Embry-Riddle Announces Changes in Athletics Administration
Volume 3 • Issue 4 Bird Watching is a monthly newsletter, published for fans and supporters of Embry-Riddle Athletics.
Embry-Riddle Announces Changes in Athletics Administration The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics program in Daytona Beach, Fla., announced changes to its organizational structure on Jan. 22 that includes a change in its top administration. Steve Ridder stepped aside from his role as the Director of Athletics to become Special Assistant to the President, but will continue as the head coach of the Eagles’ men’s basketball program. John Phillips, was been named the Director of Athletics. These administrative changes have been in the works for more than a year as Embry-Riddle has prepared to make application for NCAA II membership. In December 2013, ERAU accepted an invitation to join the Sunshine State Conference. The invitation is contingent upon Embry-Riddle being admitted into the NCAA’s membership process, which begins with a Feb. 1, 2014 deadline for application. The NCAA Division II Membership Committee is expected to announce final decisions in July. If accepted, Embry-Riddle would then enter year-one candidacy during the 2014-15 season with eligibility for NCAA postseason play beginning in fall of 2017. In his new role, Phillips will help spearhead the Eagles transition from NAIA to NCAA II membership. “I’m incredibly excited to announce the appointment of John Phillips as the next Director of Athletics here at Embry-Riddle,” Ridder said. “John has been by my side in developing and leading this program for the last 16 years and there is no one better prepared to lead our athletic program into this next chapter. As a product of our program, he knows what it takes to be successful as a student-athlete at Embry-Riddle. His reputation on our campus, and in this community, is at the highest level – he is universally respected and well-liked.” A former baseball player for the Eagles, Phillips earned both his undergraduate (B.S., 1990) and graduate degrees (M.S., 1992) from Embry-Riddle. Phillips returned to the University as the program’s firstever Director of Sports Marketing and Promotions in August 1997, and was subsequently named Assistant Director of Athletics in 1998. Since 2007, he has served as the University’s Associate Director of Athletics, supervising the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, including facilities, game management, sports information, sports medicine and sports marketing for the Daytona Beach campus. “I’m honored by the confidence and endorsement that Dr. Johnson and Coach Ridder have shown in me,” Phillips said. “This university has been part of my life for over 25 years, and it means a great deal to me. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Embry-Riddle as we begin our transition to NCAA Division II.” Ridder will continue his involvement with the University, assisting Embry-Riddle President Dr. John Johnson with numerous special projects and public speaking opportunities. In addition, he will play a major
role in enhancing the University’s fundraising activities, which will include a capital campaign for Athletics in the near future. “The passion and experience that Coach Ridder and John Phillips bring to Embry-Riddle’s Athletics Program not only strengthens our student athletes but enhances the university as a whole,” said University President Dr. John P. Johnson. “As we transition to NCAA Division II, I am confident their leadership will continue the tradition of achieving excellence in all that we do.” In addition to the new roles for Ridder and Phillips, Embry-Riddle has announced a number of other organizational changes, including the creation of new positions. Sonja Taylor, a 30-year veteran of the University, was named the Executive Director of Student-Athlete Support Services. Taylor was also given the designation of Senior Woman Administrator. Prior to joining the Athletic Department, Taylor served in a variety of roles with the University, most recently as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. Embry-Riddle alumna Mea Felps-Darley will return to her alma mater as the Director of Compliance. She returns to ERAU after spending the previous 12 years as the Associate Director of Admissions for Athletics/ Varsity Sports at Jacksonville University. Ron Serra joins the Athletic Department as the Faculty Athletic Reprentative. Serra will continue to serve as an Associate Professor and the Director of the English as a Second Language program, as well as a CFII MEII instructor for the ERAU Daytona and Worldwide campuses. Julie Rand, who has worked closely with Embry-Riddle Athletics in her role with the University’s Development Office in the past, has joined the Athletic Department as a full-time member. Rand will now serve as the Director of Athletic Development.
