FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8-20-07

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

• Monday, August 20
No Events Scheduled

• Tuesday, August 21
No Events Scheduled

• Wednesday, August 22
No Events Scheduled

• Thursday, August 23
No Events Scheduled

• Friday, August 24
Volleyball at Christian Brothers Tournament (Memphis, Tenn.)
AASU vs. Christian Brothers, 10:00 a.m.
AASU vs. Harding, 4:00 p.m.
Women's Soccer vs. Nova Southeastern (@ Tampa, Fla.), 5:00 p.m.

• Saturday, August 25
Volleyball at Christian Brothers Tournament (Memphis, Tenn.)
AASU vs. Belhaven, 10:00 a.m.
AASU vs. Ouachita Baptist, 4:00 p.m.

• Sunday, August 26
Women's Soccer at Florida Southern, 1:00 p.m.

Soccer

The Armstrong Atlantic State women's soccer squad opens up its third season of competition this week, traveling to Florida to take on two teams from the Sunshine State Conference in season-opening action.

The Pirates will face Nova Southeastern on Friday, August 24, at 5:00 p.m. on the University of Tampa’s campus. AASU will then travel up I-4 to Lakeland, Fla., to take on Florida Southern on Sunday, August 26, at 1:00 p.m.

AASU returns nine starters from last season’s squad that went 18-4-1 and advanced to the Peach Belt Conference Championship match and the NCAA Southeast Regional in just its second season of competition. This year, the Pirates have been picked to finish second in the PBC and are receiving votes in the preseason NSCAA DII Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

The Pirates will look to sophomore forward Kristin Burton, a first-team NSCAA All-America selection last year, as well as juniors Lyndsi Stricklen and Jamie Craine to help carry the load this season offensively. All three were PBC Preseason All-Conference honorees. AASU will also add several talented newcomers, including Stricklen’s younger sister, midfielder Lianne Stricklen, as well as a pair of new defenders in freshmen Kelli Bahr and Alyssa Anderson.

Volleyball

The Armstrong Atlantic State volleyball squad opens the 2007 season with a bit of uncertainty after losing nine players from last season’s team that captured the school’s second straight Peach Belt Conference regular season title.

Eight newcomers will join five returnees as AASU travels to Memphis, Tenn., this week to kick off the season. The Pirates will face host Christian Brothers at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 24, then take on Harding at 4:00 p.m. AASU will then face Belhaven on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and wrap up action in the tournament against Ouachita Baptist at 4:00 p.m.

Senior rightside hitter Rindy Vidovich, an all-PBC selection a year ago, leads the returnees for the Pirates this season. Vidovich was named as a PBC Preseason All-Conference selection by the league.

AASU will have to rely on a new pair of setters this season as junior Kara Jerden and freshman Hannah Segebart take over for the departed Margaret Thornton and Stacy Yates. The Pirates will also have a new pair of middle hitters that will come from juniors Allyson Ray and Antje Reuleke as well as freshman Leah Kettleson and returning senior Kassi Kixmiller.

The rightside will be manned by Vidovich, as well as incoming freshmen Brendyce Budd and Sarah Schwanz. Returning outside hitters Stacia McCoy and Gwen Clarke will see competition from incoming freshmen Elimari Escalante, while Nicole Yates returns to serve as the Pirates’ primary defensive specialist.

- Pirates -