Abby Fay brings Kansas State leadership to LU volleyball

by | Feb 17, 2011 | News Slider, Sports

A graduate student who played for Kansas State in her undergrad days is bringing her talents to Lipscomb’s volleyball team. Abby Fay, who was red-shirted her freshman year and sat out her last year, still has a year of eligibility to offer while pursuing her MBA at Lipscomb. “We’re really excited about her and the leadership style and ability she will bring to our team,” said coach Brandon Rosenthal. “We’re a completely new team, so we’re definitely looking for that leadership aspect.” A well-rounded player, able to contribute as a setter and libero, Fay brings leadership qualities gained from experience with a Big 12 program, the coach said. Fay says she “feels like a little kid again” by getting to come back and play one more year of volleyball. She played on the same club team as senior hitters Alex Kelly and Meghan Hinemeyer and senior setter Jake Pease. “Their club team was one of the most exciting club teams,” Rosenthal told Mark McGee, Lipscomb sports spokesman. “People gravitated towards them. They were the fiercest and the most competitive team around. They didn’t care who a team was, what the jersey said or how tall the players were they were. They were going to give everything they had.” Although Fay will not have the opportunity to play with her club teammates, the four still remain in contact as Alex Kelly inspired Fay to consider Lipscomb. “I was here visiting this past semester and really felt like this was a place where I could see myself,” said Fay.  “It reminded me so much of club volleyball, and club volleyball for me...

Goodenow’s teammates, at Lipscomb and Vandy, praise ‘new’ Bisons hurler

by | Feb 16, 2011 | News Slider, Sports

Vanderbilt transfer Richie Goodenow’s opportunity to show his prowess on the pitching mound for the Bisons this year has the baseball team optimistic. “I’m excited to have him on the staff,” said junior pitcher Josh Cotham. “I know he is going to do a lot of great things for us.” For the Commodores last season, Goodenow went  3-1 with a 2.23 ERA. He made 31 mound appearances for Vandy and was named MVP of the NCAA Louisville Regional All-Tournament team for his outstanding bullpen work. Goodenow said he doesn’t know what his role will be on the Bisons hurling staff but that his main focus is doing what’s best for the team. “I think all pitchers just want to get out there and do their best, wherever that may be,” Goodenow said. After graduating from Vandy last year, he had one year of college eligibility remaining. Going to graduate school was important. But so was playing out his years as a baseball pitcher. “I didn’t want to put myself and my family through the stress of tuition, but I still wanted to play,” Goodenow said. Being from Nashville, Goodenow knew Lipscomb and said he was happy to have an opportunity to stay in town; he’ll be pursuing graduate work with the conflict management program. As a courtesy to Goodenow, Lipscomb and Vanderbilt have taken each other off their schedules. “I don’t really have any emotions about it,” Goodenow said. ”I respect both programs and both coaches. I appreciate the respect they both have for me.” Junior Commodore hurler Navery Moore lists himself among those who respect the new Bisons...

Off-season facelift has men’s tennis team looking for A-Sun glory

by | Feb 7, 2011 | News Slider, Sports

A complete transformation of the men’s tennis team could surprise those who put the Bisons at the bottom in the preseason poll – based on last year’s 4-14 record – into A-Sun contenders. “This team is certainly the deepest team we have had here at Lipscomb, and we are expecting some great things from this group,” head coach Andrew Harris said. “The challenge for this group of guys will be mixing in the new players as well as the returning players.” It’s a welcome challenge for the team that was bolstered with five top players in recent months. Over Christmas break, the Bisons strengthened their lineup with the addition of three new players to their roster. Combined with their two freshman recruits acquired in the fall, the Bisons now have a deeper roster and hopes of surprising foes with a seemingly brand-new team. One of the Bisons’ transfers is actually a familiar face to Lipscomb. Sophomore Colby Shaw came to Lipscomb for his freshman year but transferred to the University of Kentucky for the fall semester of his sophomore year. Shaw had an impressive freshman season with the Bisons, posting a 9-3 singles record. However, for five months of his freshman year, he sat out of tennis while recovering from mononucleosis. Shaw attributes much of his decision to transfer to UK to the impact the illness had on his experience at Lipscomb. After spending a semester at UK, Shaw says it was easy to reverse course and return to Lipscomb. “As soon as I decided to leave and stop playing tennis, I realized I was going to regret it,”...