SnakeBytes

SnakeBytes Vol.12 Issue 2

Second installment of SnakeBytes for the 2012-13 year.

SAAC E.L.I.T.E. CONFERENCE… The sixth-annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee E.L.I.T.E. (Experience and Leadership Ignite Teamwork and Excellence) weekend hosted by the Sunshine State Conference was recently held in Orlando, where two student- athletes and one advisor from each SSC institution are chosen to represent their school.  Baseball player, Joey Miller and women’s basketball player, Taylor Maldonado were selected to represent Florida Southern College, along with men’s tennis coach Trey Heath, who is the SAAC advisor at FSC. This weekend was a chance for athletes to get to know their fellow SSC student-athletes and well as learn more about themselves. The participants were involved in an assortment of fun activities that helped the athletes improve their leadership and communication skills both on and off the field. The annual E.L.I.T.E. Weekend is made possible through funding received as part of the NCAA Division II grant program. 
“I thought that participating in this conference was a great experience” said Maldonado, “I had a lot of fun and learned a lot and I hope I get the chance to do it again next year.”

SSC PLAYERS of the WEEK PRESENTED by VALIC … The Sunshine State Conference released the SSC Players of the Week presented by VALIC, and for the second straight week a Moccasin volleyball player was recognized. Setter, Ali Skayhan was named Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week after leading the Mocs to two back to back SSC wins this past weekend, which extends their winning streak to nine straight matches. Skayhan averaged 3.38 kills, 9.75 assists and 3.00 digs per set while hitting .522 in the Lady Mocs conference opener against Lynn and Barry. In the Mocs’ win over Lynn, Skayhan made history becoming only the fourth player to ever achieve a triple-double in school history, she had 11 kills, 41 assists and 18 digs. So far this season she has recorded a team-best 514 assists and is averaging 10.08 assists per set and has had 86 kills, a team-best 24 service aces, is third in digs with 136 and leads the team with a .449 hitting percentage.

WOMEN’S GOLF … The Florida Southern Women's Golf Team continued their season this past weekend at the Lady Falcon Invitational hosted by Daytona State College. The women finished second of nine teams after carding a two round team score of 613. While the 'A' Team shot a 613 over the weekend the Mocs’ 'B' Team saw tournament action as well and finished in seventh place with a 660 team score. Senior Megan Kiley was the highest finishing Moc, finishing tied for first; Kiley would eventually lose on the first hole of the playoff. The Mocs will return to the course on Oct. 8-9 at the Guy Harvey Invitational hosted by Nova Southeastern and held on the Palmer Course at the PGA National Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

VOLLEYBALL ON NINE GAME WIN STREAK … The Moccasin Volleyball team had a slow start to the season, going 1-4 through the first five games. However, since Sept. 7, the Mocs have won nine straight matches, boosting their record to 10-4 and 2-0 in conference. Through the win-streak, FSC has beaten; Assumption, Valdosta St. UPR-Mayaguez, North Alabama, Flagler, UPR-Rio Piedras, Armstrong Atlantic, Lynn and Barry. Three players have been named the SSC Conference Players of the Week Presented by VALIC; Anne Pietkiewicz (Offensive Player of the Week-Sept. 17), Arielle Fernandez (Defensive Player of the Week-Sept. 17) and Ali Skayhan (Offensive Player of the Week–Sept 24). The Mocs have two more games this weekend; they play Friday, Sept. 28 against rival Tampa at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Tampa and then take on Eckerd Saturday afternoon in Jenkins Field House at 4 p.m.

USTA/ITA SOUTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS … The Mocs’ Tennis programs will be hosting the USTA/ITA Fall South Regional Championships at the Beerman Tennis Center and the Wynee Warden Tennis Center in Lakeland from Sept 27-30. There will be 12 teams competing in the men’s and women’s brackets with over 40 singles players each and over 20 doubles teams in each bracket. Competition will begin at both centers starting at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27.

WOMEN’S SOCCER OPENS UP CONFERENCE WITH WIN … It’s been a tough battle so far for the women’s soccer team and first year head coach Brittany Jones.  However, the team has earned two straight victories with wins over Lynn (3-0) and Nova Southeastern (2-1). During those two games the women’s soccer team has outshot their opponents by a combined total of 38-11. Over the two game stretch freshman Caroline Evers scored three of the goals and assisted on another, while freshman Sarah Goolsby scored one goal and assisted on two. The women travel to Melbourne to face Florida Tech on Saturday, Sept. 29 for their second conference game.  Currently the Moccasins are 3-4-1 and 1-0 in conference.

WATER SKI WINS TWO MEETS … Men’s and Women’s Water Skiing beat Rollins in two meets on Sept. 15 and 16. Freshman Thibault Dailand was the overall men’s winner both days placing first in all three events; tricks, slalom, and jump. On Saturday Dailand jumped over 30 feet farther than any other competitor with a total jump distance of 169 feet. Sunday his jump distance was 171 feet, two feet farther than his Saturday jump. Senior Manon Costard was the overall winner both days in the women’s competition. In both meets she finished first in slalom and jump, and second in tricks. Costard also set a new collegiate record on Sunday as she recorded 2.5 buoys at 39.5 feet off. The Mocs will return to action on Oct. 6-7 as they compete at the NCWSA Eastern Regional held in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and hosted by the University of Alabama. The NCWSA National Championships, where the Mocs finished third last year, are scheduled for Oct. 17-21 in Zachary, La.

THE MOCS REPORT … Listen to the weekly Mocs Report on WLKF (1430 AM) in Lakeland at approximately 7:40 a.m. FSC Asst. Athletic Director for Athletic Communication Ben Greenberg provides information and updates on Moccasin Athletics each week with “Mayhem in the AM” host Len Erickson. The program will air each Friday morning throughout the school year.

MOCCASIN UPDATES … SnakeBytes is just one way to follow the Mocs. You also can sign up for e-scores and have Moccasin results come to your cell phone or computer. Go to the Moccasin athletics web site at www.fscmocs.com, and then click on the e-scores link to sign up. Become a fan of the Mocs on Facebook at http://bit.ly/fscmocs or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/fsc_athletics.