softball-10 by Meredith College

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softball

Players

Kirstin Morris

Brittany Tucker

Olivia Izze

Kayla Walker

Rebecca Leigh

Val Sherrer

Lauriel Lebeau

Sara Cranford

#10

Ashley Braswell

#11

Logan Hill

#12

Laura Barrett

#13

Jessica Dzeskewicz

#14

Amanda Beirne

#18

Andrea Jarman

#20

Arielle Stout

#21

Guss Crist

2010 softball Roster No. Name Yr.

Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School

Kirstin Morris

SS/2B

5’7”

Taylorsville, N.C. / Alexander Central

Brittany Tucker

OF/C

5’7”

Eden, N.C. / John M. Morehead

Olivia Izze*

C/2B

5’5”

Salisbury, N.C. / West Rowan

Kayla Walker

5’3”

Cary, N.C. / Panther Creek

Rebecca Leigh

2B/UT

5’6”

High Point, N.C. / High Point Christian

Val Sherrer

5’8”

Newport, N.C./West Carteret

Lauriel Lebeau

P/1B

5’2”

Newport, N.C. / West Carteret

Sara Cranford

C/3B/UT

5’7”

Newport, N.C. / Croatan

Ashley Braswell

3B/UT

5’6”

Princeton, N.C. / Princeton

Logan Hill

5’3”

Mt. Olive, N.C. / East Duplin

Laura Barrett

5’1”

Lincolnton, N.C. / West Lincoln

Jessica Dzeskewicz

P/OF

5’8”

Yadkinville, N.C. / Forbush

Amanda Beirne*

5’9”

Bath, N.C. / Northside

Andrea Jarman

P/UT

5’7”

North Wilkesboro, N.C. / Wilkes Central

Arielle Stout

P/UT

5’4”

Siler City, N.C. / Jordan Matthews

Guss Crist

P/1B

5’9”

Willard, N.C. / Pender

* Captains Head Coach: Robert Luckadoo

Assistant Coach: Shona Guevara

Athletic Facilities Weatherspoon Gymnasium The home to Meredith’s basketball and volleyball teams. The facility provides up-close seating for more than 500 spectators. The complex also includes locker rooms, athletics offices, a training room, a fitness center, a 5,000 square-foot dance studio and a sixlane, indoor swimming pool.

Meredith Athletic Field and Track Complex The home to Meredith’s soccer and cross country teams. Opened in 2009, the complex includes a lighted competition level track, a FieldTurf artificial playing surface capable of supporting soccer and lacrosse games and a storage facility. Future phases of the project will include a grandstand, hospitality areas, support facilities, restrooms, brick arcade and locker rooms. The cross country team uses the complex as well as the College’s 225-acre campus and the Reedy Creek Greenway.

Meredith Softball Complex

Sophomore and team captain Olivia Izze provides leadership for the Avenging Angels.

The home of Meredith softball has undergone several renovations in

Meredith Tennis Complex

the last year. The addition of irrigation to the Bermuda field and in-

The home of the Meredith tennis program includes six lighted ten-

field improvements have stepped up the playing conditions to make

nis courts with windscreen. Over the summer of 2007, the courts

it one of the best fields in the area. New dugouts have also just

were resurfaced with a new color scheme—a “US Open Blue” inner

been completed to increase comfort for the players and enhance

court surrounded by a green outer court. This color scheme helps to

the game atmosphere.

heighten the visibility of the ball for players and fans.

Coaching Staff robert luckadoo

shona guevara

Meredith Record (Years).. . . . . . . . . . . . 23-45, 12-22 USA South (2)

Shona Guevara enters her second year as assistant coach of the

2009 Team Record.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19, 8-10 USA South

Meredith College softball team. The Eagleville, Pa. native serves

Home Field.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith Softball Complex

on the staff of Coach Robert Luckadoo.

Alma Mater/Year.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N.C State/1988 Phone.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8734 Email.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . luckadoo@meredith.edu

Guevara comes to Meredith from her assistant’s position at Cabrini College (Pa.). Guevara was a stand out collegiate pitcher taking the circle for NCAA Division II powerhouse Humboldt State University

Robert Luckadoo enters his third year as head coach of the Meredith

in 2001 and 2002. During 2002 as a sophomore, Guevara set a

College softball program. During the 2009 season, the team finished

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) record for most wins

with a 13-17 overall regular season record and an 8-10 record in the

in a season (25), most strike outs (172), and most innings pitched

USA South. Highlights for the season

(236). In 2001 she was named the

included victories at nationally ranked

GNAC Rookie of the Year, and garnered

#8 Lynchburg College and at #17 Meth-

GNAC and National Fastpitch Coaches

odist University. The team also recorded

Association (NFCA) All-West Region

conference double header splits with Av-

first team honors. In 2001, her team

erett, Ferrum and cross town rival Peace

was selected to serve as the U.S. Olym-

College. Conference double header

pic alternate for the China Invitational

sweeps included wins against Mary

International Tournament.

