2016 MEC Basketball Tournament Program

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Table of Contents Concord University .............................................................. 14 Fairmont State University ................................................... 16 Glenville State College ........................................................ 18 Notre Dame College ............................................................ 20 Shepherd University ............................................................ 22 University of Charleston ..................................................... 24 Urbana University ................................................................ 26 The Rise of Rob Reed .............................................................. 2

By Rich Stevens Rob Reed’s incredible journey to Concord has helped him break a cycle that will change the direction of his family for generations.

UVa-Wise .............................................................................. 27 West Liberty University....................................................... 29 West Virginia State University ........................................... 31 West Virginia Wesleyan College......................................... 32

From Raw To Riches ................................................................ 8

By Duane Cochran Kierra Simpson has transformed her raw talent into one of the best players in the Mountain East Conference.

Wheeling Jesuit University ................................................. 34 About The MEC ...............................................................36-39 2015 Championship Recaps ................................................ 43

Top Of The Mountain ............................................................. 11

By Duane Cochran Led by a husband-and-wife coaching tandem, Wheeling Jesuit’s volleyball team won the 2015 NCAA Division II championship.

Building A Winner .................................................................. 40

By Rich Stevens Charleston head coach Chris Grassie has helped the Golden Eagles men’s soccer program be one of the top teams in the country and on the verge of a national title.

Editor: Adam Zundell Editorial Assistance: Reid Amos, Hannah Hinton, Clare Horning Writers: Duane Cochran, Rich Stevens, Adam Zundell Contributors: Andy Barch, Derrick Blyberg, Luke Bolanos, Duane Carpenter, Travis Chandler, Don Clegg, Cole Cloonan, Darrell-Dingus Ely, Jonathan Griffin, Ray Loeser, Sean McAndrews, Michael McDonald, Wes McKinney, Zach Mentz, Chris Myers, Chip Ransom, Chris Thomas, Matt Watson.

Photography: Sam Santilli, David Williams, Adam Zundell and MEC institutional phogoraphers Cover: Ryan Zundell

Men’s Basketball Tournament Records .........................44-45 Women’s Basketball Tournament Records ...................46-47

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Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without the express written permission from the MEC is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in articles published in this magazine are the opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the MEC, the member schools or anyone else associated with the conference.

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The Rise of

Rob Reed

By RICH STEVENS The only evidence that Rob Reed could become a college basketball player was on the outdoor courts and open gyms of South Bend, Indiana.

Never donning the uniform of an AAU or school team, the Concord University senior typically played hooky or wandered the halls of Washington High School during the day and any place that would have him at night.

Rob Reed’s ability to overcome a troubled childhood, the challenges of being a young father, homelessness and a meandering educational path to transform himself to a goal-oriented student athlete is nothing short of remarkable. Now, among his multiple responsibilities, is coming to terms with his legacy and understanding his ability to change a cycle that almost devastated his life.

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“I saw things no child should see,” said Reed, who is among the leading scorers and, at 26 years old, one of the elder statesmen in the powerful Mountain East Conference.

Reed is the son of Irena Reed and one of five children born to multiple fathers. When he was four years old, he watched his two-year-old halfbrother die after being scalded with boiling water. Details are murky, and even he admits to having a foggy memory of much of his childhood, but remains haunted by this event.

“One day we were at my house and I was going through the house and all I remember is everybody panicking,” he said. “I went into the kitchen and hot water scalded by brother. I was sitting with him. He wasn’t talking. I can’t remember if he died right there, but he died that day. I just remember sitting there watching that. I wish I could’ve helped him. My mom went to prison because of the incident. I didn’t see her again until I was 11 years old.”

He didn’t see her again until the age of 11, but admits, “I can’t imagine what she had to deal with” as a single mother who had her first child in her mid-teens.

Somewhere in between he drifted, but never delved into the drug culture that permeated where he lived. His family life rebound process began when

he was 12 and met his godfather, Shawn Henderson, and was introduced to the Madison Center, a place “for kids with real problems.”

They maintained a bond, but Reed still didn’t call Henderson when he “messed up. He never asked me for anything. He let me get myself together.

He showed he cared about me. People said I acted different with him.”

At 18, Reed had his own child, son Robert III, and at 20, his second, daughter Lynnyah (pronounced Luh-NY-yah).

The children lived briefly with their mother, who is no longer in the picture.

They now stay under the watchful eye of his uncle Anthony and aunt Letha during the school year. Rob returns home in the spring, taking over full-time care until it’s time to head back to Athens.

They made a deal with the finally focused Reed, and he accepted.

“No money could ever repay them for what they’ve done,” Reed said.

“That’s supernatural, nobody does that. Parents don’t even take care of their kids these days. That’s huge.”

He could go on about who has helped him on the path to altering the history of his family’s existence. It includes his “spiritual father,” Pat Magley, the founder of Heroes Camp, a faith-centered program in the South Bend area that uses basketball to help area youth find stability. They met not long after

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The Rise Of Rob Reed

Reed dropped out of high school during the spring of his junior year.

A pick-up game with other players from Heroes Camp revealed Reed as a budding star, but there was no high school degree, no transcripts and no plan to take the GED (General Educational Development test).

Reed didn’t think he was good enough, but Henderson disagreed, convincing Reed to complete the test and accept a scholarship to Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich.

“I was supposed to get my GED, but didn’t,” Reed said. “It fell through the cracks.”

For two years, he stayed below the radar, taking care of his children while trying to figure out his next move.

That’s where Lincoln Trail Community College enters the picture. Five players from Heroes Camp were offered scholarships to the two-year college in Robinson, Illinois. Reed played there during the 2011-12 season, averaging 15.5 points.

“Things started to balance out and I thought this would be my launching pad,” he said.

However, head coach Kevin Emerick -- another positive influence for the fledgling star -- was fired in midseason reportedly because shoes, plane tickets and meal vouchers were improperly purchased by private citizens under the coach’s watch.

The Robinson Daily News reported that Reed was one of four players who had made a personal appeal during a public comment session of the Illinois Eastern Community College Board of Trustees. Reed told the board his grade point average was the highest it had ever been because Emerick was involved in his life and insisted on him focusing on school.

All the while, Reed couldn’t stop thinking about his children, who were living with their mother in a situation he wasn’t comfortable with. So, it was back home to the daily grind that became a staple of Reed’s life. It included an eight-month stint at Bremen Castings, a machine shop and foundry in

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Bremen -- a suburb of South Bend -- where grunt work was wearing on a body better suited for basketball.

At 24, Reed wasn’t at the end physically, but exhausted mentally and emotionally.

Every opened door led to a dark room, including a trip to Chicago where he attended an alternative school to earn his degree, only to discover that it wasn’t a legitimate diploma.

Another helping hand emerged in Brian Foster, a former Concord teammate of McBride’s. Like Reed, Foster’s best attribute was beyond the arc, hitting 43 percent of his 3-pointers as a senior in 2006-07 -- sixth place in school history.

Foster opened the dialogue between McBride and Reed, but it was a drawn-out process. One of their early conversations was one-sided -- Reed’s candor left no stone unturned.

“He was completely straight up,” McBride said. “He doesn’t hide or run from things. To be honest, I didn’t think there was any way he’d be eligible.

He (Reed) owed a bill to his previous school and couldn’t get his transcripts.

I didn’t hear from him for about 18 months.”

Officially homeless, Reed stayed intermittently with his cousin in Indiana with only two sets of clothes and no winter coat. He knew if he could get to work at his foundry job in Bremen, finding a ride home wouldn’t be a problem.

Socking away money, Reed finally was caught up.

“My old teammate (Foster) called me again and said he got his bill paid,” McBride said.

All he had to do was adjust to college life -- get to class on time, complete homework as scheduled and be accountable -- which wasn’t an easy transition.

“I don’t give him a break,” McBride said. “The thing I have to worry most about Rob is that he’s so hard on himself. It’s just a game. He puts a lot of emotion into the game, but for what he’s overcome in his life, this is just an avenue.

“When Rob first got here, he said he wanted to play overseas. Then the conversation turned to wanting to graduate. He can change generations.

Eighteen months ago that wasn’t in the conversation.”

“I owe a lot to coach McBride,” Reed said. “He took the time to make sure I knew what I wanted to do. He texted me or called me to make sure things are going good and it wasn’t even about basketball.”

The sharp-shooter is listed at 6-foot-1 on most rosters, but even 6-foot is generous.

When asked about the misleading number, Reed says of coach McBride: “He would say I’m 5-9, but I say I’m probably 5-10.”

There’s no need to exaggerate. His elevation and high shot release developed out of necessity against much-longer players on Indiana playgrounds and has evolved on a considerably larger stage.

More than halfway into his final year of eligibility, Reed is one of the top scorers in the league and among the national leaders in three-pointers made per game. He is also on pace to score over a 1,000 points for his career at CU.

He undoubtedly scored more than that against buddies back home, but the young man who never played organized ball is now seeing the bigger picture come into view.

Reed will complete his Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree from Concord and has a post-graduate plan to earn a Master’s Degree in health education promotion. He wants to become a health education specialist, “the only thing that really caught my attention,” he said.

Reed’s playing ability catches the attention of most everyone, but it is his monumental personal metamorphosis that is most impressive. He has been through more struggles than most players at the Division II level, where many pasts are better off forgotten.

His road is clearing, as the guy who teammates call “Unc,” creates more positive moments in two years of college than he had in 24 previous years of life.

“This is the first time I’ve ever gone to school two years consecutively,” he said. “This is the most monumental thing in my life. When I’m away from it, I definitely have to sit back and reflect.”

Finally, he’ll be able to do it with a smile.

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From Raw To Riches

By Duane Cochran

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When Kierra “Kiki” Simpson took off her Northland High School uniform in 2012 for the last time, in the back of her mind she pretty much felt her basketball career had come to an end.

For Simpson, at the time, that was okay. She averaged 13.2 points as a senior and helped lead Northland to a 24-2 record and the school’s first Ohio Division I Regional Championship Final in three decades. She also was a first-team All-City (Columbus) selection. It was a solid way for her to end her prep career.

What Simpson didn’t know, however, was the end of one career was really just the beginning of another that would eventually blossom into one of the best in the brief history of the Mountain East Conference. Enter veteran West Liberty University women’s basketball coach Lynn Ullom, who admittedly was late to the party in terms of recruiting Simpson not contacting her until the spring of 2012 her senior year. What Ullom found out, though, was he was pretty much the only person at that party and upon making that discovery, he smiled.

“Kiki was more of an athlete than a basketball player in high school,” Ullom said. “We found out about her in the spring and brought her to West Liberty and worked her out. I was just blown away first by her athleticism, which I knew she had, and then secondly by her motor. Normally you bring high school kids in and you put them in these try out situations and they can’t get up and down the floor because they’re playing at a high school tempo that is much slower than it is in college. She was sprinting the floor like a maniac. It was unbelievable. I said right then that I want to coach that kid.

“We try to recruit kids who we feel can fit into our system. We don’t get too hung up on liabilities a player might have. To be honest when Kiki got here she probably was the least-skilled offensive player we’ve ever had in our program, but her motor was one like we had never seen before.”

West Liberty offered and Simpson graciously accepted.

“It was a blessing for me,” Simpson said. “I figured I was just going to have to go to school on an academic scholarship and that my athletic career was over, but when this opportunity presented itself it was more than I could ask for. I really wasn’t being recruited by anyone.

“West Liberty’s been perfect for me. The size of the school allows me to concentrate on academics, which are so important to me, and then to have the experience that I’ve had here as a member of the basketball team developing myself as a player, making memorable trips and friendships with my teammates and winning at a high level. It’s just really been a blessing in my life.”

Instead of redshirting Simpson and giving her a year to work on improving her basketball skills, Ullom took a sink or swim approach with his athletic freshman center and played her sparingly in 22 games during the 201213 season to see how she’d react. Offensively she struggled, which at the time wasn’t a surprise, but defensively and athletically she showed enough promise that following the season Ullom approached her and told her he planned on starting her as the team’s center in 2013-14.