Sonja Taylor
Ron Serra
Mea Felps-Darley
Julie Rand
Page 2--Birdwatching--Volume 3--Issue 4
Alumni Spotlight
Autumn Gee • Women’s Golf • 2008
Autumn Gee, a 2008 graduate of Embry-Riddle and a four-time letterwinner on the women’s golf team, currently serves as the lead power systems engineer for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) program at Boeing Satellite Development Center (SDC) in El Segundo, Calif. She is responsible for satellite power system, which is comprised of a solar array, power electronics and battery. Gee has overseen two TDRS launches, including the TDRS-K satellite launch in January 2013 and the TDRS-L launch on January 24, 2014. While at ERAU, Gee was a four-time letterwinner with the women’s golf team collecting numerous awards while earning her degree in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Computer Science and Mathematics. In her senior year, Gee was named NAIA All-American after a sixthplace finish at the National Championships where she also earned All-Tournament team honors. She was named to the NAIA All-Region XIV, All-Sun Conference and Academic All-Sun Conference teams four times and was a three-time NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete and NAIA All-America honorable mention. She was a two-time Champions of Character Scholarship award winner and was also awarded the Steve and Vicky Ridder Scholarship in 2006. “Autumn is a great example of the Student-Person-Player concept that we strive for here at Embry-Riddle,” Head Coach Maria Lopez said. “She came to ERAU and worked hard to graduate with a 3.9 GPA in Aerospace Engineering while also earning All-America honors in golf. That is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of her for that and for everything that she is doing now.” The power subsystem that Gee is responsible for is part of what is called the “Bus.” The Bus and the Payload Module Structure make up the Boeing 601 derivative that is the spacecraft that carried both satellites into space. The satellites joined others in NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation, which is a series of Geosynchronous communication satellites that communicate with many other orbiting vehicles, the most famous being the space station and Hubble telescope. TDRS-K and TDRS-L are the first two of three next-generation satellites designed to ensure vital operation continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the fleet.
Coach Ridder Wins 600th Career Game
Dalton Barnes’ layup hung on the rim for a split-second before falling through with 1.2 seconds left in the ICI Center on Saturday night. 1.2 seconds later Embry-Riddle Head Coach Steve Ridder celebrated his 600th career victory as the No. 3 Eagles came from behind to survive an upset bid from Warner, 59-58. The win comes 823 games into Ridder’s career, making him the secondfastest NAIA coach to reach the 600-win plateau. The Eagles (192, 8-1) trailed by as many as 10 points to the Royals (9-11, 2-7), including a one-point deficit with 41 seconds left, but Barnes’ bucket with less than two seconds on the clock sealed the victory for Embry-Riddle. Embry-Riddle got 17 points from the freshman Barnes, including the last six Eagle points of the contest to down a depleted Warner side that suited up just eight players and played only seven. Embry-Riddle had to battle through 15 turnovers and a 39-percent shooting effort to win its 19th game of the 2013-14 season and keep pace with St. Thomas in the league standings. Ridder, who is in his 25th season at the helm of the EmbryRiddle men’s basketball program, became just the fifth active NAIA II Head Coach to win 600 career games. Under Ridder’s guidance, the Eagles have claimed 18 Sun Conference titles and made 13 trips to the NAIA National Tournament, with the ultimate prize of a national championship coming in 1999-00. Ridder’s winning percentage of .729 ranks second amongst active NAIA II coaches with 600 victories. R i d d e r ’s 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th and 600th wins have all come four years apart with the last 100 coming in just 133 games.
Athletes of the Month - January
Ellie Staker Women’s Track & Field
Ellie Staker earned female athlete of the month honors after breaking two school records and hitting four automatic qualifying standards in January. The senior from Seattle, Wash. set school records in the mile and 1000m events while recording “A” standards in those events as well as the 800m and the 4x400m relay. Staker currently holds the fastest time in the NAIA in the mile (4:57.67) and the second-fastest time in the 1000m (2:54.32).