Baldwin and N.C. Wesleyan. The 8-10 conference record was good enough for a 6th place finish in the USA South, the highest USA South regular season finish in team history. Expectations are very high for improving on that 6th place conference finish for the 2010 squad, as Luckadoo has brought in a talented group of freshmen to complement an excel-

After sitting out her 2003 season with an injury and a medical redshirt, Guevara moved to Pennsylvania where she joined the perennial NCAA Division II national power Lock Haven University (Pa.) pitching staff. In 2004 and 2005 of her junior and senior seasons, she combined for 287 strikeouts

lent core of veteran players from last year’s team.

while only allowing 41 walks, and maintained a 1.4 earned run

Luckadoo came to Meredith from the University of North Carolina at

NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region first team, in 2005 was a Pennsylvania

Chapel Hill, where he served under head coach Donna Papa as an

State Athletic Conference first team selection, and in 2005 broke

assistant coach. Luckadoo brings a wealth of experience from the Tar

the Lock Haven school record for most wins as a starting pitcher

Heel softball program where he worked with pitchers and catchers, was

(19).

responsible for video analysis of Tar Heel hitters, and assisted practice

average for both seasons. In 2004 and 2005 she was named to the

planning and coordination of the Carolina Softball Camps and Clinics.

Guevara will assist Luckadoo with the Avenging Angel’s pitchers,

Luckadoo is entering his 17th season as a fastpitch softball coach

with other team day-to-day duties such as travel and team admin-

and instructor and his 27th season as either a coach or a player.

istration. Guevara received a Bachelor’s degree in English Writing

He has successfully coached at the 16U, 18U, high school and

from Lock Haven University (Pa).

collegiate levels of play. In addition to UNC, previous collegiate experience includes Montreat College in Black Mountain, N.C., where he served as an assistant in charge of pitchers, catchers, outfielders and recruiting. Coach Luckadoo is a native of Rutherford County, N.C., a 1983 graduate of East Rutherford High School (Forest City, N.C.) and a 1988 graduate of NC State University. Luckadoo, a strong proponent of higher education, completed a master’s degree in sports management in June 2008 from the United States Sports Academy. Luckadoo and his wife, Paula, reside in Raleigh and have two daughters, Lindsay, age 20, and Sara, age 18.

catchers and outfielders. She will also be significantly involved

USA South Athletic Conference

The USA South Athletic Conference is home to 11 institutions, five in Virginia, five in North Carolina and one in Tennessee. The conference consists of Averett University, Christopher Newport University, Ferrum College, Greensboro College, Peace College, Shenandoah University, Methodist University, Mary Baldwin College, Meredith College and North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Tennessee institution, Maryville College, entered the conference in 2005 as a football-only member.

sports information Media Information All inquiries about interviews, press credentials, broadcasting

Meredith College Quick Facts

requests, and other related sports information areas should be sent

Location . ......................................... Raleigh, N.C.

to Greg Jarvis, sports information director, at jarvisgr@meredith.edu, (919) 760-8811.

Founded .................................................. 1891 Enrollment ............................................... 2,298

www.meredith.edu/athletics

Nickname ...................................... Avenging Angels

Follow the Avenging Angels on Meredith’s official athletics web site

Colors ................................ Maroon, Black and White

at www.meredith.edu/athletics throughout the 2009-10 season. The

Affiliation.................................... NCAA Division III

site features game notes, schedules, rosters, player and coaches’ bios, game recaps and special news related to the program.

Conference . .................. USA South Athletic Conference President . ................................... Maureen Hartford

Broadcasting Information

Athletics Director ................... Jackie Myers (Elon/1978)

The 2009-10 sports season will

Asst. Athletics Director/SID......Greg Jarvis (Virginia Tech/1994)

feature at least 45 Meredith College

Faculty Athletics Representative ............... Michael Novak

athletics events to be broadcast live

Department Assistant . ......................... Sam Guadagno

and archived on the athletics web

Athletics Department Phone ................. (919) 760-8205

site. Meredith’s athletics broadcasting

Athletics Web Site ................ www.meredith.edu/athletics

team is made up of faculty member Michael Novak and guest broadcast-

Mailing Address ..... 3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607

ers. All broadcasts can be found on

SID Office Phone ............................. (919) 760-8811

Meredith’s official athletics web site at www.meredith.edu/athletics.