“Coach told me pretty much point blank that he wanted to start me and he wasn’t planning on recruiting any other center so I knew I had a tremendous challenge facing me during the off-season to get better so I could help our team,” Simpson said. “At that point I wasn’t ever a truly confident post player.

I remember thinking that our league had some really talented post players like (Fairmont State’s) Hailey Garrett and (Shepherd’s) Gabby Flinchum. I looked up to both of them and had respect for them and what they could do and tried to learn from watching them.

“That off-season I worked a lot on finishing around the basket with constant layup drills and just improving my footwork in the paint. I’m pretty self-conscious about that so I basically worked a lot of hours alone. My sophomore season I got better, but I had a real problem with fouls and I had to learn to play without fouling and work on my help-side defense in addition to trying to improve my offensive skills.”

Simpson’s tenacious work ethic and desire to improve began to pay dividends. She averaged 9.3 points and 11.2 rebounds as a sophomore and 9.8 points and 11.7 rebounds as a junior. Her real coming out party, though, may very well have been in the 2015 MEC Tournament when she averaged 11.3 points, 14.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocks during a three-game span as the Hilltoppers claimed the league’s tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. In the first-round there Simmons scored 13 points, blocked five shots and grabbed an astounding, single-game national tournament record 29 rebounds in West Liberty’s 88-85 overtime victory over West Chester (Pa.) University.

“Kiki’s a player who’s paid her dues,” said West Liberty senior guard Liz Flowers, who is third in school history in career scoring and has played four seasons with Simpson. “The one thing about her is she’s always played hard no matter whether it was in practice or limited time in games early in her career. She put forth the effort and once she got on the floor as a starter she really started to emerge as a leader for us and another viable threat on offense. She finishes around the rim and in terms of rebounding there’s no one better. She just dominates on the glass.

“She’s also a very good help-side defender. We know if we get beat on the perimeter that Kiki has our back. She’ll be there. She’s a great shot blocker.

She’s also not afraid to speak up and voice her opinion in the huddle during timeouts or in the locker room in terms of what we need to do as a team to improve or play better. She’s really a sweet and caring person and she’s developed into an all-around complete player and leader for us.”

Senior point guard Kailee Howe, who has played three seasons with Simpson, agrees.

“She really doesn’t get enough credit for how good of a player she’s become for us,” Howe said. “Her defense is outstanding. That’s something

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that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but believe me we count on her heavily to be there for us helping on defense and she’s always there. She is just such an athletic presence in the paint. She can block shots, alter shots and if you miss she’s going to get the rebound. She takes a lot of pride in rebounding and going after the ball.

“Then offensively she’s really taken strides. She’s very good at finishing around the rim and getting offensive boards and stick backs. She’s just a player who really doesn’t get enough credit for all of the good things that she does for our team. She’s a huge reason for our success.”

Simpson, a two-time honorable mention All-MEC selection, acknowledges that at times she probably does get overlooked as a player, but she says she has never felt underappreciated.

“Overlooked? Yeah I’d say definitely at times, but I’ve never felt like my play and contributions have not been appreciated, especially by my own teammates and coaching staff and that’s all that really matters,” she said. “I understand everyone can’t be first-team all-league or an All-American. That’s just the nature of how things are. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve played almost my entire career here with some very good basketball players like Liz Flowers, Kailee Howe and Hillary Southworth, who graduated last year. I’m used to not being in the spotlight so that wasn’t that hard to deal with, but it has served as motivation to me. I’ve always felt like it was my role to try to complement my teammates to the best of my abilities. I know they appreciate what I do.

“Have I gotten better since I’ve been here? Absolutely. That’s a credit to my coaches, my teammates and willingness on my part to want to work and improve. Confidence plays such a big role in success. I now have confidence in what I can do on the court and I know my teammates now have confidence in me so that’s play a big role in my development.

“I’ve always been a player who was going to play very hard no matter what. My feeling is why step out on the court if you’re not going to give it your all every single time. It was that way of thinking and playing which got me the opportunity here at West Liberty in the first place. Like I said it’s been a blessing for me. I couldn’t imagine myself being anywhere else right now or doing anything else.”

Simpson, who is majoring in business and computer information, will graduate in May from West Liberty and plans in the future to attend graduate school and eventually secure a job as a computer engineer.

Throughout college she’s maintained a close relationship with her mother Andrea Pitts, whom she calls her best friend.

“My mom has been my support system my whole life,” Simpson said.

“I call here anywhere from five to 10 times a day just to say hi sometimes.

I told her she always needs to answer because I need that few minutes to touch base with her.

“It’s funny because she’s all into my career. She’s the one tracking the records and telling me I need this or that to achieve something. She makes me laugh. She’s proud and I’m glad that she is. She’s a special lady.”

So is Simpson who already is West Liberty’s career leader in rebounds with well over 1,000 and the holder of virtually every rebounding record for both the Hilltoppers and the Mountain East Conference. When her career ends she likely will be the only player in West Liberty women’s basketball history to finish with 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points.

“What’s so amazing about that is she’s pretty much done it in just three years because she really didn’t play a lot for us as a freshmen,” Ullom said.

“The whole key to her success is I don’t think she’s ever become satisfied with where she is as a player and I’ve never tried to make her something that she’s not. She’s a tireless worker and a very, very special young lady.

I’m so happy we took a chance with her and that she took full advantage of that opportunity. She’s been nothing but a joy to coach and she’s developed into a pretty complete player for us. I can’t tell you how much we’re going to miss her in the future.”

Simpson, in turn, will miss West Liberty too. However, she can take solace in the fact that she ended her career as one of the school’s all-time greats.

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Mountain

By Duane Cochran

Through teary eyes, an emotional Gabby Guanciale, Wheeling Jesuit’s senior libero, hugged her teammates and coaching staff in the locker room following their semifinal loss to eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul in the 2013 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament. She told them that before the six freshmen on the team ended their careers they would win a national championship.

Two years later the six freshmen were juniors and formed the nucleus of a WJU team that raised the school’s and Mountain East Conference’s first-ever national championship trophy after an impressive 3-0 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic in the finals of the 2015 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament in Tampa, Fla. And an elated Gunanciale was on hand that Dec. 12 evening to cheer her alma mater and former teammates on.

“I remember Gabby telling us that night after we lost in the semifinals in 2013 that we could win it all,” WJU junior middle hitter Haley Kindall said.

“What she said stuck with all of us. The next year we lost in the ‘Elite Eight,’ but we were able to stay around and watch the rest of the tournament. We saw Tampa win the championship match, celebrate, raise the trophy and put on the championship t-shirts, and we all thought we want to experience that.

It motivated us.

“To accomplish it this year was amazing. I still don’t think it’s really set in for me that we’re the national champions. It’s unreal and what was really special was that Gabby came to Tampa to watch us play and compete for the title. That says something right there about the kind of program we have here at Wheeling. To have an alumnus travel that far to support us in person – you can’t ask for any more support than that.”

The 2015 Cardinals finished the season with a 12-match winning streak and a 39-4 overall record. The 39 victories is both a school and MEC record.

Wheeling lost it’s opening set at the “Elite Eight” to Arkansas-Fort Smith, but never lost again. The Cardinals topped Arkansas-Forth Smith 3-1, blanked

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Western Washington 3-0 in the semifinals and then won a hard-fought 3-0 match for the title against the Sailfish.

Wheeling Jesuit’s emergence as a national force in DII volleyball didn’t happen overnight. The husband and wife team of head coach Christy Benner and assistant coach Matt Benner have worked tirelessly together the past 14 years to build a program which first developed into a conference power, then to one in the region and finally to one on the national level.

The Benners are both graduates of nearby John Marshall High School in Moundsville and met through Christy’s father in 1991. The pair started competing locally in the coed division of sand volleyball matches and eventually took their skills on tour at the national level. In 1996 while competing in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the pair eloped and were married.

Around that same time the Benners began to develop an interest in indoor volleyball. Christy took a position as a coach with her father at Bishop Donahue High School and eventually moved on to coach her alma mater John Marshall. Matt, on the other hand, was employed at UPS and volunteered his time as an assistant coach at Wheeling Jesuit.

In 2002 when the Cardinals were looking for a new head volleyball coach, then-WJU athletic director Jay DeFruscio offered the position to Matt. He, however, feared that he wouldn’t be able to commit enough of his time to being the Cardinals’ head coach because of his job with UPS. Thus, it was then offered to Christy whose first recruit was her husband as the team’s assistant coach, and it’s been a match made in heaven. The pair, who have a nine-year-old son Max, have combined to lead WJU to 12 regular-season conference championships, including three in a row in the MEC. The Benners have led the Cardinals to 10 conference tournament titles, including all three in the Mountain East which was formed in 2013 and five straight NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships.

“It’s funny because it was kind of a hobby when we picked it up,” said Christy Benner, whose 15-year record as the coach at WJU is an impressive 459-114 (.801). “We’re not really like a lot of coaches who are coaching at the college level and have played their sport. I grew up playing softball and

Rams Run To Historic Heights Adding to the thrilling fall for the Mountain East Conference was Shepherd’s historic run to the NCAA Division II Football Championship game.

The Rams went through the league undefeated with a 10-0 record and earned the top seed in Super Region 1, marking the third time in as many years that a MEC team has had that distinction. Also, for the first time in the league’s brief history, two teams qualified for the postseason in football as the University of Charleston earned a bid.

Shepherd opened the playoffs with a hard-fought win 17-13 over Indiana (Pa.) to set up a matchup with Slippery Rock, another opponent from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Rams used a decisive, 18-point third quarter and held off the Rock to win the Super Region 1 championship and advance to the national semifinals. There awaited one of the most historic programs in NCAA Division II in Grand Valley State.

Shepherd, though, would get this game on their home turf for the first time in program history and play in front of well over 6,000 raucous fans at Ram Stadium. Despite playing most of the game with its backup quarterback, the Rams sent the thousands fans home happy with a 34-32 win over GVSU to earn its first appearance in the national championship game.

Shepherd’s bid for a national championship at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., came up short against Northwest Missouri State in front of over 16,000 fans and a nationally televised audience. The Bearcats slowed down Shepherd’s offense in a 34-7 win as it earned its fifth national championship in program history.

The Rams finished the season with a 13-1 record. Quarterback Jeff Ziemba was the conference Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Shaneil Jenkins was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Veteran coach Monte Cater was the MEC Coach of the Year for the second time in three years, and also earned multiple Super Region 1 Coach of the Year accolades.

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basketball and he grew up playing basketball.

We had to learn volleyball and to be honest it’s really become a passion for us. We love it.

“Some people might ask what’s it like coaching with your husband? It’s great. He works at UPS when I’m in the office here at Wheeling Jesuit, so we have that time away from each other. Then when we’re together we’re coaching, recruiting or watching tape.

We always tell our recruits that this is a special place to come. We’re a family here. We do coach together, but our personalities couldn’t be more different. We’re really at opposite ends of the spectrum. What Matt is good at I may be lacking and what I’m good at he may be lacking. You put us together and it works.”

Indeed it does. Talk to members of the Cardinals and they say playing for the Benners is nothing short of being a special experience.

“Playing for them is amazing. It’s such a family environment that we have here at Wheeling Jesuit,” said junior setter Andrea Thobe, who was the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Tournament. “A lot of us are far away from home and we know any time we need anything that they will be there for us.

They’re very genuine so it makes it pretty easy to play for them. You want to do well and you want to play hard. They expect us to play and compete at a high level and they prepare us to do that. They push us hard to be our best and the end result of that this year was a national championship.

“I’ll be honest I love it here. My older sister (Jessica) is here and we’ve got another set of sisters on the team. It really is like we’re one big family.”

Kindall, who joined WJU’s program the same time as Thobe, agrees.