Dalton Barnes Men’s Basketball
Dalton Barnes earned male athlete of the month honors after helping the men’s basketball team to an 8-2 mark in January. The freshman from Port Orange, Fla. averaged 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game in ERAU’s 10 games. Barnes collected a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles’ 59-58 victory over Warner on Jan. 25, including the game-winning shot with 1.2 seconds left.
Page 3--Birdwatching--Volume 3--Issue 4 2. What’s your favorite thing about living there? Coffee, food, pastries 3. What are the major differences between American college volleyball and European professional volleyball? Volleyball here is very different. We use an international ball and they play very high and slow balls and try to hit it as hard as you can. It has taken me three weeks to get the flow of things. The defense and offence are very different. The other three Americans on my team all played at NCAA I schools and are very good. I would say that some of the teams we play against are as good or better that most NCAA I schools.
Q&A with Jordan Holcomb
Jordan Holcomb, a former standout for the Embry-Riddle volleyball team from 2009-12, has signed a contract with Asko Linz-Steg, a professional club in Linz, Austria that competes in the Middle European League. She is the first Embry-Riddle graduate to sign a professional volleyball contract. While at Embry-Riddle, Holcomb racked up 1,501 kills, third-most in school history, and 354 blocks (31 solo), second-best in school history. Holcomb helped lead the Eagles to the NAIA National Championship final site in each of her final three seasons and was a volunteer assistant coach on last season’s team that finished 2212 and advanced to the National Championship final site for the fourth consecutive season. ERAU Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Pierce had an opportunity to talk to Holcomb about her experience: 1. What’s it like living in Europe? Living in Linz Austria for the next three months is probably one of the coolest things I have every experienced. Everything is different. I ride a tram everywhere and not a lot of people speak English, the main language is German, so when I get lost I just show them my address and people point me in the right direction. I am getting better at finding my way around. The food is unbelievable and so is the coffee. They do it right over here.
TEAM UPDATES... Men’s Golf
The Eagles will kick off their spring 2014 season on Feb. 2-4 in Melbourne, Fla. at the Titan Winter Invitational. Sneh Patel is the lone senior on the roster this season and will be looked to as a leader along with junior Jonathan Kopsell. Kopsell fired a five-under 211 at The Sun Conference Fall Major, tied for the best 54-hole score in school history. Junior Henrik Petersson is the only other upperclassman on the roster, which also includes sophomores Thomas Garnier, Alejandro Lozano and Kyle Morgan, as well as freshmen Patrick Byrne and Brent Graham.
Women’s Golf
Embry-Riddle is ranked 16th in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Poll after losing three seniors from last year’s squad that finished third at the NAIA National Championship. The only senior on this year’s team is Heather Wiquist, while Sophie Olley and Charlotte Orren comprise the junior class. The Eagles have five sophomores on the roster, including Abbey Brown, Fatimes Carriles, MacKenzie Cunningham, Olivia Lynch and Hannah Robb. Lynch will be trading her catching gloves for golf clubs as she served as the starting goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team in the fall. ERAU will kick off its spring season on Feb. 8-10 at the Flagler Spring Invite in St. Augustine, Fla.
Baseball
The Eagles will kick off the 2014 season in Babson
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Baseball vs. Brewton-Parker (DH) Wednesday, Feb. 5 Men’s Tennis vs. Flagler Thursday, Feb. 6 Women’s Tennis vs. Tampa Men’s Basketball vs. Johnson & Wales*
3 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
4. What do you think of your coaches/teammates? At first I was very shy and wasn’t sure how to communicate with everyone. Fortunately, everyone on my team speaks English and we all have a great time. Our practices are all in English as well and from what I hear this is very rare. My teammates have all gone out of their way to try and make me feel at home and make sure I am doing the right things at the right time on and off the court. The players’ age range is 16 to 33. 5. How have you fit into the lineup so far? I am an outside hitter and I play all the way around, much like I did on our team at Embry-Riddle so this is another plus to playing on this team. 6. I know you’ve done a lot of traveling since you got there - what are some of the places you’ve visited? What’s your favorite? Where do you hope to visit in the near future? I have been to Milan, Salzburg, Kitzbuhl and Hallstatt. My favorite would be Hallstatt - it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I hope to see Berlin, Venice and maybe Rome. It is hard because we practice twice a day and only have Sundays off. But next on the list is Innsbruck and Vienna which I have heard great things about.