Michael Novak, “Voice of the Avenging Angels”

SID Email.. ............................. jarvisgr@meredith.edu

Meredith College Athletics History Athletics at Meredith

NCAIAW state championship while the tennis team took the confer-

College began in 1904

ence title. The golf team finished second in the AIAW Division III

with the advent of Mer-

national tournament in 1981, in Meredith’s first bid for a national

edith’s Athletic Associa-

championship. Softball was added as a varsity sport during the

tion. The first competi-

1985-86 academic year. The most recent varsity sports to be added

tive games against other

were soccer in 1993 and cross country in 2005.

schools were held in 1904 with two games against St. Mary’s College. In the early years, Meredith athletic activities included swimming, soccer, horseback riding, tennis, baseball, basketball, golf, football and field hockey. The first events were primarily inter-class competitions. In

In recent years at Meredith, there has been an increase in the competitiveness of the athletics programs on a regional and national level in Division III. The program has had seven NCAA tournament bids

1937, Meredith became a part of the United States Conference.

across three different sports since 2001 (basketball 2001, 2003;

In 1944, Meredith’s freshman-sophomore basketball team defeated

edith’s athletics identity became the “Avenging Angels” to emphasize

the team from what is now Peace College, marking the beginning of

the prowess of Meredith athletes.

a cross-town rivalry between the two Raleigh women’s colleges. In

The 2007-08 season marked the

1952, the basketball team and the field hockey team pulled out im-

first year of competition in the

pressive victories against the University of North Carolina and Duke.

USA South Athletic Conference.

tennis 2003, 2007, 2009; and soccer 2007, 2008). In 2007, Mer-

Meredith was the first single gender In 1970, Meredith athletics took on a new life with the completion

institution to win a conference title

of Weatherspoon Gymnasium. Volleyball and tennis saw their first

with both tennis and soccer tourna-

winning seasons during the 1970s. In 1980, the golf team won the

ment wins in 2008-09.

Meredith College Athletics Program THE DIVISION III EXPERIENCE

MEDICAL SERVICES

Meredith athletics teams participate in Division III of the National

In addition to the academic and fitness programs available, the athletic

Collegiate Athletic Association. Meredith College fully supports the

training staff provides excellent care for participants. The athletic train-

Division III experience that allows the student athlete to enjoy com-

ing support staff consists of head athletic trainer, Sharon Malley, student

petitive sports and other activities throughout their college years. Di-

athletic trainers from the University of North Carolina and on-call physi-

vision III athletics offers student-athletes the opportunity to become

cians. Some of the services and equipment provided in the Weather-

well-rounded individuals who successfully integrate athletics and

spoon Gymnasium include a whirlpool, hydrocollator, ultrasound, injury

academics while experiencing all aspects of college life. Division III

ice and electrical stimulation. Meredith College serves as a clinical site

athletics feature athletes who can receive only academic financial

for the UNC-Chapel Hill Undergraduate Athletic Training Program.

assistance and athletics departments that are staffed and funded like any other department in the College.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Strength and Conditioning Coach David Zinn, a certified personal

ACADEMICS

trainer and sports conditioning specialist, leads the program. An

Meredith College’s commitment to academics is exemplified by

instructor in the Department of Health, Exercise & Sports Science at

its athletics teams. Each year, the USA South Athletic Conference

Meredith, Coach Zinn assists in the development and implementation

recognizes its student-athletes’ hard work in the classroom by nam-

of conditioning and weight training programs for all of Meredith sports.

ing an Academic All-Conference team. A student-athlete must have earned a 3.0 GPA in each of the two semesters of a given year to

COMMUNITY SERVICE

be eligible. The athletics department also offers a special Athlet-

Members from each team are elected to the Student Athlete Advisory

ics Director’s List that recognizes the athletes that receive a 3.5

Committee that organizes support for each sport and also coordinates

each of the two semesters. During the 2008-09 season, 41.25% of

community service. Past volunteer work includes Special Olympics of Wake

Meredith’s student athletes finished with a 3.0 or higher and 20%

County, Habitat for Humanity, Service Raleigh, and the USA South Athletic

received the Athletics Director’s award with a 3.5 or higher.