“Playing for them is a lot of fun and very enjoyable. It’s kind of part of what makes our program so special,” Kindall said. “During nationals we had this on-going joke with them where we called them mom and dad. We can goof around with them when it’s appropriate and I think that really allows us to form that kind of special bond that can set a team apart.

“Our team chemistry here is amazing. We’re such great friends with each other off the court, too. We’re always together and I think it was that bond and chemistry, along with our talent and great coaching, that allowed us to win a championship.

“I think one thing we all know is when we won the national championship it was a very special moment for both Christy and Matt. You could just see it on their faces. In fact, after we won in the semifinals at the press conference Christy got so emotional and choked up that she could hardly talk. That tells you right there how much passion they have for us as a team, for the college and city of Wheeling and for what they’re doing. We knew then we had to win it.”

Benner admits bringing the championship home to Wheeling was a special moment for her, her husband, her team, Wheeling Jesuit University and the city of Wheeling in general.

“After we won I experienced feelings that honestly I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before,” she said. “It was just such a meaningful and emotional time for me. Wheeling Jesuit took a chance on Matt and I. They really did, and as coaches we’ve always tried to do things right and spend a lot of time

recruiting and bringing not just talented players in here, but ones that fit into the school’s culture. The Ohio Valley is a special place and I want our players to appreciate that when they’re here and embrace it. I think for the most part they do so they understand how much accomplishing something like this meant not just for us, but for the school, the alumni, former players, the city of Wheeling, the Ohio Valley in general and our league. We’ve had so much support and this was kind of our way to say thank you for that support. This is for you all of you, too.”

Wheeling Jesuit’s run to the national title was the result of a number of factors. One of those was the Mountain East Conference in recent years allowing the Cardinals and other schools to have flexibility in scheduling so that they could play high-level of competition. For example, WJU had seven matches this past regular-season against teams which were nationally ranked.

“We play so many great teams,” Thobe said. “I love the fact that we get to travel. We started the season with a very tough tournament in Florida.

We played against great competition in another tournament in Indianapolis so those types of matches, as well as the good competition we have in our league, just prepares us for big, late in the season matches. To be the best you have to play the best and we feel like our program can compete with anyone at a high level.”

Ironically, the Cardinals started the season losing three of their first eight matches. The team then re-grouped and won 22 straight before losing 3-1 on the road in Ohio against the University of Findlay on Nov. 11. It was the team’s last loss of the season.

“The loss to Findlay was good for us,” Benner said. “It let us know late in the season that we still had work to do and things to accomplish as a team.

“Some coaches don’t want to go out and play a national schedule and that’s fine, but for those of us who want to and feel like we need to it’s great to have that option. Matt and I have always tried to go and play the best teams possible. When the Mountain East was formed we sat down as coaches and it was important for me to express a desire to have some flexibility in scheduling where we could go out and play some of the best competition that we could. For (MEC commissioner) Reid (Amos) and the conference to allow us to have that flexibility has been great. It’s definitely benefited our program.”

Now the onus is on WJU to repeat. With eight individuals who saw action in 40 or more matches last season returning for 2016 don’t be surprised if the Cardinals do.

13

11 Feature 3.indd 13

2/23/16 4:04 PM

Concord University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Men’s Basketball Roster

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/High School

No. Name

00 Ali Jo Whitman F 01 Courtney Vasquez G 03 Olivia Morgan G 05 Kylie Molisee F 11 Hannah Tothe G 12 Marta Moix G 21 Lindsey Overbey G 23 Alexis Lowery G 30 Alley Odell C 31 Courtney White F 32 Emily Boothe G 33 Jenna Holton F 35 Anne Golinsky G 40 Meghan Nicholson F 42 Danielle Catron G Head Coach: Kenny Osborne Assistant Coach: Tesla Akers

6-3 5-7 5-5 6-0 5-6 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-11 5-11 5-7 5-11 5-7 5-10 5-8

So. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. So. So.

Madison, W.Va./Scott Johnson City, Tenn./Daniel Boone Richmond, Va./Cosby Peck, Kan./Clearwater Holden, W.Va./Logan Madrid, Spain/John Carroll Gate City, Va./Volunteer Dandridge, Tenn./Cosby Richmond, Va./Deep Run Princeton, W.Va/Pikeview Riner, Va./Floyd County Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe Frametown, W.Va./Braxton County Elkton, Va./East Rockingham Marion, Va./Chilhowie

1 2 3 4 10 11 12 13 14 20 22 23 24

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

F G G G G G F G G G F F G

6-5 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-3 5-8 6-1 6-5 6-6 6-1

190 185 200 170 170 180 195 180 165 205 210 220 190

Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr.

32 Nick Deems F 33 Terry Hopewell F 44 Taylor Smith F Head Coach: Kent McBride Assistant Coach: Tod May

6-4 6-8 6-5

205 225 235

So. Sr. Sr.

Detroit, Mich./Oakland CC South Bend, Ind./Lincoln Trails CC Beckley, W.Va/Woodrow Wilson Bluefield, W.Va/Graham Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe Chicago, Ill./Seton Academy Columbus, Ohio/Licking Heights Clarksburg, W.Va/Notre Dame Salinas, Puerto Rico/Osceola Stephens City, Va./Sherando Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson Belpre, Ohio/Warren Roanoke, Va./Massanutten Military Academy Beckley, W.Va/Woodrow Wilson Columbus, Ohio/Independence Mullens, W.Va/Wyoming East

Jametrius Wade Rob Reed Cam Shannon Colby Hill Tommy Bolte Kamal Shasi Babe Murphy Cal Cistaro Michael Sanchez Aaron Miller Stephen Thompson Mike Hall B.J. Hamlet

14

14 Team Pages.indd 14

2/18/16 1:51 PM

ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS & BUSINESS FRIENDS WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF CONCORD

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Fairmont State University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

3 Makenzie White G 5-9 Jr. Madison, W.Va./Scott (West Virginia) 5 Gabrielle Etter G 5-10 Jr. Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook 10 Emily Puskarich G 5-8 Jr. Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park 12 Sabrina Madson F 5-10 Fr. Zanesville, Ohio/West Muskingum 13 Katie Nunan F 6-0 Sr. Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior (Akron) 14 Amanda Ruffner F 5-10 Jr. Proctorville, Ohio/Chesapeake 20 Molly Rinkevich F 6-2 Fr. Erie, Pa./McDowell 23 Rachel Horn G 5-8 Fr. Millersburg, Ohio/Berlin Hiland 31 Kelli Jo Harrison F 5-11 So. Poca, W.Va./George Washington 32 Deidra Combs G 5-10 Jr. Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye 33 Tatiana Nikitina F 6-2 Jr. Moscow, Russia/Southeastern CC Head Coach: Steve McDonald Assistant Coaches: Stephanie Michael, Hallie Gunnoe

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht. Wt.

Cl.

1 2

G G/F

5-7 160 6-4 210

Fr. Jr.

Jason Jolly Matt Bingaya

3 Chase Connor G 6-2 185 4 Shammgod Wells G 5-9 170 5 Taiwo Badmus F/G 6-7 200 10 Ty Dobson G 6-0 165 12 Nick Calhoun G 6-1 180 15 Vonte Montgomery G 6-1 180 20 Thomas Wimbush F/G 6-7 195 21 Jamel Morris G 6-4 200 22 Chris Lewis G 6-1 170 23 R.J. Hutcherson F 6-7 210 24 Trevor Andrews-Evans F/C 6-7 205 25 Cory Saddler F 6-7 200 30 Caleb Davis G 6-1 185 34 Troy Cantrell F 6-7 215 Head Coach: Jerrod Calhoun Associate Head Coach: Paul Molinari Assistant Coach: Joe Mazzula Graduate Assistant Coach: George Wilmore Student Assistant Coach: Sidney Crist

Hometown/Previous School

Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge Delaware, Ohio/Delaware Hayes (Southern Miss) Jr. Shady Spring, W.Va./Shady Spring (WVU) Jr. Harlem, N.Y./LaSalle Jr. London, England/Hackney CC Fr. Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg So. R-Fr. Barberton, Ohio/Norton R-Fr. Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights Jr. Lorain, Ohio/Lorain Sr. Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln (Glenville St.) Sr. Haymarket, Va./Battlefield So. Columbus, Ohio/Westerville North Jr. Logan, W.Va./Logan Fr. Wilmington, Ohio/Clinton Massie Jr. Charlotte, N.C./Vance Fr. Dayton, Ohio/David H. Ponitz

16

14 Team Pages.indd 16

2/18/16 4:26 PM

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Glenville State College

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

0 Tyra Sinclair G 5-7 Fr. Washington D.C./Paint 1 Maya Horne G 5-5 Fr. Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Int. 2 Paige Tuttle G 5-4 Sr. Fairview, W.Va./North Marion 3 Julie Bishop G 5-7 So. Glenville, W.Va./Gilmer County 4 Antoinette Davis F 5-10 Jr. Compton, Calif./Long Beach City College 5 Sharyce Warren G 5-3 So. Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass 10 Skyy Lewis G 5-8 Sr. Pasadena, Calif./Pierce 12 Paris McLeod G 5-5 So. Belleville, Mi./Inkster 13 Aanise Barnes G 5-9 Jr. Newark, NJ/Monroe 21 Kristin DesRocher G 5-8 So. Chapmanville, W.Va./Chapmanville Regional 23 Tayana Stewart G 5-8 So. Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown 24 Courtney Davis G/F 5-11 Fr. Baltimore, Md./M.A.T.H.S. 32 Brittany Jackson G 5-8 Jr. Montgomey Village, Md./George Mason 33 La’Shaughn Jones C 6-2 Sr. District Heights, Md./College of Central Florida 35 Janele Price C 6-1 Fr. Joppa, Md./Institute of Notre Dame Head Coach: Charles Marshall Assistant Coaches: Cody Gilmore, Ginny Mills

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

0 Brien Winston G 6-1 185 1 Jalon Plummer G 6-5 200 2 Micah Thomas G 5-11 185 3 Denarius Odell G 6-0 175 4 Sedric Nady G 6-1 184 5 Grant Williams G 6-0 161 12 Tonnie Collier G/F 6-8 210 13 Langston Burnette G/F 6-5 200 14 Luke Campbell G 6-0 155 15 Andrew Johnson G 6-1 180 20 Marcus Schofield F 6-3 215 21 Dontel Rice F 6-5 183 22 Hunter Given G/F 6-3 190 23 Brett Morris G 6-4 208 24 Marcus Garris G 6-0 160 32 Juwan Wells F 6-7 197 33 Alonzo Molina F 6-7 200 Head Coach: Stephen Dye Assistant Coaches: Austin Caldwell, Bill Lilly

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

Sr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr.

Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln Detroit, Mich./Youngstown State Richmond, Va./Lincoln Memorial Jackson, Miss./Alcorn State Virginia Beach, Va./Landstown Washington D.C./Anacostia Milwaukee, Wis./Texas Southern Upper Marlboro, Md./Wagner Mullens, W.Va./Wyoming East Beckley, W.Va./Woodrow Wilson Mullens, W.Va./Wyoming East Lovington, Ky./Kaskaskia College Cowen, W.Va./Webster County Webster County, W.Va./Webster Co. Capitol Heights, Md./Fredericksburg La Plata, Md./Radford Inwood, W.Va./Allegany College

18

14 Team Pages.indd 18

2/18/16 1:53 PM

ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS & BUSINESS FRIENDS WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF GLENVILLE STATE COLLEGE

Jim Cunningham General Manager

Somerset Steel Erection Company, Inc.