Park, Fla. on Feb. 1, where ERAU will face Webber International and William Carey in a pair of non-conference contests. The Blue and Gold will host Brewton-Parker in a doubleheader on Feb. 4 to open up the home portion of the schedule. After finishing last season with a 50-15 record and a third-place finish at the Avista-NAIA World Series, the Blue and Gold are ranked third in the preseason poll. The Eagles are also picked to repeat as conference champions, as chosen by the league coaches.
Softball
Gomez is listed 38th in the poll.
Women’s Tennis
The Embry-Riddle doubles team of Kristina Marova and Hui-I Huang will open up the 2014 season as the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the NAIA, according to the ITA/ NAIA poll released after the conclusion of the fall season. Marova and Huang are also listed in the singles poll, with Huang ranked ninth and Marova 27th. ERAU kicks off the spring season at home against NCAA II Tampa on Feb. 6.
Embry-Riddle is slated to open up its second season of softball at home on Feb. 7 against Georgia Gwinnett as part of a four-team tournament hosted by ERAU. The Eagles, who finished 16-25 last season and ended the year with a third-place showing at The Sun Conference Tournament, have been picked to finish third by the league’s coaches this year. Embry-Riddle will also take on Mobile (Ala.) and Daytona State during the tournament, which runs through Feb. 9.
Men’s Track & Field
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Track & Field
The Embry-Riddle men’s tennis team will begin its national title defense with a home match against NCAA II Flagler on Feb. 5. The Eagles are expected to compete for another national title in 2014, led by returners Deni Zmak, Simon Felix and Miguel Lopez Gomez. Zmak and Felix enter the season as top-ranked doubles tandem in the NAIA, while Zmak is also ranked No. 1 in singles. Felix is ranked 18th in singles and Lopez
The Embry-Riddle women’s track & field team is ranked 21st in the inaugural U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA National Team Computer Rankings. Maite Moscoso (3000m Race Walk) and Ellie Staker (mile) have each recorded the top times in the NAIA in their respective events. Next up for the Eagles is the Samford Multi and Invitational Indoor meet Feb. 7-8 in Birmingham, Ala. Sunday, Feb. 16 Women’s Tennis vs. Stetson
February 2013 Home Events Sunday, Feb. 9 Softball vs. Georgia Gwinnett Softball vs. Mobile
The Embry-Riddle men’s track & field team is ranked 14th in the inaugural U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA National Team Computer Rankings. Richard Maku (triple jump) and Michael Campobasso (heptathlon) have each hit automatic qualifying standards in their respective events. Next up for the Eagles is the Samford Multi and Invitational Indoor meet Feb. 7-8 in Birmingham, Ala.
10 a.m. 12 p.m.
3 p.m. 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 12 Women’s Tennis vs. Rollins
Friday, Feb. 7 Softball vs. Georgia Gwinnett
5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 Baseball vs. South Carolina Beaufort*
6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 Softball vs. Daytona State Softball vs. Mobile
4 p.m. 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 Baseball vs. South Carolina Beaufort* (DH) Men’s Basketball vs. Webber International*
1 p.m. 7 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
12 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19 Men’s Basketball vs. Ave Maria
7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 M/W Tennis vs. Southeastern*
3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22 M/W Tennis vs. SCAD Savannah* ERAU Last Chance Track Meet
3:30 p.m. All Day
Wednesday, Feb. 25 Baseball vs. Davenport
6 p.m.
