by Carter Sanderson | Jul 25, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
There will be plenty of familiar names on the volleyball court when the season begins on August 8, but two fresh faces will join head coach Brandon Rosenthal on the sideline. Billy Ebel and Ann Armes have been hired as assistant coaches. Rosenthal shared his excitement in having the new staff. “I feel great about having young faces as part of what’s going on,” Rosenthal said. “They have a great opportunity to interact with the girls better than I can.” Rosenthal feels that the younger coaches will play a huge role in their season both on and off the court. Billy Ebel, originally from Kansas City, said he knew of Lipscomb before joining the staff. “Brandon has recruited several girls out of Kansas City, so I’ve known about him and the program,” Ebel said. “It’s a totally different environment here, but I love it. It’s been a smooth transition. “The girls have never seen me train or coach on the court, so I’m excited to bring that energy.” Ebel knows the game very well, having played volleyball for Ball State. Rosenthal praised Ebel’s energy, mindset and ability to recruit. “I’m really excited about his energy and recruiting knowledge,” Rosenthal said. “Such knowledge at a young age is really good. “No doubt he will bring a lot to the table during practices and matches.” Ebel, seven weeks into the new program, says the location change from Kansas City to Nashville hasn’t been too difficult of an adjustment, but the culture that Nashville offers is definitely something he can get used to. “I love the southern hospitality,” Ebel said. “It’s different,...
by Carter Sanderson | Jul 18, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
In early May, the Lipscomb volleyball team embarked on an 11-day mission trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Head coach Brandon Rosenthal said that the trip was an exciting time for the group. “There was a tremendous amount of excitement,” Rosenthal said. “It was the first mission trip for a lot of the players and for six of them it was their first time out of the country.” Rosenthal’s main goal for the trip was the get to know each of his players better, and the girls wanted the same thing from each other. “We are already a team,” Rosenthal said. “This is a close team, but I urged them to break down the walls and develop an even deeper relationship as a team.” Work at the church, a stop at the legendary Christ the Redeemer statue and a hike up the Sugarloaf Mountians all played huge roles into making this such an unforgettable trip for all who went. However, the deeper connections formed and lives changed throughout their time in Brazil made this a truly invigorating expedition. “I really had no expectations going into it,” teammate Lauren Ford said. “I wanted to grow in my relationships with the team more than anything.” Playing only one game while over there, the girls had ample time to grow both mentally and spiritually. “Experiencing another culture with my teammates while getting to serve the Lord was the best part of being gone,” teammate Jordan Huston said. “It was cool how we were able to get closer as a team while we were helping others,” teammate Jewell Dobson added. As the week...
by Ariel Jones | Nov 16, 2012 | News Slider
Every sports team needs a leader to look up to. For the Lipscomb Bisons volleyball team, Kaycee Green is that leader. “I have the role of being a leader on my team especially being the only senior,” Green said. “I have the responsibility of being that person everyone can look at when we are down or that person that has to be the consistent one or need to be that go-to person to get a job done.” Although it sometimes may be difficult, Green said she has embraced the role as the single leader. “It’s hard being the only senior and having to be such a big leader and an example,” Green said, “but I have taken on that responsibility and loved every minute of it. Being the only senior and having to step up being a leader has really helped me grow a lot this year as a player and person.” Stats prove how Green has grown as a player this year. She’s been named A-Sun Player of the Week, named to the All-Atlantic Sun Second Team, ranks first in the A-Sun, and named TSWA Player of the Week, among other awards. The native of Cookeville, Tenn., along with titles, has 393 kills with 272 of those kills taking place in conference games. Head Coach Brandon Rosenthal has been with her the entire way, and Green thanks him for everything he’s done for her, admitting that she thinks she can be tough to coach. “I know I’m not the easiest person to get along with or coach at times,” Green said, “and he has been there for me...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Sep 12, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
For Kaycee Green, the Lady Bison’s volleyball game on Aug. 31 against Appalachian State was certainly one to remember. Entering that Friday’s game, Green was only two kills away from reaching the 1,000 mark. After finally reaching the milestone, Green recorded 12 more kills. Head Coach Brandon Rosenthal said he believes the achievement speaks volumes to Green’s talent. “There’s only a couple of girls at Lipscomb that have done that, and I’m happy Kaycee is a part of that,” Rosenthal said. “I love the fact that we’re able to add her to that group.” Green, a senior from Cookeville, Tenn., majoring in education, is number three in school history for the most kills in a career. “I didn’t think it’d take me this long; I was hoping I would do it earlier,” Green said light-heartedly. Green said she believes her commitment has led her to this point. “It took a lot of hard work, and I’m glad I finally got there,” she said. “I still want to get more. The work’s never done.” Statistics aren’t the only thing that has earned Kaycee Green recognition. The outside hitter is also the only senior on the Lady Bisons volleyball team. “It’s a little intimidating,” she said. “I have a lot more responsibility, and to take it on all by myself is kind of frustrating, hard at times. But I like it because all the girls respect me, so it’s not bad at all.” “I tried to take on some of it last year because I knew it was going to happen. I was a big leader in my high school team,...
by Emily Snell | Feb 3, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb volleyball team will hang three banners in Allen Arena tonight in a ceremony during the Battle of the Boulevard event, the university’s biggest athletic rivalry game. The team’s success will be recognized when the Atlantic Sun regular and post-season banners and 2011 NCAA tournament banner are presented. Brandon Rosenthal, the team’s head coach, said he thinks the banners work as a source of motivation for the team. “I think for the girls to see the banners, to see them dropped tonight is definitely a little bit of motivation,” he said, adding that it helps the girls think of “not just your team but all of the people that came before you that helped you get to that spot.” The volleyball team has appeared in the NCAA tournament four of the last five years, and Rosenthal said it’s nice to see the girls being rewarded for their hard work. The three new banners will finish filling one side of Allen Arena, and any new banners will have to be hung on a second wall. “When we initially put them up, I was joking and said, ‘we need to leave room; we plan to win a lot more,’” Rosenthal said. “And here we are. I think there’s no doubt, our girls come in to every season and the expectations are already set.” Rosenthal said Lipscomb is focused on building a successful program, not just a winning team. “With a team, when you lose girls, or when you graduate girls, you have to rebuild,” he said. “With a program, it’s just that expectation coming in. The great part about it...
