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Girls Tennis reloads with new
talent
By Mark Brockett
If you were to ask the UIS
women’s tennis coach Dominic Giacomini what he expects from his
team this year, he would tell you that the team should do just
as well or even better than last year’s NAIA national qualifier.
Entering his fifteenth year of
coaching UIS women’s tennis, coach “Dom” looks for his team to
carry the same energy and ambition that last year’s team had,
and said that it will be a complete team effort, including the
two new freshmen capital scholars Jennifer Gebben and Jennifer
Cloyd.
“We are going to carry off that
aspiration of returning to nationals and look to duplicate the
record that we achieved last year as well,” said Giacomini.
“There is a tradition of good teams that we’ve had here at UIS
and we want to show our two new players that by returning to
nationals.”
UIS has gone to the national
tournament eight times in Giacomini’s tenure as head coach.
Assisting him this season and for the last two seasons is former
UIS men’s tennis player Ivan Czwan.
Gebben and Cloyd come into the
fold after very solid high school careers. Gebben attended
Casey-Westfield High School, qualified for state with her school
twice, and was an All State Honorable Mention in 2003. She
compiled a doubles record of 29-4 her senior year. Cloyd
attended Normal Community High School, where they went to state
three times in her career. She was a Big 12 scholar-athlete and
was named to the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association
All State 3rd team in doubles.
“Tennis here at UIS is fun since
we all are working together to get something accomplished,” said
Gebben. “It was obvious when I got here that there is a drive to
get back to nationals.”
For that drive, UIS will also
look for senior leadership, particularly from Georgina Wulfers,
four year players Jennifer Poss and Christina Tabayoyong, and
Erin Sibley. Wulfers returns as the team’s number one player in
that she plays the top players from each school in singles and
doubles. “Basically, I want us to play well and do even better
this season,” said Wulfers.
The team plays a short fall
season which will conclude with the ITA tournament held at the
end of September. The Stars return to action in the Spring with
the hope that they will achieve their team goals and return to
the national tournament once again.
Building Traditions at UIS
By Jason Stuebe
As many of you out there in
Prairie Star land can remember, it wasn’t too long ago that
student support and excitement for varsity athletics was
lacking. Let’s be honest – I used to work in a funeral home and
heard louder chants. Those days are now over, much to the
enjoyment of our current student-athletes I’m sure.
The enthusiasm of
the UIS student contingent has gone through the roof thanks to
the crazies that make up the UIS Blue Crew and its unofficial
derivative the Brew Crew – both of which I hold proud
memberships to.
It all started a
year ago when people took notice that there was something
missing at UIS events. Duke had their Cameron Crazies; our
parent to the east had the Orange Krush and Texas A&M had the
Twelfth Man. What did we have? Not much of anything. The next
thing you know, we have t-shirts, some organization, a fight
song, and even a custom-fitted foam star – albeit with a bit of
a constipated look on his face.
Not all was wine and
roses, however. In that true collegiate spirit, people showed
up for the free shirt and not much else. A few of the loyalists
hung around all year long but it was nothing to get too excited
about. Now, it’s anything short of amazing.
The aptly named
Assembly Closet that constitutes our current facility is now
filled with guys racing on mini bikes and scooters, bawdy chants
that irk the competition and the awesome support of UIS athletes
– win or lose. I don’t think there was any doubt that the Blue
Crew helped push the volleyball team to two five-game matches
against two tough opponents just a few weeks ago.
What’s the point of
all this you ask? We often hear that college is what you make
of it. So too is the social and traditional aspect of it. At
UIS, we don’t have the luxury of a century and a half of
tradition handed down from our predecessors. Nevertheless,
what we do have is the ability to build our own traditions and
that is something we should all take with a sense of commitment,
duty, and a little bit of fun.
UIS is at a major
threshold in nearly every aspect. We have the potential of
being great - academically, socially, and athletically. Teams
are starting to dread entering that cracker box of an arena and
field and our own competitors can now play with an extra bounce
in their step. Let’s hope that continues throughout the year
and traditions continue to be built.
In the meantime, my
hat is off to the Blue Crew - you guys rock. For more
information on joining the Blue Crew, be sure to stop Brad Ward
or Matt Wallace at any UIS athletic event and as always, go
Stars!
Prairie Star of
the Week
By Jason Stuebe
After a
year-long absence, Prairie Star of the Week is back – and if you
don’t get excited for the Prairie Star of the Week, I suggest
you get your pulse checked.
UIS head coach Joe Fisher knew the potential was there for
Danielle Crossen. Before the season even started he dubbed her,
along with Lauren Sanders, as being “terminating outside
hitters.” And this junior transfer from Lake Land College has
done nothing but live up to that title.
In only
13 matches, Crossen has amassed an astounding 169 kills as of
last week’s tournament in Asbury. To put that in perspective,
Sarah Stratton led the team last year with 222 respectively.
