by Spencer Boehme | Oct 13, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
In an ASUN volleyball match featuring the surging Lipscomb Bisons and the struggling Jacksonville Dolphins, Saturday’s contest went exactly as expected. The Bisons (11-8, 6-1 ASUN) limited the Dolphins (2-18, 1-7 ASUN) to an average of 11.6 points per set in a 3-0 thrashing at Allen Arena. “If [Jacksonville is] able to get comfortable, it gets kind of tricky,” Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal said. “[But] I thought we added the pressure right from the beginning, and we never let up from that.” It was a tough day for the Dolphins, who combined for a hitting percentage of .041. Junior outside hitter Mallory Mattingly led the team with seven kills, but she also committed 10 errors and posted a hitting average of minus-.083. “Going into this match it was just about [keeping] the pressure,” Rosenthal said. “We wanted them to change because of us.” The star of the game was Bisons senior middle blocker Ca’Layci Coffey, who led the match with 14 kills and a hitting average of .737. Rosenthal called her “one of the hardest workers on the team.” “When she’s on, she’s on,” Rosenthal said. “And (the) past couple matches she’s really been able to turn it up just a little bit more each time.” The Bisons started the day with a 25-13 win in the first set. The Dolphins kept it close at first and were only down 9-7 before Lipscomb broke away. Coffey led the way with four kills, and senior outside hitter Carlyle Nusbaum scored the set point on a kill that landed in the back of Jacksonville’s territory. In the second set, the Bisons...
by Russell Vannozzi | Oct 11, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Alyssa Zwolensky was scrolling through Instagram to try to get some insight on her future Lipscomb volleyball teammates. She was, after all, about to make the 700-mile trip to Nashville from her home in Rockledge, Florida, to enroll at Lipscomb a semester early, which understandably caused some nerves. Then she came across the page of Megan Sullivan, who was set to transfer to Lipscomb from Houston for the Spring 2017 semester. Sullivan played sparingly for the Cougars in 2016 and wanted a chance to restart her college volleyball career in a new city. Zwolesnky eventually noticed a picture of Sullivan with her dad, who was sporting a scar on his head. After Zwolesnky did more digging and exchanged a few texts with Sullivan, things took a dark turn. “Also, what type of brain cancer does your Dad have?” Alyssa texted Megan. “I was like, “I don’t know, it’s some long name that starts with a ‘G’,’” said Sullivan, who checked with her stepmother to confirm the scientific name of her father’s disease, which was glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer that affects the brain or spine and currently has no cure. Zwolesnky was stunned. Her father, James, had passed away from the very same type of cancer in April 2016, just five months after his initial diagnosis. “We were just like ‘wow,’” Sullivan said. The connection formed an instant bond between the two girls. Finally, they each had someone who understood the pain glioblastoma can cause a family. “It’s an unreal story,” said Lipscomb volleyball coach Brandon Rosenthal. “For Alyssa to have somebody like Megan, and Megan to have somebody like Alyssa…no...
by Carly Reams | Oct 8, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb (8-4-2, 3-1 ASUN) faced a slew of unexpected challenges as they faced new ASUN opponent Liberty (3-9, 2-2 ASUN) at home on Sunday, losing 2-1 after an extra time period. Coach Kevin O’Brien felt the two teams were evenly matched, and said he expected the game to be more of a challenge on his team. He felt that they did not show their true skill set in the first half, but brought a more even play in the second. “We had watched them in film and we knew they were good. So I was expecting a good game, and that is ultimately what we got,” Coach O’Brien said. “It was two pretty evenly matched teams going toe-to-toe.” Things began smoothly as Lipscomb junior Leah Cernicky shot a goal in the first ten minutes of play off of a free kick. The Bisons led against the Flames in shots on goal. Then an own goal in the half assisted by Liberty’s #9, Madison Ellis, tied the game in the 38th minute. In an even second half, Lipscomb had quite a few close opportunities at goal, but Liberty’s goalie Melody Jayroe kept the Flames in the game. The half ended in a tie, leading the two teams into extra time. Liberty picked up the pace in overtime, and with a minute left the Flames’ Gabrielle Farrell scored to make the score 2-1. Madison Ellis picked up her second assist of the night on the game winner. Coach O’Brien said his team had some really good chances to win it, but Liberty’s keeper made some great saves and kept them in...