Embry-Riddle Announces Changes in Athletics Administration The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics program in Daytona Beach, Fla., announced changes to its organizational structure on Jan. 22 that includes a change in its top administration. Steve Ridder stepped aside from his role as the Director of Athletics to become Special Assistant to the President, but will continue as the head coach of the Eagles’ men’s basketball program. John Phillips, was been named the Director of Athletics. These administrative changes have been in the works for more than a year as Embry-Riddle has prepared to make application for NCAA II membership. In December 2013, ERAU accepted an invitation to join the Sunshine State Conference. The invitation is contingent upon Embry-Riddle being admitted into the NCAA’s membership process, which begins with a Feb. 1, 2014 deadline for application. The NCAA Division II Membership Committee is expected to announce final decisions in July. If accepted, Embry-Riddle would then enter year-one candidacy during the 2014-15 season with eligibility for NCAA postseason play beginning in fall of 2017. In his new role, Phillips will help spearhead the Eagles transition from NAIA to NCAA II membership. “I’m incredibly excited to announce the appointment of John Phillips as the next Director of Athletics here at Embry-Riddle,” Ridder said. “John has been by my side in developing and leading this program for the last 16 years and there is no one better prepared to lead our athletic program into this next chapter. As a product of our program, he knows what it takes to be successful as a student-athlete at Embry-Riddle. His reputation on our campus, and in this community, is at the highest level – he is universally respected and well-liked.” A former baseball player for the Eagles, Phillips earned both his undergraduate (B.S., 1990) and graduate degrees (M.S., 1992) from Embry-Riddle. Phillips returned to the University as the program’s firstever Director of Sports Marketing and Promotions in August 1997, and was subsequently named Assistant Director of Athletics in 1998. Since 2007, he has served as the University’s Associate Director of Athletics, supervising the day-to-day operations of the athletic department, including facilities, game management, sports information, sports medicine and sports marketing for the Daytona Beach campus. “I’m honored by the confidence and endorsement that Dr. Johnson and Coach Ridder have shown in me,” Phillips said. “This university has been part of my life for over 25 years, and it means a great deal to me. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Embry-Riddle as we begin our transition to NCAA Division II.” Ridder will continue his involvement with the University, assisting Embry-Riddle President Dr. John Johnson with numerous special projects and public speaking opportunities. In addition, he will play a major
role in enhancing the University’s fundraising activities, which will include a capital campaign for Athletics in the near future. “The passion and experience that Coach Ridder and John Phillips bring to Embry-Riddle’s Athletics Program not only strengthens our student athletes but enhances the university as a whole,” said University President Dr. John P. Johnson. “As we transition to NCAA Division II, I am confident their leadership will continue the tradition of achieving excellence in all that we do.” In addition to the new roles for Ridder and Phillips, Embry-Riddle has announced a number of other organizational changes, including the creation of new positions. Sonja Taylor, a 30-year veteran of the University, was named the Executive Director of Student-Athlete Support Services. Taylor was also given the designation of Senior Woman Administrator. Prior to joining the Athletic Department, Taylor served in a variety of roles with the University, most recently as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. Embry-Riddle alumna Mea Felps-Darley will return to her alma mater as the Director of Compliance. She returns to ERAU after spending the previous 12 years as the Associate Director of Admissions for Athletics/ Varsity Sports at Jacksonville University. Ron Serra joins the Athletic Department as the Faculty Athletic Reprentative. Serra will continue to serve as an Associate Professor and the Director of the English as a Second Language program, as well as a CFII MEII instructor for the ERAU Daytona and Worldwide campuses. Julie Rand, who has worked closely with Embry-Riddle Athletics in her role with the University’s Development Office in the past, has joined the Athletic Department as a full-time member. Rand will now serve as the Director of Athletic Development.