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CLARKSBURG - ANMOORE 304 624 4363 - 888 291 7362 Physical Address:

106 West Main Street Sutton, WV 26601 gacovey@coveyengineering.com www.coveyengineering.com

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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 185 Sutton, WV 26601

Professional Engineer and Surveyor Phone: (304) 750-2203 (304) 678-8668 • gacovey@coveyengineering.com Fax: (304) 750-2204 Engineering, Surveying, Construction Inspection, Soil Compaction Aggregate and Concrete Testing Marcellus/Utica Well Pad & Water Impoundment Design, Construction Inspection & Certification

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Notre Dame College

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

1 Erin Haislah G 5-3 So. Euclid, Ohio/Euclid 2 Sharita Hicks G 5-7 Rf. Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaw High School 3 Kaylynn Counts G 5-8 Sr. Belleville, Mich./Lake Superior State 4 Terrina Robinson G 5-9 Jr. Beachwood, Ohio/Beachwood 5 Jessica Garcia G 5-10 Sr. Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood 11 Ciara Reed G 5-7 So. Milan, Ohio/Edison 12 Martha Nagbe G 5-7 R-Sr. Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood 13 Mackenzie Meckes G 5-7 Fr. Avon, Ohio/Avon 20 Alyssa Kraus G 5-7 Sr. Akron, Ohio/Norton 22 Kim Cook F 5-10 So. Middleburg, Hts., Ohio/Holy Name 23 Kheri Motley G/F 5-9 Rf. West Bloomfield, Mich./Owens CC 24 Lauren Langenderfer G 5-8 Sr. Lyons, Ohio/Evergreen 25 Hope Thorbahn F 5-10 So. Port Clinton, Ohio/Port Clinton 30 De’Ja Sanders G 5-4 Fr. Revenna, Ohio/Ravenna 33 Celine Mangan G 5-6 Sr. Cleveland, Ohio/St. Joseph Academy 34 Lexi Hassing F 5-10 Sr. Brook Park, Ohio/Midpark 44 Kelsey Miller F 6-2 Jr. Fresno, Ohio/West Lafayette Ridgewood Head Coach: Katie Hine Associate Head Coach: Stephanie Mentz-Bruce Graduate Assistant: Lauren Macer

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

0

Marco Colombo

G

6-5

200

Fr.

1 2 3 4 5

Kyauta Taylor Jake Lavis Ja’Sean Lewis Jay Banyasz Oliver Megins

PG SF F PG F

6-1 6-4 6-8 6-4 6-8

170 205 195 195 250

So. So. Fr. So. So.

New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia Cleveland, OH/East Tech Wyandotte, MI/Wyandotte Roosevelt Columbus, Ohio/Canton Glen Oak Columbia Station, OH/Columbia Adelaide, Australia/Christian Brothers College Hartville, Ohio/Marlington Northville, Mich./Northville Cleveland Hts., Ohio/Cleveland Hts. Fenton, Mich./Fenton Fenton, Mich./Fenton Cleveland Hts., Ohio/Cleveland Hts. Columbus Grove, OH/Columbus Grove Franklin Furnace, Ohio/Northwest

10 Jacob Sawman F 7-0 185 Fr. 11 Nathan Kellum F 6-8 185 Fr. 12 Najeeb Johnson G 6-2 170 Jr. 13 Ryan Hickoff SF 6-4 195 Sr. 20 Dylan Hickoff SF 6-4 195 Sr. 23 Tyree Gaiter PG 5-7 155 Sr. 41 Will Vorhees F 6-8 240 So. 44 Drew Scarberry G/F 6-6 190 Fr. Head Coach: Tim Koenig Assistant Coaches: Tim Baab, Rich Garcia, Chuck Mauceri Graduate Assistant: Michael Staley

20

14 Team Pages.indd 20

2/18/16 1:53 PM

SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY

woMen’s Basketball Roster No.

Name

Pos. Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

0 Alexandra Lustig G/F 5-9 So. Germantown, Md./Holy Cross 3 Morgan Arden G 5-5 So. Hanover, Pa./Spring Grove 10 Cara Mason G 5-8 Jr. Monrovia, Md./Urbana 11/23 Tiffany McKinney G 5-9 So. Edgewater, Md./South River (Anne Arundel CC) 12/25 Sammy Bane G 5-5 Jr. Chantilly, Va./Middleburg Academy 13 Kayla Tibbs G 5-9 So. Leesburg, Va./Heritage 14 Kristen Nunn G 5-6 Fr. Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg 20 Liz Myers F 5-11 Jr. York, Pa./Eastern York 21 Hailey Brown F 6-0 Jr. Annandale, Va./Annandale 22 Kari Lankford G 5-7 Fr. York, Pa./West York Area 24 Kristina Prange F 6-1 Sr. Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus 33/35 Elizabeth Moorman F 5-10 Fr. New Market, Md./Oakdale Head Coach: Jenna Eckleberry Assistant Coaches: Jamie Cluesman, Emily Daniel

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

2 4 11 15

Steffen Davis Naim Muhammad Skyler Roman Ryan McTavish

G G G F

6-0 6-4 6-0 6-5

180 193 194 209

So. Jr. So. Sr.

23 25 32 33

Marcus Adkison AJ Carr Mike Reed Gavin McTavish

G F F F

5-11 6-6 6-4 6-6

157 219 208 197

Fr. So. Jr. So.

Accokeek, Md./Maret School Waldorf, Md./North Point Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll (Presbyterian) Annandale, Va./St. Andrew’s Episcopal Fairfax, Va./Saint James School Abingdon, Md./Patterson Mill Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll (Bridgon Academy) Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge Charles Town, W.Va./Washington Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin

34 Winston Burgess F 6-6 198 Fr. 40 Austin Shields G/F 6-3 189 Fr. 44 Matthew Seip F 6-6 204 Fr. Head Coach: Justin Namolik Assistant Coaches: Bryan Lewis, John Wishmyer, Tripp Lowe

22

14 Team Pages.indd 22

2/18/16 1:54 PM

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University of Charleston

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

1 Chelsea Chambers G 5-3 R-Sr. Columbus, Ohio/Africentric 2 Olivia Nicholas G 5-8 R-Jr. Warren, Ohio/Howland 3 Chyress Lockhart G 5-6 R-Sr. Euclid, Ohio/Morgan State 4 Marissa Koob G/F 5-8 So. Mason, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian 5 Kiara Johnson F/C 6-2 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla./Paine College 10 Malauna Campbell G 5-7 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day 12 Abby Watson G 5-8 Fr. Hurricane, W.Va./Hurricane 13 Taylor Smith G/F 5-8 Fr. Marietta, Ohio/Marietta 15 Mya Walker G/F 5-8 Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Northeastern State 20 Michelle Noel F/C 5-10 R-Fr. Arlington, Va./Wakefield 23 Ashley Milligan G/F 5-8 R-Sr. Canal Winchester, Ohio/Bloom Carroll 24 Brea Forney G 5-5 Jr. Akron, Ohio/Mercyhurst Northeast 30 Leslie Gilmore F/C 5-10 Jr. Charleston, W.Va./George Washington 33 Briana Rock G/F 5-9 Fr. Kent, Ohio/Roosevelt 35 Monet Saunders F/C 6-1 Jr. Woodmere, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy 42 Darian Apperson F/C 6-1 Jr. McConnelsville, Ohio/Morgan 44 Tia Clement F/C 5-10 Jr. Winston-Salem, N.C./North Carolina Central Head Coach: Adam Collins Assistant Coaches: Mike Hedrick, Tianni Kelly

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos. Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

0 Jaylen Hinton G 6-1 177 So. 1 Cameron Dozier G 6-2 180 Jr. 2 Matt Herndon G 6-0 160 Fr. 3 Tino diTrapano G 5-10 183 Sr. 4 Travon Williams G 6-2 165 Jr. 5 Jevonte Hughes F 6-5 208 Sr. 12 Jordan Smith G 6-3 198 So. 13 Elijah Weems G 6-4 200 Fr. 15 Solomon Honors G/F 6-3 195 Jr. 23 Brandon Johnson G 6-3 195 Fr. 24 Aleksandar Kesic F 6-8 220 Sr. 25 Deandre Forte G/F 6-2 187 Fr. 30 Blake Dalton G 6-0 170 R-Fr. 32 Darrion Stokes-Graham G/F 6-5 200 Jr. 33 Justin Coleman F 6-8 215 Jr. 42 George Zavos G 6-4 220 Fr. Head Coach: Dwaine Osborne Assistant Coaches: Brett Rector, Tom Berryman

Hometown/High School (Previous) Richmond, Va./Georgia State University Graceville, Fl./Tallahassee CC Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg Charleston, W.Va./George Washington St. Louis, Mo. Moberly Area CC Kalamazoo, Mi./Kalamazoo Valley CC Dayton, Ohio/Dunbar HS Marietta, Ga./Walton HS Tampa, Fl./Washington Adventist Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown HS Belgrade, Serbia/Iona College Cleveland, Ohio/Villa-Angela St. Joseph Floyd, Va./Carrol County Baltimore, Md./Pensacola State College Nashville, Tn./Middle Tennessee State Cyprus, Greece/G C School of Careers

24

14 Team Pages.indd 24

2/18/16 4:27 PM

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Urbana University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Men’s Basketball Roster

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

3

Danie Shafer

G

5-8

So.

1

Jahmere Howze

PF

6-6

230

Fr.

4

Brittany Atkinson

G

5-5

Jr

14 15 20 22 23 24 33 34

Ariana Harper Kennedy Boggs Jennifer Alflen Stefanie Davis Alyssa Kennedy Erin Morrow Megan Beachy Tori Purk

G G G G F G G F

5-5 5-5 5-7 5-3 5-11 5-10 5-8 5-8

R-Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr.

3 4 10

Chris Freeman Justin Johnson Matt Csuhran

G F G/F

5-10 6-9 6-4

170 200 195

Jr. Fr. So.

42 Jazmyn Haley F 5-11 Head Coach: Haley Ducey Assistant Coach: Markell Cox

So.

Huber Heights, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont (Maryville) Granville, Ohio/Grandville (Notre Dame College) Cleveland, Ohio/Solon Delphos, Ohio/Delphos Jefferson Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge Frankfort, Ohio/Adena Van Wert, Ohio/Van Wert Millersburg, Ohio/Berlin Hiland Mechanicsburg, Ohio/Mechanicsburg (Edison State) Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine

Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights HS Champaign, Illi./Oakton CC Cincinnati, Ohio/Shaker Heights Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling Bedford Heights, Ohio/Northwood Pataskala, Ohio/Houghton College Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine Oregon, Ohio/Cardinal Stritch Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon Detroit, Mich,/West Virginia State McKinney Texas/Elevate Prep Academy Columbus, Ohio/Groveport Madison

11 Demetrius Carr G 5-9 150 Fr. 12 Mike Newton G 6-0 170 Sr. 14 Aarmanni Garnett G 6-2 185 Jr. 15 Caleb Mitchell C 6-7 225 Fr. 21 Austin Adams F 6-5 195 Fr. 22 Carlas Jackson G 6-4 170 So. 23 Dmitri Abner G/F 6-4 220 Sr. 31 Colin Curran G 6-1 170 Fr. 33 Kevin Fisher F 6-8 230 Fr. Head Coach: Rob Summers Assistant Coaches: Brandon Whitehead, Michael Hunter

26

14 Team Pages.indd 26

2/22/16 11:39 AM

UVA-WISE

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

3 Taylor Sandidge PG 5-5 Jr. Waynesboro, Va./The Miller School 5 Natalia Saar SF 5-11 Jr. Curitiba, Brazil/Paris Junior College 10 Adalmaryz Gomez PG 5-6 Fr. Bayamón, Puerto Rico/Florida Air Academy 20 Blair Harding SG 5-8 Sr. Baltimore, Md./Iowa Western CC 21 Makenzie Cluesman SG 5-9 R-Jr. Jonesville, Va./Lee 22 Ashley Cullen SG 5-9 Fr. Mooresville, N.C./Mooresville 24 Allison Ball SG 5-9 So. Newport, Tenn./Cocke County 25 Kehana Grayer SG 5-9 Sr. West Jordan, Utah/Colorado Northwestern CC 32 Ashley Jackson SG 5-8 R-Fr. Knoxville, Tenn./University of Tampa 34 Dakotah Turner C 6-1 Fr. Tazewell, Tenn./Claiborne County 42 Kayla Carey C 6-2 Jr. Knoxville, Tenn./Hardin Valley 45 Alle Moore SF 6-0 Fr. Marietta, Ohio/Marietta Head Coach: Kristin Kunzman Assistant Coaches: Renee Renz, Alycia Gervais

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

0 1 3 5 10 11

Lashain Matthews Philip Owens II Ricardo Hill Jr. Gervelle Kidd Camryn Fort Dimitri Sousa

G G G F G F

5-9 6-0 5-10 6-6 6-5 6-6

165 185 175 200 185 215

R-Fr. So. R-So. Jr. R-Fr. So.

