Football Evens Dixie Mark

Volleyball Loses Three as Ruder Earns All-Dixie XC Honors

For More Information Contact: Scott Musa, 540.665.5417

MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Shenandoah University football team evened its Dixie Conference record at 2-2 Saturday afternoon with a 28-7 victory over Chowan College before 819 fans at Garrison Stadium in Murfreesboro, N.C.

Shenandoah (2-5, 2-2) used a pair of first quarter touchdowns on interception returns to get its first ever win over Chowan (0-7, 0-4). Junior Tavan Mair (Winchester, Va./Sherando) gave the visitors the early lead at the 4:13 mark when he intercepted Josh Floyd's pass at the SU 7 and raced a school record 93 yards for the opening score.

Four plays later, junior Bryson McKenzie (Fort Meade, Md./Meade) matched Mair's feat when he snatched Floyd's pass at the SU 45 and weaved his way to paydirt. This would prove to be the winning score as the SU defense forced six Braves turnovers, including a Shenandoah school record four interceptions.

The Hornets offense got into the act with 7:19 to play in the first half when freshman Dana Earley (Sterling, Va./Park View) capped a seven play, 72 yard drive with a five yard touchdown run. The touchdown was also the first of Earley's SU career.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the drive cost the Hornets their starting quarterback for the rest of the afternoon. Junior Wayne Hogwood (Arlington, Va./Wakefield), who was 2 for 3 for 91 yards up to this point, dislocated his thumb on his throwing hand during the drive and was unable to play in the second half. He is probable for next week's game against Averett.

Freshman JJ Brown (King George, Va./King George) came on in relief of Hogwood in the second half and directed an 11 play, 96 yard drive midway through the fourth that made the score 28-0. He had four carries for 23 yards and was 2 for 4 for 20 yards passing in his first significant varsity experience of the season.

Brown's second completion of the afternoon, a 19-yarder to classmate Juan Parker (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) on 4th and 8 from the Chowan 34, kept the final scoring drive alive.

The Braves finally got on the board with a Drew Townes 49 yard touchdown run at the 3:57 mark against Shenandoah defense that was playing a number of reserves. The Hornets then drove the ball to the Chowan 5 before kneeling on the ball for the last two plays of the game.

Earley led SU with 56 yards on just six carries while Robart added 51 yards on 12 rushes and Anthony McGhee (Reston, Va./South Lakes) had 13 attempts for 49 yards. The Hornets outgained Chowan 372 to 266, including 261 to 173 on the ground.

Sophomore Jesse Hardesty (Broadway, Va./Broadway) led the defense with 11 tackles while Eddie Freeman (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) and Gregg Anderson (Clifton, Va./Robinson) both added eight. Anderson also had his team leading fourth pick of the season.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/fb/2002/102602.htm

The Hornets return to Shentel Stadium for the first time in nearly a month next Saturday night against Averett University.

Volleyball

DANVILLE, Va./GREENSBORO, N.C. – The volleyball team failed in its three attempts this past weekend to achieve its 10^th victory of the season as the Hornets dropped matches at Averett and Greensboro and to Methodist.

Sophomore Hannah Williams (Salem, Va./Glenvar) had 10 kills Friday evening at Averett, but it was not enough to stave off the Lady Cougars (30-18, 30-21, 30-22) sweep. Lesley Beard (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) was the only other player in double figures. She had 24 assists.

The Greensboro match was a heartbreaker; SU lost in three to the second place Pride but played its most competitive match ever in the 29-31, 18-30, 32-34 loss. Freshman Caroline Crocker (Stanardsville, Va./William Monroe) had a team high 11 kills while Beard had 19 assists and 10 digs.

Williams matched Crocker’s kills total in the Methodist match, but the Lady Monarchs gained a split of the season series with a 30-26, 21-30, 32-30, 30-13 triumph. Four of six players posted at least 10 digs; junior Tara Russell ( Williamsport , Md. /Hagerstown CC) had a match high 17.

Complete box scores and plays by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/vb/2002/teamstat.htm

The Hornets host Ferrum College Wednesday evening in their 2002 home finale. The match starts at 7:00.

Cross Country

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshman Aimee Ruder (Merrillville, Ind./Purdue) led the SU women’s team to a third place finish at the Dixie Conference Championships Saturday afternoon at Hagen Stone Park in Greensboro, N.C.

Ruder ran the 5000 meter course in 26:23 to finish 14^th and claim the final spot on the All-Dixie Conference squad. Sophomore Erin West (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) just missed joining Ruder on the All-Conference team with a 27:25, 16^th place finish.

The Hornet women had 107 points to finish three points in front of fourth place Methodist. This ties the 1997 team for the best ever finish for the team.

The men finished sixth at the race; freshman Greg Ziegler (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) was the top finisher with a 31:53, 26^th place performance.

Complete results are posted on the Dixie Conference web site at http://www.dixieconference.com

Shenandoah University offers 16 intercollegiate sports, eight for men and eight for women. For further information, please contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 540-665-5417 or visit our web site at http://www.su.edu/athletics. For Dixie Conference Information, please visit the Dixie Conference home page:

Shenandoah University is a comprehensive Level V private university with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in five schools: School of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy and the School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Respiratory Care, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy). The University offers more than 60 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.