Sonja Taylor
Ron Serra
Mea Felps-Darley
Julie Rand
Page 2--Birdwatching--Volume 3--Issue 4
Alumni Spotlight
Autumn Gee • Women’s Golf • 2008
Autumn Gee, a 2008 graduate of Embry-Riddle and a four-time letterwinner on the women’s golf team, currently serves as the lead power systems engineer for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) program at Boeing Satellite Development Center (SDC) in El Segundo, Calif. She is responsible for satellite power system, which is comprised of a solar array, power electronics and battery. Gee has overseen two TDRS launches, including the TDRS-K satellite launch in January 2013 and the TDRS-L launch on January 24, 2014. While at ERAU, Gee was a four-time letterwinner with the women’s golf team collecting numerous awards while earning her degree in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Computer Science and Mathematics. In her senior year, Gee was named NAIA All-American after a sixthplace finish at the National Championships where she also earned All-Tournament team honors. She was named to the NAIA All-Region XIV, All-Sun Conference and Academic All-Sun Conference teams four times and was a three-time NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete and NAIA All-America honorable mention. She was a two-time Champions of Character Scholarship award winner and was also awarded the Steve and Vicky Ridder Scholarship in 2006. “Autumn is a great example of the Student-Person-Player concept that we strive for here at Embry-Riddle,” Head Coach Maria Lopez said. “She came to ERAU and worked hard to graduate with a 3.9 GPA in Aerospace Engineering while also earning All-America honors in golf. That is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud of her for that and for everything that she is doing now.” The power subsystem that Gee is responsible for is part of what is called the “Bus.” The Bus and the Payload Module Structure make up the Boeing 601 derivative that is the spacecraft that carried both satellites into space. The satellites joined others in NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation, which is a series of Geosynchronous communication satellites that communicate with many other orbiting vehicles, the most famous being the space station and Hubble telescope. TDRS-K and TDRS-L are the first two of three next-generation satellites designed to ensure vital operation continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the fleet.
Coach Ridder Wins 600th Career Game
Dalton Barnes’ layup hung on the rim for a split-second before falling through with 1.2 seconds left in the ICI Center on Saturday night. 1.2 seconds later Embry-Riddle Head Coach Steve Ridder celebrated his 600th career victory as the No. 3 Eagles came from behind to survive an upset bid from Warner, 59-58. The win comes 823 games into Ridder’s career, making him the secondfastest NAIA coach to reach the 600-win plateau. The Eagles (192, 8-1) trailed by as many as 10 points to the Royals (9-11, 2-7), including a one-point deficit with 41 seconds left, but Barnes’ bucket with less than two seconds on the clock sealed the victory for Embry-Riddle. Embry-Riddle got 17 points from the freshman Barnes, including the last six Eagle points of the contest to down a depleted Warner side that suited up just eight players and played only seven. Embry-Riddle had to battle through 15 turnovers and a 39-percent shooting effort to win its 19th game of the 2013-14 season and keep pace with St. Thomas in the league standings. Ridder, who is in his 25th season at the helm of the EmbryRiddle men’s basketball program, became just the fifth active NAIA II Head Coach to win 600 career games. Under Ridder’s guidance, the Eagles have claimed 18 Sun Conference titles and made 13 trips to the NAIA National Tournament, with the ultimate prize of a national championship coming in 1999-00. Ridder’s winning percentage of .729 ranks second amongst active NAIA II coaches with 600 victories. R i d d e r ’s 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th and 600th wins have all come four years apart with the last 100 coming in just 133 games.
Athletes of the Month - January
Ellie Staker Women’s Track & Field
Ellie Staker earned female athlete of the month honors after breaking two school records and hitting four automatic qualifying standards in January. The senior from Seattle, Wash. set school records in the mile and 1000m events while recording “A” standards in those events as well as the 800m and the 4x400m relay. Staker currently holds the fastest time in the NAIA in the mile (4:57.67) and the second-fastest time in the 1000m (2:54.32).