Helping
the Stars regain their footing to make a charge at the AMC
conference tournament, Crossen has been named to all three
Tournament Teams in the tourneys that the Stars have played in
thus far - Springfield, Columbia, and Asbury.
Crossen’s talent hasn’t just appeared out of nowhere, as she has
brought home the hardware wherever she has played. Assisting
her former LLC Lakers to a ninth place showing in the NJCAA
National Tournament, she racked up accolades as being named to
the First Team All Region 24 team and the First Team All Region
24 Tournament team – not to mention her status as graduating LLC
magna cum laude and on the dean’s list.
Well,
Ms. Crossen, you can now add the most coveted prize of them all
– Prairie Star of the Week courtesy of the UIS Sports Writers
and Broadcasters Association.
You can
catch Danielle and all the other UIS volleyball talent tonight,
September 15th as the Stars return home to open up
conference action against nationally ranked Columbia.
Snapshots
Men’s Soccer
UIS vs. Lindenwood (Columbia, KY)
The UIS men dropped their second straight game as they fell to
second ranked Lindenwood 5-1 in last Friday’s match-up at the
KELME Classic. The Prairie Stars were outshot 21-8 with Michael
Hutchinson coming up with the only UIS goal with a late game
penalty kick. The Stars fell to 2-2 on the season.
UIS vs. Lindsey Wilson (Columbia, KY)
The Stars dropped their third consecutive game in a 4-0 route
against fourth ranked LWC. UIS was out shot yet again 21-12 in
the lopsided match. The Stars now hold a 2-3 record in the
regular season while LWC improved to 5-0-1.
The Stars hope to regain their footing this weekend in the John
Brown Tournament in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Women’s Volleyball
The UIS women are ranked fifth in the NAIA Region V poll taken
last week and are currently embroiled in a fight for second
place in the American Midwest Conference behind Columbia
College.
Women’s Tennis
UIS vs. Illinois Wesleyan (Washington Park, Springfield)
The Prairie Stars dropped their first game of the fall season in
a tough 6-3 match up last Friday against Illinois Wesleyan. The
Stars are now 1-1 in fall ball play and will take on Lewis and
Clark next Friday at Washington Park.
Aside from being competitive on the court, the Prairie Star
women have also proved to be competitive in the classroom as
they have been one of the 16 named to the NAIA 2004 Scholar Team
with a 3.39 GPA.
Women’s Softball
The ladies of the diamond take to the home field for the first
time this fall season next Sunday, September 19th against
Blackburn College. The Stars who are 1-1 are scheduled to throw
the first pitch at noon.
CAMPUS
RECREATIONAL SPORTS BRIEFS
Intramural Sports 9x9 Softball
and 6x6 Sand Volleyball
Intramurals
began this past weekend. Will Work For Sets had a victorious
weekend defeating the Cowboys 30-13, 30-18 and Tikea 30-12,
30-7. The Ramrods also came out winners beating the Cowboys
30-21, 30-23 and Tikea 30-19, 30-14. Good Luck to all our
volleyball teams this coming weekend, matches begin at 11 am on
Saturday. Intramural Softball also brought some excitement to
the field this past weekend. Congrats to The Beanfield Ballers,
Old School, U Is?, and Webb’s Team for all having a victory.
Old School defeated U Is? 21-15, luckily U Is? was able to come
back and defeat Webb’s team 16-6. Good luck to all the teams
this weekend when games resume on Saturday at 1:30 pm.
Fall
2004 Milers’ Club
It’s not too
late to sign up for the milers’ club! The UIS Milers’ Club is
“up and running” through November 21st. This is a
13-week activity that promotes cardiovascular fitness through
unstructured recreational activities in which participants
choose when and where to exercise. A 130-mile goal (just 10
miles a week) is the minimum, but participants are encouraged to
set higher goals if they wish. The Milers’ Club is a free
activity but you must sign up by registering at the CRS office
with a valid I-card.
Informal Open Recreation Hours for 2004-05
The Rec
Center (Fitness Center and Gym) will be open Monday – Thursday
8am until 11pm; Friday 10am-8pm; Saturday 10am – 4pm; and Sunday
2 – 8pm. These hours are subject to change during campus
vacation periods or scheduled events.
How Can I
Learn About Campus Rec Sports News?
Send an Email to
RecSports@uis.edu too be
included in the 2004-2005 Campus Rec Sports News List to receive
personal up-to-date information about future events and
activities. Go to your UIS e-mail account and click on “Public
Folders>All Public Folders>UIS>Announcements” then click on
“Student or Campus” (depending on your status) to read the
e-mail announcements sent out by UIS RecSports. Check out the
website at
www.uis.edu/recsports/. Contact the Campus Recreational
Sports (CRS) Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) or
call 206-6658.
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