FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-27-99
This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics
Monday, September 27
• Women's Tennis hosts ITA Regional
Tuesday, September 28
• Volleyball vs. SCAD, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 29
No Events Scheduled
Thursday, September 30
No Events Scheduled
Friday, October 1
• Volleyball at Lander, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 25
• Volleyball at USC Spartanburg, 6 p.m.
• Cross Country at Disney CC Classic (Orlando, Fla.)
• Men's Tennis hosts ITA Regional
Sunday, September 26
• Men's Tennis hosts ITA Regional
Cross Country
The AASU women's cross country team finished second, placing ahead of nationally-ranked Kennesaw State and Clayton College & State, at the Nike/USCS Cross Country Invitational on Saturday morning in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Lady Pirates finished with 118 points, 32 points behind champion University of North Florida but ahead of No. 24 Clayton College & State and No. 25 Kennesaw State. AASU was led by junior Nikki Garland, who finished the 6000 meter course in a time of 22:00.13, just five seconds behind individual champion Marjo Venalainen of Kennesaw State. Sophmore Melanie Clarke finished eighth in a time of 23:41.96, followed by freshman Jillian Charles (16th, 24:38.97), junior Amanda Legesse (45th, 26:03.94) and senior Katie Graham (47th, 26:22.89).
The men finished sixth in the meet with a team score of 158 points and were led by freshman Paul McRae, who placed third in the 10,000 meter course in a time of 32:41.33. Kennesaw State took home the team championship. Junior Robert Crenshaw finished 19th with a time of 34:30.69, followed by seniors Tony Menendez (27th, 34:56.01) and Gary Ginn (28th, 34:57.82) and freshman Drew Korenvaes (82nd, 37:46.39).
Both cross country teams return to action this weekend at the Disney Cross Country Classic, held at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Men's and Women's Tennis
AASU women's tennis players Maren Mueller and Marie-Claude Ostiguy advanced to the semifinals of the ITA Women's Tennis Southeast Regional over the weekend and will compete on Monday afternoon, weather permitting, for a chance to advance to the ITA/Rolex National Championships in Memphis, Tenn. Mueller, the No. 1 seed in the singles draw, defeated Bojana Miladinovic of Barry, 6-2, 6-2, on Sunday to advance to the semifinals. Ostiguy, unseeded, defeated teammate and No. 3 seed Michaela Kratochvilova, 6-3, 5-7, 3-2 after Kratochvilova had to retire because of dehydration.
In doubles action, rain washed out Sunday's third round, but the team of Kratochvilova/Mueller, the No. 2 seed, are still alive, as well as the team of Ostiguy and Petra Schemm. Doubles will be competed on Monday as well, weather permitting.
Beginning on Saturday, Oct. 2, AASU will host the men's ITA Southeast Regional, which will run through Monday, Oct. 4.
Volleyball (18-0 overall, 0-0 PBAC)
Head Coach Alan Segal's squad continued its undefeated season by picking up two wins on the week. AASU defeated USC Aiken, 3-0, on the road for its first PBAC win of the season. Junior Colleen Fitzsimmons directed the Pirate attack with 32 assists, while freshman Lindsay Ehlers and sophomore Kris Bringewatt notched nine kills apiece.
The Pirates then returned home for the first time in three weeks and defeated the Wildcats of Fort Valley State, 3-0, to run their record to 18-0, the best mark in NCAA Division II in the nation. Fitzsimmons notched 34 assists while Ehlers led the Pirates with eight kills.
The Pirates host crosstown rival Savannah College of Art & Design on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. in the ARC (Aquatics & Recreation Center), then hit the road for two PBAC matches this weekend, playing at Lander on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. and then at USC Spartanburg on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m.