8 kills, .462). Junior Rachel Guinane also performed well, with 18 sets in the match.

On Saturday, Asheville fell in four sets to an Elon team that posted a perfect record over the weekend and looked to be the strongest at the tournament. The Bulldogs kept it close, taking the early lead in each set, but tournament MVP Traci Stewart and the Phoenix proved overpowering. Ficker was the leading attacker with 15 kills, Miotto recorded 17 digs, and Guinane had 31 sets to her credit. Later in the evening, the Bulldogs closed out the tournament on a high note by coming from behind to defeat the Citadel in five sets. Asheville was paced again by Benorden, who recorded her second double-double of the tournament with 20 kills and 14 digs, and by Miotto (18 digs) and Guinane (47 sets). The victory was a big confidence booster for the Bulldogs, and gives the team some much needed momentum headed into Wednesday night’s showdown with Western Carolina (7pm at the Justice Center). Two Bulldog players were recognized for their performances over the weekend. Kelsey Benorden was named to the All-Tournament team on Saturday, after racking up 64 kills over the four matches. This was followed by the announcement on Sunday that Holly Shelton has been named the Big South Volleyball Freshman of the Week. Shelton posted 31 kills and a .389 percentage for the tournament. The Bulldogs’ 2-2 record puts them in a three-way tie for second place in the Big South. Stay tuned for a preview of their home opener on the Bulldog Blog tomorrow.

Sunday’s match against Appalachian State turned out to be the season opener for women’s soccer, after inclement weather cost the Bulldogs the opportunity to challenge Clemson on Friday. Asheville lost the match 1-0, but head coach Michele Cornish was pleased with much of what she saw. The Bulldogs played a strong, statistically even match against a tough opponent, on the road. There were a few key scoring opportunities in the game, including two shots on goal by senior attacker McKenna Stockhausen, but the Bulldogs could not manage to convert. The Mountaineers’ Sydney Hill recorded the lone goal, beating Asheville keeper Veronica Lazar in the 14th minute. Lazar split netminding duties with freshman Megan Dent, who took over in the second half. Each recorded one save in the match. The Bulldogs will face another tough away game against a Southern Conference foe on Thursday, when they travel to Spartanburg to face Wofford at 6pm. The match can be viewed online through the Wofford athletics website at http://tiny.cc/wofford

Women's Soccer Off to a Great Start

Good Afternoon Asheville Fans!

Since I’ll be writing most of the Bulldog Blog posts during the upcoming year, I want to start out by introducing myself. My name is Jonathan Keeney, and I’m an Asheville native interning in the UNC Asheville athletic department. Although I spent my college years at that other UNC school, I have fond memories of games at the Justice Center as a kid, and I’m excited to spend the year working with and supporting the Bulldogs.

I wrapped up my first day yesterday by catching the second half of the women’s soccer exhibition match against the Eagles of Carson-Newman University. The Bulldogs looked prepared for the new season with a convincing 2-0 victory. Coach Cornish noted on her Facebook page that the Bulldogs generated several good scoring opportunities and the margin of victory could easily have been greater. She also applauded the defensive line for their solid effort in preserving the shutout. Carson-Newman was no small hurdle for the Bulldogs. They enter the season ranked 13th in the nation in Division II, and are the unanimous favorite to win the South Atlantic Conference title. The victory should prepare the Bulldogs well for their season-opening match against ACC heavyweight Clemson on August 28th at Greenwood Field.

It is my plan to update the Bulldog Blog on a daily basis throughout the year, and to ensure that it is a place where Asheville fans can always find new content about their favorite teams. My work with the department promises lots of variety, but I do know that I will be in regular attendance at the soccer, volleyball, and basketball matches this fall. My first priority will be sports-related content - game previews, recaps, and hopefully some interviews and insider information. However, when there is a break in the action, I’ll provide some insight into all that goes on here in the Athletic Department as well. Because my goal is to provide Bulldog fans with a useful and entertaining source of sports information, I am especially interested in making the Bulldog Blog as interactive as possible. In addition to our Ask the Athletic Director feature (in which I strongly encourage you to participate), please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you might have - for myself, or for anyone else involved in UNC Asheville athletics. I will struggle valiantly to have your questions answered, and I hope to have a regular mailbag or question and answer feature as a part of the blog.

Go Bulldogs!