Dalton Barnes Men’s Basketball
Dalton Barnes earned male athlete of the month honors after helping the men’s basketball team to an 8-2 mark in January. The freshman from Port Orange, Fla. averaged 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game in ERAU’s 10 games. Barnes collected a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles’ 59-58 victory over Warner on Jan. 25, including the game-winning shot with 1.2 seconds left.
Page 3--Birdwatching--Volume 3--Issue 4 2. What’s your favorite thing about living there? Coffee, food, pastries 3. What are the major differences between American college volleyball and European professional volleyball? Volleyball here is very different. We use an international ball and they play very high and slow balls and try to hit it as hard as you can. It has taken me three weeks to get the flow of things. The defense and offence are very different. The other three Americans on my team all played at NCAA I schools and are very good. I would say that some of the teams we play against are as good or better that most NCAA I schools.
Q&A with Jordan Holcomb
Jordan Holcomb, a former standout for the Embry-Riddle volleyball team from 2009-12, has signed a contract with Asko Linz-Steg, a professional club in Linz, Austria that competes in the Middle European League. She is the first Embry-Riddle graduate to sign a professional volleyball contract. While at Embry-Riddle, Holcomb racked up 1,501 kills, third-most in school history, and 354 blocks (31 solo), second-best in school history. Holcomb helped lead the Eagles to the NAIA National Championship final site in each of her final three seasons and was a volunteer assistant coach on last season’s team that finished 2212 and advanced to the National Championship final site for the fourth consecutive season. ERAU Assistant Sports Information Director Michael Pierce had an opportunity to talk to Holcomb about her experience: 1. What’s it like living in Europe? Living in Linz Austria for the next three months is probably one of the coolest things I have every experienced. Everything is different. I ride a tram everywhere and not a lot of people speak English, the main language is German, so when I get lost I just show them my address and people point me in the right direction. I am getting better at finding my way around. The food is unbelievable and so is the coffee. They do it right over here.
TEAM UPDATES... Men’s Golf
The Eagles will kick off their spring 2014 season on Feb. 2-4 in Melbourne, Fla. at the Titan Winter Invitational. Sneh Patel is the lone senior on the roster this season and will be looked to as a leader along with junior Jonathan Kopsell. Kopsell fired a five-under 211 at The Sun Conference Fall Major, tied for the best 54-hole score in school history. Junior Henrik Petersson is the only other upperclassman on the roster, which also includes sophomores Thomas Garnier, Alejandro Lozano and Kyle Morgan, as well as freshmen Patrick Byrne and Brent Graham.
Women’s Golf
Embry-Riddle is ranked 16th in the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Poll after losing three seniors from last year’s squad that finished third at the NAIA National Championship. The only senior on this year’s team is Heather Wiquist, while Sophie Olley and Charlotte Orren comprise the junior class. The Eagles have five sophomores on the roster, including Abbey Brown, Fatimes Carriles, MacKenzie Cunningham, Olivia Lynch and Hannah Robb. Lynch will be trading her catching gloves for golf clubs as she served as the starting goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team in the fall. ERAU will kick off its spring season on Feb. 8-10 at the Flagler Spring Invite in St. Augustine, Fla.
Baseball
The Eagles will kick off the 2014 season in Babson
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Baseball vs. Brewton-Parker (DH) Wednesday, Feb. 5 Men’s Tennis vs. Flagler Thursday, Feb. 6 Women’s Tennis vs. Tampa Men’s Basketball vs. Johnson & Wales*
3 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
4. What do you think of your coaches/teammates? At first I was very shy and wasn’t sure how to communicate with everyone. Fortunately, everyone on my team speaks English and we all have a great time. Our practices are all in English as well and from what I hear this is very rare. My teammates have all gone out of their way to try and make me feel at home and make sure I am doing the right things at the right time on and off the court. The players’ age range is 16 to 33. 5. How have you fit into the lineup so far? I am an outside hitter and I play all the way around, much like I did on our team at Embry-Riddle so this is another plus to playing on this team. 6. I know you’ve done a lot of traveling since you got there - what are some of the places you’ve visited? What’s your favorite? Where do you hope to visit in the near future? I have been to Milan, Salzburg, Kitzbuhl and Hallstatt. My favorite would be Hallstatt - it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I hope to see Berlin, Venice and maybe Rome. It is hard because we practice twice a day and only have Sundays off. But next on the list is Innsbruck and Vienna which I have heard great things about.