12 14 22

Darren Belardo Corey Dick Zach McDaniel

G F F

6-0 6-3 6-7

180 220 200

Fr. Jr. Fr.

23

Demarcus Edwards G

6-3

190

So.

Staunton, VA/Robert E. Lee Virginia Beach, VA/Bishop Sullivan Catholic Cincinnati, OH/University of Akron Martinsville, VA/East Mississippi CC Fayetteville, NC/Genesis Academy São Paulo, Brazil/Massanutten Military Academy Virginia Beach, VA/Bishop Sullivan Catholic Whitsett, NC/Eastern Guilford Bowling Green, KY/Hargrave Military Academy Mount Vernon, VA/Wentworth Military Academy & College Buckhorn, KY/Buckhorn São Paulo, Brazil/Cathedral

33 Matt Day F 6-7 225 Sr. 50 Leandro Amador F 6-8 210 Fr. Head Coach: Blake Mellinger Assistant Coaches: Nathan Edick, Drew Absher

27

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West Liberty University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Men’s Basketball Roster

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

No. Name

3 Janay Bottoms G 4 Baylen Dyrlund F 5 Kierra Simpson F 10 Lindsey Fenwick G 11 Beth Dalton G 12 Brandi Beader G 13 Allie Farina F 15 Jasmin Kiley G 20 Liz Flowers G 21 Kailee Howe G 23 Emily Bucon G 30 Baylee Smith F 32 Johnie Olkosky G 34 Kayla Boggs F Head Coach: Lynn Ullom Assistant Coach: Kyle Cooper

5-4 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-7 5-8 6-1 5-6 5-7 5-10 5-8 5-10 5-9 5-10

Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Rfr. So.

Pittsburgh, PA/Taylor Allderdice Hartville, OH/Lake Columbus, OH/Northland Springfield, OH/Kenton Ridge Gosport, England/Bishop Walsh/Garrett CC Hermitage, PA/Hickory North Canton, OH/Hoover Las Vegas, NV/Palo Verde Williamstown, WV/Williamstown Zanesville, OH/Zanesville/Morehead State Wheeling, WV/Central Catholic Malta, OH/Morgan Pittsburgh, PA/Bishop Canevin Masontown, WV/University

1 3 4 5 10 11 12 20 22

Joe Lococo David Dennis Devin Hoehn Seger Bonifant Brady Arnold Brandon Smith Beau Justice Zak Kirkbride Zac Grossenbacher

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

G G G F G G G G F

6-3 6-1 6-2 6-7 5-8 6-5 6-0 6-7 6-8

Sr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr.

Easton, Pa./Freedom/Shippensburg Canal Winchester, Ohio/Harvest Prep Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg Berlin, Ohio/Hiland Millersburg, Ohio/West Holmes Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins Peebles, Ohio/Peebles Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville/Fishburne M.A. Parkersburg, W.Va./Massanutten M.A./ Wofford Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley McDonald, Pa./South Fayette Vincent, Ohio/Warren Local Centerville, Ohio/Centerville

23 Tyler Primmer G 6-4 RFr. 24 Mike Lamberti F 6-5 Sr. 25 Evan French G 6-4 So. 33 Eric Meininger F 6-5 RFr. Head Coach: Jim Crutchfield Assistant Coaches: Ben Howlett, Aaron Huffmank

29

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West Virginia State University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

00 Rachel Ward G 5-4 Jr. Elkview, W. Va. /George Washington 10 Amiea Summers G 5-6 Jr. Central City, Ky. /Muhlenburg County 11 Deyahnna Styles G 5-4 Sr. Wakarusa, Ind. /Lake Michigan CC 14 Autumn Ringen F 6-1 So. West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison 21 Jillian Fletcher F 5-9 Fr. West Chester, OH/Ursaline Academy 22 Brianna Hawkins G 5-6 So. Louisville, KY/Rend Lake JC 23 Laura Szorenyi G 5-10 Fr. Budapest, Hungary/Csata DSE 24 Alexus Hobbs F 6-0 Sr. Peoria, Ill./Lake Michigan CC 30 Trina Current C 6-1 So. Troy, Ohio/Miami East 34 Shealyn Shafer F 6-0 Jr. Summersville, W. Va./Nicholas County 42 Aurreshae Hines G 5-6 So. Jeffersonville, Ind./Jeffersonville Head Coach: David Smith Assistant Coaches: Anitha Smith-Williams, Heather Grooms Student Assistant: Marquia Ivey

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

00 Tyrie Elliott G 6-3 195 So. Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez 02 Frank Webb G 6-3 190 Fr. Gwynn Oak, Md./My Lady Mt Carmel 03 Brent Bauer G 5-8 165 Fr. Xenia, Ohio/Xenia 04 Tyler Thompson G 5-8 160 So. Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez 05 Robert Fomby G 6-2 210 Jr. Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga CC 11 Terrance Jenkins F 6-5 195 Jr. Mt. Pleasant, S.C./USC-Sakethatchie CC 15 Markee Mazcyk F 6-6 230 Sr. Washington, D.C./Fredrick CC 20 Keith Harris G 6-6 175 Jr. New York, N.Y./Monroe College 23 Kenny Strong G 6-2 185 Jr. Youngstown, Ohio/Marshalltown CC 24 Ronald Whaley F 6-7 215 Sr. Cleveland, Ohio/Virginia Union 31 Awwal Reid F 6-6 190 So. Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro 33 Cody Morris C 6-7 225 So.. Clendenin, W Va./Herbert Hoover Head Coach: Bryan Poore Assistant Coaches: Aaron Nixon, Aaron Nixon, Lester Raines

31

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West Virginia Wesleyan College

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

2 Mykenzie Martin G 5-5 Fr. Canvas, W. Va./Nicholas County 3 Alexa Szelong G 5-9 Fr. Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area 5 Kambrie Bosley G 5-9 Fr. Oakland, Md./Southern Garrett 10 Alexa Mortenson G 5-9 So. South Jordan, Utah /Juan Diego Catholic 12 Andrea Lee G 5-10 Jr. Petoskey, Mich./Kinglsey 15 Brooke Richard G 5-8 Sr. Sulphur, La./Sulphur 20 Mari Stewart F 6-0 So. Templeton, Cal./Templeton 21 Chesley Dubroc C 6-0 Jr. Basile, La./Basile 22 Stacy Remer G 5-10 So. Grand Forks, N.D./Sacred Heart 23 Rachel Vandertoolen F 5-11 So. Salt Lake City, Utah/Olympus 24 Allie Browne G 5-5 Sr. Hurricane, W.Va./Hurricane 25 Catherine Bandak F 6-0 Fr. Charleston, W. Va. Charleston Catholic 33 Tara Goldman C 6-0 So. Logan, Utah/Sky View 34 Adrian Cunningham G 5-10 Jr. Liberty, W.Va./George Washington Head Coach: Michael Bari Assistant Coaches: Madison Martin, David Rogers

Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

2 3 4 5 10 11 14 15 20 23 30 31 33 34 42 44

G G G G G G G F F G G/F F F G/F F G/F

6-1 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-8 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-8 6-4 6-4 6-6

165 165 175 140 185 175 175 250 195 180 180 190 205 205 195 200

Jr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.

Oakland, Md./Southern Garrett Oakland, Md./Southern Garrett Copenhagen, Denmark/St. John’s Ronceverte, W. Va./Greenbrier East Leesburg, Va/Flint Hill Shepherdstown, W. Va./Jefferson Detroit, Mich./Southfield Christ.

Buckhannon, W. Va./Buck.-Upshur Upper Marlboro, Md./Fredrick Douglass South Plainfield, N. J./IMG Academy Parkersburg, W. Va./Parkersburg South Lovettsville, Va./Home School Ljubljana, Slovenia/Gimnazija Bezigrad Hurricane, W. Va./Winfield Bowie, Md./St. Andrew’s Holbaek, Denmark/ Stenhus Gymnasium Mount Hope, W. Va./Greater Beckley Chr.

Landon Todd Clay Todd Soren Dossing Austin Jerman Mo Berchie Garrett Grantham Chris Dewberry Tanner McGrew Ja’Sahn Johnson Chris Mathis J.R. Kerr Luke Welty Tilen Kodrin Alex Osburn Jacob White Fred Brondsted

45 Brent Daniels F 6-7 195 Fr. Head Coach: Gary Nottingham Assistant Coaches: Tim Hausfeld, Jack Meriwether

32

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Wheeling jesuit University

woMen’s Basketball Roster No. Name

Pos.

Ht.

Cl.

1 Mariah Callen G 5-4 So. 2 Jaila Bryant G 5-8 Sr. 3 Marissa Tucker G 5-5 R-Fr. 4 Cassi Stein G 5-10 So. 11 Chelsea Richardson G 5-9 Jr. 12 Rachael Smetzler G 5-5 Sr. 14 Damonique PattersonG 5-9 Fr. 15 Aaliyah Sadler G 5-8 Fr. 21 Chenelle Moore F 6-0 Fr. 22 Taylor Lubinsky F/G 5-10 Sr. 23 Kiarra Kamarec F 6-3 So. 32 Kylie Frizell G 5-10 Jr. 33 Lydia Hyburg F 6-2 Jr. 42 Jaana Motton F 5-11 Jr. Head Coach: Debbie Buff Assistant Coaches: Jerod Allto Graduate Assistant Coach: Ellen Holton

Men’s Basketball Roster

Hometown/Previous School

No. Name

Morgantown, W.Va./University Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park Newark, Ohio/Licking Valley Monroeville, Pa./Gateway Clyde, Ohio/Clyde Wheeling, W.Va./Westerville South (Ohio) Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek Smithville, Ohio/Smithville Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley

1 Drake Goddard G 6-2 202 So. Fort Washington, Md./Maret School 2 Pat Moseh F 6-6 215 So. Springfield, Va./Bishop Ireton 3 Tim Goff F 6-8 195 Sr. Burton, Ohio/ Berkshire 11 Mark Winters F 6-6 245 Jr. New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia 12 Chase Lawson G 6-3 180 Jr. Sardinia, Ohio/Eastern Brown 13 Malik Grandy G 6-3 187 Fr. Laurel, Md./Chaplegate Christian 15 Dominique Tham F 6-4 215 Fr. Arlington, Va./Wakefield 20 Zack Duffy G 5-7 175 Fr. Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls 21 Sam Peduto G 6-1 195 Sr. Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley 22 Justin Fritts G 6-1 180 Sr. Mentor, Ohio/Mentor 23 Jordan Fair G 6-1 170 R-Jr. Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley 24 Haywood Highsmith F 6-6 215 So. Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley 25 Kyle Ritz F 6-7 220 Jr. Cambridge, Ohio/Cambridge 31 Eric Siefert G 6-4 190 Sr. Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley 34 Matt Stewart F 6-5 220 Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin 44 Joe Peduto G 6-1 190 Sr. Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley Head Coach: Danny Sancomb Assistant Coaches: Jesse Wukash, Ben Siefert, Ryan Kostur & Adam Vincenzo

Pos.

Ht.

Wt.

Cl.

Hometown/Previous School

34

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The Mountain East Conference

The Mountain East Conference was conceived in 2012 with the mission of combining institutions that shared the goal of competing at the highest level of NCAA Division II athletics. The MEC’s footprint includes nine schools in West Virginia, two in Ohio and one in Virginia. The Mountain East Conference sponsors 17 championship sports.