Conference’s Cans Across the Conference and Pennies for a Purpose.

about Meredith Campus Life • Total enrollment for 2008-09 was 2,250, which included 2,001 undergraduate degree students and 249 graduate-level students. One hundred non-degree students also took undergraduate courses. • Meredith sponsors juried student exhibitions, an active concert schedule, visiting artists and exhibitions featuring professional artists. • Students participate in four theatre and dance performance troupes, three choral groups and four musical ensembles. • Meredith students advance their leadership skills in programs such as the Emerging Leader Seminar Series, Officer and Advi-

Academics and Special Programs

sor Training, Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Development Program and the LeaderShape® Institute.

• Meredith offers 40+ majors and concentrations. • Meredith awards Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor

Tuition and Financial Assistance

of Music; Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Business Admin-

• Tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students in 2009-10 is

istration; Master of Education; Master of Arts in Teaching; and

$24,490, with room and board at $7,020, for a total of $31,510.

Master of Science in Nutrition degrees.

Cost for part-time students is $640 per credit hour, with a gradu-

• As part of the Meredith Technology Initiative, freshmen receive a ThinkPad® loaded with professional and educational software to use on Meredith’s wireless campus environment.

ated fee schedule. • In 2008–09, Meredith coordinated $38.1 million in financial aid for more than 1,800 students.

• The Undergraduate Research Program supports student/faculty partnerships in the pursuit of research and creative activity in all fields. College funds support these projects and underwrite travel costs for students presenting their work at conferences. • Meredith recently launched a semester study abroad program in Sansepolcro, Italy. • Honors and Teaching Fellows programs are offered. Meredith is one of five private colleges participating in the N.C. Teaching Fellows program.

about raleigh • The capital city of North Carolina has a population of more than 350,000 • Raleigh is located 150 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean and 190 east of the Great Smoky Mountains • Raleigh has an annual average high of 70 degrees and low of 47

Faculty • The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is approximately 10:1. The average class size is 16. • Of the 147 full-time faculty members, 90% have earned doctoral or terminal degrees. Sixty-seven percent of the full-time faculty is female and 33% is male.

• Raleigh is a true college town; in addition to Meredith, it is home to NC State University, Peace College, St. Augustine’s College and Shaw University. NC Central University, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University are also located within 30 minutes of Meredith’s campus. • Area sports teams include Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Carolina Mudcats (AA baseball), Durham Bulls (AAA baseball)

Campus and Facilities • Meredith’s 225-acre campus includes a 1,200-seat amphitheater on a lake, seven residence halls, a music library, art galleries, a research greenhouse, music practice rooms, auditoriums, a theater, concert halls, a student center, computer labs, a child care lab, a learning center, an autism lab, an astronomy observation deck, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a dance studio, lighted tennis courts, a putting green, an athletic field and track complex and two miles of greenway connecting our campus to the community.

and Carolina Railhawks (USL-1 soccer). • Raleigh is home to entertainment venues including the RBC Center, Time Warner Cable Music Pavillion and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Some recent artists: Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and John Mayer. • Raleigh’s active arts scene is supported by the N.C. Museum of Art, which is connected to Meredith by a greenway that runs through campus. Other museums include the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

2010 softball Schedule Date

Opponent

Time

23 Tues

vs. N.C. Wesleyan *

3 p.m. W

20 Sat

vs. Lynchburg

1 p.m. W

27 Sat

@ Mary Baldwin *

3 p.m.

21 Sun

vs. Lees-McRae

1 p.m. W

28 Sun

@ Peace *

1 p.m.

23 Tues

vs. Shaw

1 p.m. W

31 Wed

vs. Methodist *

2 p.m. W

27 Fri

@ Randolph

1 p.m.

2 Fri

vs. Shenandoah *

1 p.m. W

6 Sat

vs. Guilford

1 p.m.

3 Sat

vs. Chris. Newport *

12 p.m. W

7 Sun

vs. Roanoke

2 p.m.

6 Tues

@ Greensboro *

2 p.m.

9 Tues

vs. Davis & Elkins

2 p.m. W

8 Thur

@ Guilford

2 p.m.

12 Fri

vs. Swarthmore (Pa.)

2 p.m. W

10 Sat

vs. Averett *

2 p.m. W

13 Sat

@ Randolph-Macon

1 p.m.

@ Ferrum *

3 p.m.

16-18 Fri-Sun

USA South Tournament, Burlington, N.C.

TBD

20 Sat

February

March

* - USA South Conference Game W - Web cast on Meredith athletics web site Home Games in bold

Date Opponent Time

April

Schedule is subject to change. Visit www.meredith.edu/athletics for up-to-date information.

09-109

3800 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27607-5298 www.meredith.edu/athletics