Park, Fla. on Feb. 1, where ERAU will face Webber International and William Carey in a pair of non-conference contests. The Blue and Gold will host Brewton-Parker in a doubleheader on Feb. 4 to open up the home portion of the schedule. After finishing last season with a 50-15 record and a third-place finish at the Avista-NAIA World Series, the Blue and Gold are ranked third in the preseason poll. The Eagles are also picked to repeat as conference champions, as chosen by the league coaches.
Softball
Gomez is listed 38th in the poll.
Women’s Tennis
The Embry-Riddle doubles team of Kristina Marova and Hui-I Huang will open up the 2014 season as the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the NAIA, according to the ITA/ NAIA poll released after the conclusion of the fall season. Marova and Huang are also listed in the singles poll, with Huang ranked ninth and Marova 27th. ERAU kicks off the spring season at home against NCAA II Tampa on Feb. 6.
Embry-Riddle is slated to open up its second season of softball at home on Feb. 7 against Georgia Gwinnett as part of a four-team tournament hosted by ERAU. The Eagles, who finished 16-25 last season and ended the year with a third-place showing at The Sun Conference Tournament, have been picked to finish third by the league’s coaches this year. Embry-Riddle will also take on Mobile (Ala.) and Daytona State during the tournament, which runs through Feb. 9.
Men’s Track & Field
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Track & Field
The Embry-Riddle men’s tennis team will begin its national title defense with a home match against NCAA II Flagler on Feb. 5. The Eagles are expected to compete for another national title in 2014, led by returners Deni Zmak, Simon Felix and Miguel Lopez Gomez. Zmak and Felix enter the season as top-ranked doubles tandem in the NAIA, while Zmak is also ranked No. 1 in singles. Felix is ranked 18th in singles and Lopez
The Embry-Riddle women’s track & field team is ranked 21st in the inaugural U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA National Team Computer Rankings. Maite Moscoso (3000m Race Walk) and Ellie Staker (mile) have each recorded the top times in the NAIA in their respective events. Next up for the Eagles is the Samford Multi and Invitational Indoor meet Feb. 7-8 in Birmingham, Ala. Sunday, Feb. 16 Women’s Tennis vs. Stetson
February 2013 Home Events Sunday, Feb. 9 Softball vs. Georgia Gwinnett Softball vs. Mobile
The Embry-Riddle men’s track & field team is ranked 14th in the inaugural U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA National Team Computer Rankings. Richard Maku (triple jump) and Michael Campobasso (heptathlon) have each hit automatic qualifying standards in their respective events. Next up for the Eagles is the Samford Multi and Invitational Indoor meet Feb. 7-8 in Birmingham, Ala.
10 a.m. 12 p.m.
3 p.m. 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 12 Women’s Tennis vs. Rollins
Friday, Feb. 7 Softball vs. Georgia Gwinnett
5 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 Baseball vs. South Carolina Beaufort*
6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 Softball vs. Daytona State Softball vs. Mobile
4 p.m. 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 Baseball vs. South Carolina Beaufort* (DH) Men’s Basketball vs. Webber International*
1 p.m. 7 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
12 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19 Men’s Basketball vs. Ave Maria
7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 M/W Tennis vs. Southeastern*
3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22 M/W Tennis vs. SCAD Savannah* ERAU Last Chance Track Meet
3:30 p.m. All Day
Wednesday, Feb. 25 Baseball vs. Davenport
6 p.m.