In just under three years of existence, the MEC has established itself as one of the top leagues both in the region and in the country. In just the fall of 2015, the MEC produced three of the four teams that earned NCAA Tournament berths in men’s soccer, sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament in women’s soccer and placed two teams in the football playoffs for the first time in league history. The success didn’t stop with just sending teams to NCAA play as Charleston made its second-straight appearance in the Final Four in men’s soccer and Shepherd’s football team and Wheeling Jesuit’s volleyball team played for national championships. The Cardinals wound up bringing home the league’s first NCAA title defeating Palm Beach Atlantic in three sets.

In total, seven programs have advanced to the national championship and four have played for an NCAA title. Individuals have been put in a position to earn accolades as well earning numerous region Player of the Year awards and All-America honors in multiple sports. The success of MEC institutions and individuals has demonstrated the league’s motto of “providing opportunities and pursuing excellence.”

In addition to the success on the field, MEC student-athletes have excelled in the classroom as well. In the fall of 2015, over 700 student-athletes were recognized by the league for maintaining over a 3.25 in the fall semester, including over 300 who posted a GPA of 3.70 or better. An MEC athlete has been awarded the Elite 90 award on three occasions, including UC men’s soccer player Conor Branson who earned the award in successive years.

The Mountain East Conference is located in Bridgeport, W.Va. For more information, visit www.mountaineast.org.

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COMMISSIONER REID AMOS Reid Amos brings an extensive background in administration and athletics to go with a sincere passion for the NCAA Division II experience as the Mountain East Conference commissioner.

Amos, the unanimous choice by the MEC Board of Directors in November 2012 to serve as commissioner, has helped direct the league to extreme heights in just a short amount of time with the MEC having earned a reputation as a regional and national power. In virtually each of the 17 sports sponsored by the MEC, teams have reached new heights since associating with the conference. Since the conference began competing in 2013, seven teams reach the national semifinals and four play for a national championship, including Wheeling Jesuit, which brought home the league’s first NCAA Division II team title.

In addition to his daily duties, Commissioner Amos also just completed his first term on the NCAA Division II Football Committee. The committee is responsible for the oversight of the sport in addition to the evaluation and selection of the teams that advance to the postseason. Amos is also an active member of the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) as chair of the public relations committee. In that capacity, he helped the D2CCA become the official sponsor of the NCAA Division II all-region teams.

In addition, Commissioner Amos has helped raise the visibility of the league and its institutions by creating the Mountain East Conference Football “Game of the Week” and partnering with WV MetroNews to deliver high-definition video streams on the web and provide radio coverage for the games across the region. For the second-straight year, all 14 games from the Charleston Civic Center will be broadcast live in high-definition on WVMetroNews.com.

Amos brings extensive experience in administration and athletics, to go with a sincere passion for the NCAA Division II experience, to his new position.

Prior to his role as commissioner, Amos was the Vice President of Broadcasting at West Liberty University. He was promoted to that role following a successful stint as the Executive Director for the WLU Office of Communications.

During his time at West Liberty, Amos’s work was instrumental in the growth of West Liberty University Television (WLTV-14), which today reaches more than 100,000 cable homes in West Virginia and Ohio. Known throughout the Upper Ohio Valley as the “Voice of the Hilltoppers,” he served as play-byplay announcer for approximately 50 televised football and basketball games each year at West Liberty.

Amos served as executive producer and play-by-play man on several WLTV telecasts that have aired on ROOT Sports, the regional cable sports network in Pittsburgh that reaches 2.5 million cable homes. He achieved a major coup

when he successfully negotiated and coordinated the first-ever live telecast of the 2012 WVIAC Tournament’s men’s basketball championship game on ROOT Sports.

In addition to his experience as a member of the West Liberty University’s senior staff and broadcaster at West Liberty, Amos also has the benefit of being a successful collegiate coach and NCAA administrator.

He enjoyed a highly successful run as head men’s golf coach at Fairmont State University from 2003-07. A two-time WVIAC Coach of the Year and the 2007 NCAA Division II East Region Coach of the Year, Amos led the Falcons to a pair of WVIAC championships, five consecutive NCAA Division II regional tournament bids and the 2007 NCAA Division II East Region championship.

His career coaching record at Fairmont State was a sparkling 450-215-7 (.677).

Since 2009, Amos has served in NCAA governance as a member of the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Committee that administers the NCAA Division II national championship tournament. As part of that role, Amos has served as Chair of the Atlantic/East Regional Committee and has been the NCAA’s site representative for the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional each year since 2009. Along with fellow national committee members, he serves as a site representative for the NCAA Division II national championship tournament and was appointed Chair of the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Committee for the 2012-13 season.

Along with his work in broadcasting and athletics, Amos also brings extensive communications and marketing experience to the table. Since 2003, he has been the owner/operator of Intermedia Solutions, LLC, a multimedia consulting company working with many of the institutions he now serves in the MEC. Amos was responsible for developing the largest Division II tournament radio network in the nation and has also worked as director of business development for an information technology government contractor as well as director of operations for a radio ownership group.

Amos cut his teeth in the broadcasting business during 13 years as Sports Director at WMMN-AM radio in Fairmont, W.Va., where he handled play-byplay duties for the football and basketball teams at Fairmont State. He began working at the station while still a student at FSU. A Fairmont native and a graduate of Fairmont Senior High, Amos graduated from Fairmont State in 1994 with a B.A. in Speech Communication and earned his Master’s Degree in Communications from West Virginia University in 1996. He resides in Wheeling with his wife, Jennie, and their children, Elizabeth and Cate.

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MEC STAFF Hannah Hinton Associate Commissioner of Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator Hannah Hinton was named Assistant Commissioner of Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator in November of 2013, and was promoted Associate Commissioner in August 2015.

Hinton oversees and organizes all of the administration of the conference’s NCAA compliance program, and additionally serves as the league’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. She currently serves as the tournament director for the league’s men’s and women’s tennis championships and is a member of the NCAA Atlantic Region Advisory Committee for women’s tennis. She is a member of both National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) and National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) and represents the conference at numerous national conferences, meetings and seminars.

She is a 2010 graduate of the Boston University School of Law. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in August of 2011 and is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association. During her time at Boston University she served as treasurer of the Black Law Student Association.

Prior to coming to the Mountain East Conference, Hinton spent the last year Houston Tennis Association (HTA) where she served as tournament director and provided operational oversight to amateur tournaments, leagues, and junior events throughout the greater Houston area.

Before her accepting her position at the HTA, Hinton spent six months practicing law at Allison Jones & Associates Family Law Firm. She also spent time at the Country Club of Ocala as the Director of Tennis before moving on to Houston.

Hinton graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 2007 where she played No. 1 singles and doubles on the tennis team. She was a two-time team captain for the Bearcats and was named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Conference USA/BIG EAST) in each of her four seasons. She was a first team selection on the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar team in 2006 and was a Cincinnati honoree of the Legion of Excellence Award in 2004. She also spent time working in the Compliance Office for UC Athletics.

Clare Horning Director of Internal and Championship Operations Clare Horning is in her first year as Director of Internal and Championship Operations for the Mountain East Conference.

Horning, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, came to the MEC after spending the last two years as the Operations Coordinator of the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) at Saint Martin de Porres High School. She coordinated daily transportation for students, along with payroll and orientations, and supervised events and pre-employment requirements for 125 companies. She also served as a liaison between the CWSP and business and admissions offices, in addition to serving on the school’s leadership team.

Horning graduated from Grand Valley State in 2013 with a degree in liberal studies with a minor in nonprofit administration and environmental studies.

During that time she worked at the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC) as a project coordinator where she was involved in event planning, fundraising and grant writing. She also was a Building Supervisor for the GVSU Recreation Center overseeing the facility and recreation staff.

With the appointment, Horning becomes a third generation athletics administrator. Her father, Brian, currently serves as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Director of Membership Services and her grandfather, Michael Cleary, founded NACDA 50 years ago.

Adam Zundell Senior Associate Commissioner of Communications Adam Zundell was named Associate Commissioner of Communications at the Mountain East Conference in July 2013. He was promoted to Senior Associate Commissioner in August of 2015.

Zundell directs and oversees all communications efforts for the league’s 17 sports and 16 championship events. He also serves as Chief of Staff in addition to working in an advisory capacity to the commissioner. Zundell is a member of the D2SIDA Board of Directors, the NCAA Atlantic Region Advisory Committee for men’s tennis and is the Atlantic Region coordinator for the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association men’s basketball team.

Zundell came to the MEC after spending seven years at Fairmont State as the Director of Athletic Communications and Marketing. He was in charge of the publicity of all 15 sports for the Falcons. He served as the editor and provided a majority of the content for fightingfalcons.com, in addition to overseeing the site’s redesign in 2010. He was in charge of the implementation and execution of the various social media utilized by the FSU department of athletics over the last several years, and also coordinated the school’s athletic webcasts.

Zundell wrote and edited all of Fairmont State’s media guides. The 2009 football media guide was rated third-best in the country by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the 2010 women’s basketball guide was awarded fourth-best in the nation.

In addition to his media relations responsibilities, he was instrumental in leading Fairmont State’s award-winning community engagement initiatives from 2009-12. FSU was recognized as having the top initiative in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for three-straight years, and the 2011 campaign, “Put Your Best Fairmont Forward,” was recognized by the NCAA as the best in country.

Prior to coming to Fairmont State, Zundell spent three years at the University of Maryland as an assistant sports information director. At Maryland, he was the primary media relations liaison for men’s soccer, wrestling and women’s lacrosse. He received national awards from CoSIDA and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) for publications and articles he generated.

The Fairmont, W.Va., native earned his bachelor’s degree from Wheeling Jesuit where he was a four-time All-WVIAC and three-time NCAA Division II Academic All-America performer in cross country, in addition to winning three individual conference titles in track. He was inducted into the school’s athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. He earned his master’s degree from West Virginia University and spent three years working in the sports communication office at WVU. Zundell and his wife Kelly are the parents of Drew (9), Tyler (7) and Cara (5).

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2/23/16 4:21 PM

Building

Winner

By RICH STEVENS

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Calling the ascension of the University of Charleston men’s soccer team to a legitimate NCAA Division II championship contention gradual isn’t a fair assessment for what has been accomplished with the Mountain East Conference program.

Even if coach Chris Grassie might disagree.

“It’s been five years since I’ve been here, so it hasn’t happened as quickly as I would’ve hoped,” said Grassie, who is coming off his team’s secondconsecutive appearance in the Final Four. “(Athletic director) Dr. Bren Stevens and Dr. (Edwin) Welch have been very supportive. We went through a little bit of a tightening of the belts when I first got here. After that difficult time we now have a little more put into the program. We have a reserve team and we’re bringing in more revenue to maintain a competitive level.”

Upon conclusion of the third season of the Mountain East Conference in December, the Golden Eagles were on top of arguably the nation’s best D2 league. While being atop the MEC is certainly one of the objectives for Grassie, the pursuit of a national championship still drives the man who left a job as a Division I assistant at Michigan in the Big Ten Conference to become the head coach at a Division II institution in West Virginia.

The progress that UC has made in men’s soccer over the last decade has been remarkable. The Golden Eagles were winless just eight year ago in 2007. A local success story was created when former Riverside and South Charleston high school standout and UC alumnus Chad Duernberger became coach and the Golden Eagles averaged 13 victories in three seasons (4-11-2 in 2008, 19-4-0 in 2009 and 16-4-1 in 2010) with two league titles.

Enter the well traveled Grassie, whose considerable experience as a player and coach has elevated the Golden Eagles from “also-ran” to running the MEC and helping give the league instant credibility.

When Grassie left Ann Arbor, his plan -- in the simplest of terms -- was to simply become a head coach. After all, he left a program at a university with almost 44,000 students and significantly more notoriety to one with an enrollment fewer than 1,600 and desperately lacking attention.

“I looked at a few opportunities to figure out what would be the right one for me and a job I could get,” said the 37-year-old. “There are so many good coaches out there and so many with professional coaching experience. It was difficult to find the right coaching job, especially at a place with as much potential.”