by Russell Vannozzi | Oct 2, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
BALTIMORE – Caleb Joseph has never been one for moral victories, and a historically-bad MLB season did nothing to change his mind. Joseph’s Baltimore Orioles were inept from the outset and finished the year with a 47-115 record. The former Lipscomb standout refused to sugarcoat the franchise’s worst season since its inception in 1901. “It’s been a disappointment to say the least,” he said. “We lost a historical amount of games. It’s quite a different atmosphere [from what] I’ve been used to in Baltimore.” Joseph drew national media attention in mid-September when he spoke his mind to The Athletic’s Dan Connolly. By that point, Joseph’s frustrations had nearly boiled over. “I’ve never seen sports teams survive seasons like this without people losing jobs, period,” Joseph told Connolly. “Players, you name it. It’s a privilege to be here, but you don’t lose a record number of games and not expect some retribution. Everybody. Every single locker in here should be thinking, ‘You know, I should be fired because I sucked. Period.’” The 32-year-old catcher did not back down from his previous statements, but he emphasized that he’d like to be part of the team’s solution following a fire sale that included trading top players like Jonathan Schoop, Manny Machado, Kevin Gausman, Zach Britton and Brad Brach. “There was a lot that was on my mind that day,” Joseph said of his candid September remarks. “I feel strongly about this organization. This is the only organization I’ve known. I want to fight for it. I had some things to say that were potentially controversial, but I’m a hard worker, and I...
by Russell Vannozzi | Sep 24, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Another baseball season has nearly come and gone. For Lipscomb’s nine former players in the professional ranks, 2018 was a mixed bag. Several players had outstanding seasons, while others struggled to stay healthy and find consistency. Caleb Joseph appeared in a few MLB games with his younger brother, while Michael Gigliotti tore his ACL and missed nearly the entire season. Meanwhile, Chris Nunn found success in the independent American Association after being released by the Houston Astros. Those are just a few of the storylines that can be found in the full breakdown below: MLB (1): Caleb Joseph, C, Baltimore Orioles: 77 GP, 251 AB, 25 R, 54 H, 17 RBI, 3 HR, 10 BB, .215 AVG* After batting .256 in 2017, Joseph’s performance at the plate regressed some this season. He spent one month with Triple-A Norfolk to get more regular playing time, but the Orioles brought Joseph back to Baltimore in June. The Franklin native then got the rare opportunity to pair with his younger brother, Corban, who briefly called up by the Orioles this summer. They are just one of nearly 100 sets of brothers to became MLB teammates. Baltimore (45-110) is set to finish with the worst record in baseball. Joseph has been outspoken about the team’s struggles and told The Athletic’s Dan Connolly that he understands why Camden Yards is mostly empty on game nights. “I don’t blame (the fans) at all,” Joseph said of the Oriole faithful. “I’ve been through really bad seasons in professional sports as a fan in Nashville. It’s not motivating. Of course, I don’t blame them at all (for not...
by Kailey Schuyler | Sep 19, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb men’s soccer team was defeated in overtime by No. 6 Kentucky by a score of 3-2. The team is now on a five-game losing streak before heading into conference play. “Another tough loss; this one is especially tough,” head coach Charles Morrow said. “Disappointed in the results certainly, but really proud of the guys and the way we played. “I think today was a step forward in the season, even though it was a loss. Sometimes it’s hard to see the positives with losses mounting up.” Kentucky came into the game strong when midfielder, Kalil Elmedkhar, scored the first goal just over the minute mark. This was Elmedkhar’s second goal of the season. The score remained 1-0 at halftime. Kentucky scored again in the fifty-second minute. Aime Mabika secured the goal by a penalty kick, to put the Wildcats up 2-0. One minute later, the Bisons started to find their momentum when Ryan Birchfield scored a minute later, in the fifty-third minute, on a penalty kick. This is the first goal Kentucky has let up all season. Birchfield helped the Bisons again to tie the game by assisting a goal in the seventy-fourth minute, made by Logan Paynter. Regulation ended with the score 2-2, sending the game into overtime. Kentucky’s Jj Williams scored in the ninety-fifth minute. Bison goalkeeper, Luke Wilson came out, and the ball found an empty net. Morrow said he was disappointed about the game tonight, but he is optimistic for what lies ahead. “I really feel like this team is really close to being a really, really good team. If guys can stay...