In his first three seasons, Grassie’s Golden Eagles were 38-13-5 before hitting their stride with a 22-1-1 mark and a runner-up finish in the championship game to Lynn University in 2014. The seasoned Knights held on for a 3-2 win against the newcomers to the national stage.

During its run to the championship match, Charleston outscored its postseason opponents 14-3. That included holding Bloomsburg (5-0), Mercyhurst (1-0), LIU Post (1-0) and Colorado Mesa (2-0) scoreless in the playoffs before meeting Lynn.

In 2015, UC spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the country and advanced to the Final Four for a second-straight year. The season ended in heartbreak again, though, while the Golden Eagles forced overtime in the semifinals against Pfeiffer with a goal in the 89th minute only to lose in the extra session, 2-1. UC arguably had the better run of play out-shooting the Falcons 20-10, but the Pfeiffer keeper Tomas Correa came up with nine big saves in the match.

The semifinal match seemingly pitted the best two teams in the country as Pfeiffer would go on to easily handle Cal Poly Pomona in the championship, 4-0, capping a 25-0-0 season for the Falcons. Pfeiffer coach Bob Reasso spent 29 seasons as the head coach at Rutgers amassing over 350 wins and taking the Scarlet Knights to the 1990 championship match before returning to rebuild his alma mater in 2012.

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Pushing the eventual national champions, and perhaps one of the best Division II men’s soccer teams in history (Pfeiffer became the first team to go unbeaten and untied since 1999) and the first since 1972 to win 25 matches in a season) to the brink did not provide any solace for the coach whose expectations of himself outweigh those anybody else could have.

“Last year (2014) I thought we were the best team in the Final Four,” Grassie said. “That’s something that keeps me up nights, winning a national championship … being so close to it over the last two years.”

In five seasons at Charleston, Grassie owns a sparkling 80-17-6 record.

Despite the graduation of two players in December and the impending graduation of eight more in the spring, Grassie said the program is in a good place.

“Those are guys that have been here four years with me,” said Grassie, who still will return two of his top three leading scorers, Will Roberts and Felipe Antonio, but loses 75 points from last year with the loss of Augusto Maciel, Lewis Osborne, Renan Ramos, Conor Branson and Leighton Richards.

“Whether or not we can maintain that level will be decided next year. I’m pretty confident we can. When you become a top program, it’s a little easier to attract recruits.”

What’s also attractive to recruits is scoring goals. The Golden Eagles averaged 4.2 goals per game in 2014 on its way to the title game and still 3.6 last season despite the fact that opponents came into games with a defensive mentality.

“Teams didn’t respect us as much (in 2014),” he said. “We played a lot more teams in 2015 that really set in defensively and teams were more open against us two years ago. It’s a lot more pressure in 2015 being to the national title game.”

It won’t change and UC won’t be receiving any sympathy from MEC opponents. The conference had three teams finish in the top 25 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings -- UC at 6th, Notre Dame 15th and Urbana 21st. All three of those teams earned bids

to the NCAA Tournament. Further evidence of the strength of the MEC is the fact that the Golden Eagles’ only regular season losses came to a Wheeling Jesuit team that just missed an NCAA bid.

Despite the overall success of the UC program, it’s the national championship that Grassie will keep vying for. While he has aspirations at perhaps returning to Division I, Grassie says he’s in no hurry.

“I think down the road for sure,” he said. “I’m very happy where I am now.

I feel we’re being supported enough by Dr. Stevens and Dr. Welch. We have a better program. It will be very, very difficult to find a situation that at least rivals to what I have here.”

A situation that he hopes includes hoisting an NCAA Championship trophy … soon.

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2015 MEC Basketball Tournament Recaps West Liberty Takes 2015 Tournament Title After the regular season ended in a three-way tie, West Liberty came away with the 2015 MEC Women’s Basketball Tournament title.

For the second-straight year UVa-Wise pulled an opening round upset defeating Concord. The Cavaliers would then push top-seeded West Liberty to double overtime before eventually falling 73-68. The Hilltoppers would need overtime once again to defeat cross-town rival Wheeling Jesuit, this time prevailing 70-62, to advance to the championship game.

Sixth-seeded Notre Dame upset third-seeded Charleston to advance to the semifinals, where it then knocked off second-seeded Shepherd, 75-65. The triumphs marked wins over two of the three regular season co-champions for the Falcons in back-to-back nights.

In the final, Notre Dame held a one-point lead after a back-and-forth first half, but the Hilltoppers clamped down on the Falcons in the second half allowing just five NDC field goals and 16 points as WLU won 76-55. Tournament MVP Kailee Howe turned in eight points and 12 assists in the final and helped WLU shoot 50 percent from the field in the victory. Kierra Simpson had a doubledouble with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Hillary Southworth scored 14 in a gutsy performance. Martha Nagbe led Notre Dame with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Kelsey Miller contributed 15 points and seven boards.

2015 MEC All-Tournament Team Jaila Bryant (Wheeling Jesuit), Gabby Flinchum (Shepherd), Lauren Langenderfer (Notre Dame), Martha Nagbe (Notre Dame), Kierra Simpson (West Liberty), Hillary Southworth (West Liberty), Keyanna Tate (Glenville State) Tournament MVP: Kailee Howe (West Liberty) Tournament Sportsmanship Award: Martha Nagbe (Notre Dame) Commissioner’s Heart and Hustle Award: Hillary Southworth (West Liberty) Highest Scoring Average: Keyanna Tate (Glenville State), 33.5 ppg

Glenville Wins Four To Win Title

2015 MEC All-Tournament Team

Despite not receiving a first-round bye by finishing fifth in the league, Glenville State got hot and won four-straight to claim the 2015 MEC Men’s Basketball Tournament title.

Higher seeds prevailed in all of the opening round matchups, but sixthseeded Wheeling Jesuit delivered the first upset of the tournament by taking down third-seeded Concord in the opening round. The Cardinals could not pull it off for a second time the next night in the semifinals against Fairmont State as the Falcons pulled away in the final 10 minutes to win by a 73-63 margin and advance to the finals.

Glenville State defeated third-seeded Charleston, 7362, in the quarterfinals before pulling the upset of the tournament knocking off top-seeded and top-ranked West Liberty, 83-68, to advance to the championship game.

In the finals, the game was close throughout and was tied with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Pioneers allowed just three field goals from FSU in that stretch and took that opportunity to pull away from the Falcons for the final 65-58 margin. The win marked Glenville State’s first conference tournament title since 1974. MEC Tournament MVP Donte Morales had 21 points in the final, while Sedric Nady had 15 points and Brett Morris contributed a doubledouble with 10 points and 11 boards. Fairmont State was led by 19 points from Thomas Wimbush.

Pat Moseh (Wheeling Jesuit), C.J. Hester (West Liberty), Thomas Wimbush (Fairmont State), Nick Harney (Fairmont State), Jamel Morris (Fairmont State) Sedric Nady (Glenville State), Reggie Williams (Glenville State) Tournament MVP: Donte Morales (Glenville State) Tournament Sportsmanship Award: Brien Winston (Glenville State) Commissioner’s Heart and Hustle Award: Thomas Wimbush (Fairmont State) Highest Scoring Average: Lawrence DeArmond (Notre Dame), 24 ppg

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MEC MEN’S BASKETBALL INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT RECORDS POINTS

THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE

ASSISTS

72........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

13........ Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

18........ Denzel Douglas, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

63........ Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

12........ Brett Ervin, W.Va. Wesleyan, 2014 (2 games)

14........ Eric Siefert, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

62........ Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2014 (2 games)

Xavier Humphrey, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

Cedric Harris, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

60........ Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

10........ Justin Fritts, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

14........ Reggie Williams, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

56........ Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

10........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

13........ Justin Fritts, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

10........ Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games) Shammgod Wells, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

SCORING AVERAGE (MIN 3 GAMES) 20.0..... Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

18.7..... Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014

29........ Xavier Humphrey, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

STEALS

18.3..... CJ Hester, West Liberty, 2014

27........ Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

9.......... Denzel Douglas, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

18.0..... Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015

21........ Brett Ervin, W.Va. Wesleyan, 2014 (2 games)

8.......... Juwan Wells, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

16.0..... Xavier Humphrey, Charleston, 2014

20........ Justin Fritts, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

7.......... Eric Siefert, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

20........ Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

6.......... Derrick Sanderfer Jr., Urbana, 2014 (1 game) 6.......... Pat Moseh, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

SCORING AVERAGE (MIN 2 GAMES)

6.......... Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

31.0..... Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2014

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

25.0..... Justin Fritts, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014

(MIN 5 MADE)

24.0..... Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2015

.727 (8-11) ........ Devin Hoehn, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

BLOCKED SHOTS

23.5..... Andre Harris, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014

.625 (5-8) .......... Matt Csuhran, Urbana, 2015 (1 game)

10........ Trevor Andrews-Evans, Fairmont State, 2014 (2 games)

22.0..... Eric Siefert, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014

.615 (8-13) ........ Chase Morgan, Fairmont State, 2014 (2 games)

7.......... Keene Cockburn, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

.600 (6-10) ........ Eric Siefert, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

6.......... Morgan McDonald, Shepherd, 2014 (2 games)

.571 (12-21) ...... Brett Ervin, W.Va. Wesleyan, 2014 (2 games)

6.......... Haywood Highsmith, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

FIELD GOALS MADE

6.......... Brett Morris, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

25........ Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2014 (2 games) 23........ CJ Hester, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

FREE THROWS MADE

23........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

16........ Pat Moseh, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

21........ Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 4 games)

16........ Tyree Gaiter, Notre Dame, 2015 (2 games)

19........ Andre Harris, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

16........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

Denzel Dougas, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

16........ Brett Morris, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games) FREE THROW ATTEMPTS FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

23........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

44........ Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2014 (2 games)

23........ Brett Morris, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

42........ Reggie Williams, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

22........ Tyree Gaiter, Notre Dame, 2015 (2 games)

41........ Donte Morales, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

21........ Pat Moseh, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

39........ Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games) 35........ Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (MIN 10 MADE)

35........ Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

1.000 (12-12).... Matt Stewart, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

35........ Thomas Wimbush, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

.929 (13-14) ...... Tyree Gaiter, Notre Dame, 2014 (2 games) .917 (11-12) ...... Shawn Dyer, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (MIN 15 MADE)

.857 (12-14) ...... Aleksander Kesic, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

.793 (23-29) ...... CJ Hester, West Liberty, 2014 (3 games)

.846 (11-13) ...... Jamel Morris, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

.654 (17-26) ...... Lawrence DeArmond, Notre Dame, 2015 (2 games) .643 (18-28) ...... Eric Siefert, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

REBOUNDS

.600 (21-35) ...... Sedric Nady, Glenville State, 2015 (4 games)

31........ Fred Simpson, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

.576 (19-33) ...... Andre Harris, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games)

31........ Haywood Highsmith, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

.576 (19-33) ...... Denzel Douglas, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

28........ Morgan McDonald, Shepherd, 2014 (2 games) Geovonte Rose, Notre Dame, 2014 (2 games) 26........ Nick Harney, Fairmont State, 2015 (3 games)

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MEC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SINGLE GAME RECORDS POINTS

FREE THROWS MADE

33........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15)

12 ...................... Charles George (UVa-Wise) vs. Wheeling Jesuit

32........ Justin Fritts (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

(3/4/14)

32........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. West Liberty (3/7/14)

Deon Boyce (UVa-Wise) vs. Wheeling Jesuit

32........ Jamel Morris (FSU) vs. Notre Dame (3/6/15)

(3/4/14)

31........ Matt Csuhran (UU) at Wheeling Jesuit)

Aleksander Kesic (UC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/14)

FIELD GOALS

FREE THROW ATTEMPTS

14........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/4/14)

16........ Charles George (UVa-Wise) vs. Wheeling Jesuit

12........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15)

(3/4/14)

11........ Justin Fritts (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

14........ Deon Boyce (UVa-Wise) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/4/14)

11........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. West Liberty (3/7/14)

14........ Tyree Gaiter (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15)

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (MIN 8 FTM)

25........ Lawrence DeArmond (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/4/14)

.917 (11-12) ...... Aleksander Kesic (UC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/14)

20........ Brantley Osborne (SU) vs. Concord (3/4/14)

.889 (8-9) .......... Tyree Gaiter (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/4/14)

20........ Andre Harris (WJU) vs. Charleston (3/7/14)

.889 (8-9) .......... Danny Goins (UU) vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (3/4/14)

20........ Stevie Browning (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14) 20........ Rob Reed (CU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/15)

REBOUNDS 21........ Geovonte Rose (NDC) vs. W.Va. State (3/4/14)

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (MIN 10

17........ Tanner McGrew (WVWC) vs. Shepherd (3/3/15)

ATTEMPTS)

16........ Morgan McDonald (SU) vs. Concord (3/4/14)

.900 (9-10) ........ C.J. Hester (WLU) vs. Fairmont State (3/8/14)

14........ Fred Simpson (UC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/14)

.900 (9-10) ........ Damion Harris (WVSU) at Notre Dame (3/3/15)

13........ Kyle Ritz (WJU) vs. Charleston (3/7/14)

.769 (10-13) ...... Andre Harris (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

Trevor Andrews-Evans (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

.750 (9-12) ........ Deon Boyce (UVa-Wise) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/4/14)

ASSISTS 10........ Eric Siefert (WJU) vs. Charleston (3/7/14)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS

9.......... Denzel Douglas (UC) vs. Glenville State (3/8/14)

9.......... Jamel Morris (FSU) vs. Notre Dame (3/6/15)

8.......... Shawn Dyer (WLU) vs. Notre Dame (3/7/14)

8.......... Brett Ervin (WVWC) vs. Urbana (3/4/14)

Shammgod Wells (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

6.......... Justin Fritts (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14) Xavier Humphrey (UC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/14)

STEALS

Chase Morgan (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

6.......... Derrick Sanderfer Jr. (UU) vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (3/4/14) 5.......... Eric Siefert (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

Kyle Ritz (WJU) vs. Charleston (3/7/14)

15........ Jamel Morris (FSU) vs. Notre Dame (3/6/15)

Pat Moseh (WJU) vs. Fairmont State (3/7/15)

14........ Brett Ervin (WVWC) vs. Urbana (3/4/14) 11........ Bo King (WVSU) vs. Notre Dame (3/4/14)

BLOCKS

Brantley Osborne (SU) vs. Concord (3/4/14)

7.......... Trevor Andrews-Evans (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

Justin Fritts (WJU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

4.......... Keene Cockburn (WLU) vs. Fairmont State (3/8/14)

Xavier Humphrey (UC) vs. Glenville State (3/8/14)

4.......... Morgan McDonald (SU) vs. West Liberty (3/6/15)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (MIN 5 3FGM) .667 (6-9) .......... Xavier Humphrey (UC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/14) .667 (6-9) .......... Chase Morgan (FSU) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

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MEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL INDIVIDUAL RECORDS POINTS

THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE

REBOUNDS

69........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games)

11........ Kenyell Goodson, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games)

39........ Kierra Simpson, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

67........ Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games)

9.......... Hillary Southworth, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (3 games)

32........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame, 2015 (4 games)

50........ Lexy Carson, W.Va. State, 2014 (2 games)

8.......... DeVonyea Johnson, Urbana, 2014 (2 games)

29........ Kiara Johnson, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

6.......... LeAnne Ross, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

26........ Aesha Peters, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games)

Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games) 49........ Hillary Southworth, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

Ginny Mills, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games) Rachel Johnson, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

SCORING AVERAGE (MIN 3 GAMES)

Blair Harding, UVa-Wise, 2015 (2 games)

23........ Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games) Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games) ASSISTS 21........ Kailee Howe, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

17.3..... Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games) 16.3..... Hillary Southworth, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

16........ Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

14.3..... Chyress Lockhart, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

25........ Kenyell Goodson, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games)

12........ Makenzie White, Fairmont State, 2014 (2 games)

13.7..... Kenyell Goodson, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games)

23........ Blair Harding, UVa-Wise, 2015 (2 games)

11........ Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2014 (2 games)

13.0..... Kierra Simpson, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

10........ Lexie Taylor, Urbana, 2014 (2 games)

21........ Ginny Mills, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games) SCORING AVERAGE (MIN 2 GAMES)

17........ Hillary Southworth, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

25.0..... Lexy Carson, W.Va. State, 2014 (2 games) Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

STEALS 13........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2014 (4 games)

33.5..... Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games) THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

8.......... Deidra Combs, Fairmont State, 2014 (2 games)

(MIN 5 MADE)

7.......... Kenzie Poindexter, UVa-Wise, 2014 (2 games)

23.5..... Hallie Gunnoe, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

.556 (5-9) .......... Jessica Garcia, Notre Dame, 2015 (4 games)

22.5..... DeVonyea Johnson, Urbana, 2014 (2 games)

.529 (9-17) ........ Hillary Southworth, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

Tasia Bistow, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games) 6.......... Five Times

Jaila Bryant, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (2 games)

.500 (8-16) ........ DeVonyea Johnson, Urbana, 2014 (2 games)

Hailey Garrett, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

.500 (6-12) ........ LeAnne Ross, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

BLOCKED SHOTS

.500 (5-10) ........ Makenzie Cluesman, UVa-Wise, 2014 (2 games)

12........ Aesha Peters, Glenville State, 2014 (3 games)

FIELD GOALS MADE

.500 (5-10) ........ Tess Zufall, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

Kierra Simpson, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games) 6.......... Asia Greenleaf, W.Va. State, 2014 (2 games)

26........ Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games) 20........ Jaila Bryant, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (2 games)

FREE THROWS MADE

............ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games)

25........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games)

18........ Hallie Gunnoe, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

21........ Taylor Sandidge, UVa-Wise, 2015 (2 games)

Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games) 4.......... Four Times

18........ Lauren Langenderfer, Notre Dame College, 2015 FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 50........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame, 2015 (4 games)

(4 games) 16........ Chyress Lockhart, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

44........ Hillary Southworth, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

Briana Vaden, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

39........ Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2014 (2 games)

Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

Liz Flowers, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games) Jaila Bryant, Wheeling Jesuit, 2015 (2 games)

FREE THROW ATTEMPTS

Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games)

36........ Martha Nagbe, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games) 29........ Taylor Sandidge, UVa-Wise, 2015 (2 games)

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (MIN 15 MADE) .739 (17-23) Kierra Simpson, West Liberty, 2015 (3 games)

24........ Lauren Langenderfer, Notre Dame College, 2015 (4 games)

.680 (17-25) Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

23........ Chyress Lockhart, Charleston, 2014 (3 games)

.667 (26-39) Keyanna Tate, Glenville State, 2015 (2 games)

22........ Gabby Flinchum, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games)

.581 (18-31) Hallie Gunnoe, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games) .571 (16-28) Hailey Garrett, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (MIN 10 MADE) 1.000 (11-11) .... Taneka Lewis, Wheeling Jesuit, 2014 (2 games) .941 (16-17) ...... Briana Vaden, Shepherd, 2015 (2 games) .917 (11-12) ...... Rachel Ward, W.Va. State, 2015 (1 game) .909 (10-11) ...... Hallie Gunnoe, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games) .867 (13-15) ...... Hailey Garrett, Fairmont State, 2015 (2 games)

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MEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SINGLE GAME RECORDS FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS

FREE THROW ATTEMPTS

26........ Jaila Bryant (WJU) vs. West Liberty (3/7/15)

16........ Taylor Sandidge (WISE) vs. Concord (3/3/15)

24........ Andrea Bertrand (CU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/4/14)

14........ Chyress Lockhart (UC) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

22........ Martha Nagbe (NDC) vs. West Liberty (3/8/15) 21........ Kayla Carey (WISE) vs. West Liberty (3/5/15)

Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/315) 13........ Four Times

20........ Three Times FREE THROW PERCENTAGE (MIN 8 FTM) FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (MIN 10

1.000 (9-9) ........ Cara Mason (SU) vs. Urbana (3/4/14)

ATTEMPTS)

.917 (11-12) ...... Rachel Ward (WVSU) vs. Glenville State (3/3/15)

.769 (10-13) ...... Jaila Bryant (WJU) vs. Fairmont State (3/5/15)

.917 (11-12) ...... Briana Vaden (SU) vs. Glenville State (3/5/15)

.727 (8-11) ........ Hailey Garrett (FSU) vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (3/4/14)

.833 (10-12) ...... Hailey Garrett (FSU) vs. Urbana (3/3/15)

.714 (10-14) ...... Hailey Garrett (FSU) vs. Urbana (3/3/15)

.800 (8-10) ........ Kate Francisco (UU) vs. Shepherd (3/4/14)

.700 (14-20) ...... Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15) .632 (12-19) ...... Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. Shepherd (3/5/15)

REBOUNDS 17........ Jaana Motton (WJU) vs. West Liberty (3/7/15)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS

16........ Kiara Johnson (UC) vs. Urbana (3/6/14)

6.......... Kenyell Goodson (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/8/14)

Kierra Simpson (WLU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/16)

5.......... Makenzie Cluesman (UVa-Wise) vs. Notre Dame

13........ Shealyn Shafer (WVSU) vs. Glenville State (3/8/14)

............ Jenn Mohney (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/6/14)

Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. Shepherd (3/5/15)

............ Ginny Mills (GSC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/14) 4.......... Ten Times

ASSISTS 12........ Kailee Howe (WLU) vs. Notre Dame (3/8/15)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS 13........ Kenyell Goodson (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/8/14)

9.......... Makenzie White (FSU) vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (3/4/14) Liz Flowers (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/6/14)

12........ Blair Harding (WISE) vs. West Liberty (3/5/15)

8.......... Lexie Taylor (UU) vs. Shepherd (3/4/14)

11........ Ginny Mills (GSC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/14)

7.......... Five Times

............ Blair Harding (WISE) vs. Concord (3/3/15) 10........ Jenn Mohney (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/6/14)

STEALS

............ Liz Flowers (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/5/15)

6.......... Tasia Bistow (GSC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/14)

THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

5.......... Six players

Martha Nagbe (NDC) vs. W.Va. Wesleyan (3/3/15) (MIN 5 3FGM) .625 (5-8)

Makenzie Cluesman (UVa-Wise) vs. Notre Dame

BLOCKS

(3/4/14)

5.......... Aesha Peters (GSC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/14)

.500 (5-10) Jenn Mohney (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/6/14)

Aesha Peters (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/8/14)

POINTS

.462 (6-13) Kenyell Goodson (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/8/14)

Kierra Simpson (WLU) vs. UVa-Wise (3/5/15)

37........ Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15)

.455 (5-11) Ginny Mills (GSC) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/6/14)

Kierra Simpson (WLU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/7/15) 4.......... Erin Entinghe (NDC) vs. UVa-Wise (3/4/14)

30........ Hailey Garrett (FSU) vs. Urbana (3/3/15) 30........ Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. Shepherd (3/5/15)

FREE THROWS

28........ Andrea Bertrand (CU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/4/14)

12........ Taylor Sandidge (WISE) vs. Concord (3/3/15)

26........ Lexy Carson (WVSU) vs. Glenville State (3/8/14)

11........ Rachel Ward (WVSU) vs. Glenville State (3/3/15)

FIELD GOALS

10........ Chyress Lockhart (UC) vs. West Liberty (3/8/14)

Briana Vaden (SU) vs. Glenville State (3/5/15) 14........ Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. W.Va. State (3/3/15)

Hailey Garrett (FSU) vs. Urbana (3/3/15)

12........ Keyanna Tate (GSC) vs. Shepherd (3/5/15) 11........ Hallie Gunnoe (FSU) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (3/5/15) 10........ Five Times

47

46 WBB Tourney Records.indd 47

2/23/16 4:39 PM

48 Ad.indd 48

2/23/16 5:05 PM

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