Emory Report

December 13, 1999

Volume 52, No. 15

Eagle News: Basketball, swimming & diving teams start seasons strong Basketball (Men) Call him "Coach," or Brett Zuver. But the most fitting name would be "Streakbuster." In his second season at Emory, Zuver and his teams have ended several frustrating streaks. Going into last season, Emory had not defeated the University of the South (Tenn.) in five years. Streak over. Emory had not ever won at Washington (Mo.), going back to 1988. Streak over. Going into this season, Emory had not won at University of the South in seven years. Streak over. Emory had not won at Oglethorpe (Ga.) in seven years. Streak over. Emory entered December with a 2-1 record, the only loss by five points to a team that ended last season as the second-ranked team in the South region. In those three games, four different players led Emory in scoring (two players shared the honor in one game). Basketball (Women) Emory's successful fall seasons meant Coach Myra Sims had to wait longer for the services of three regulars, two of whom were playing volleyball and the other soccer, who missed the majority of the preseason practices. And 10 minutes into the season opener, the squad lost their top freshman until January with a foot injury. The news was not all bad as the Eagles split their first six games, including a 96-63 win against Ferrum (Va.). Senior Alex Gillies leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 11 points and eight rebounds per game. She was voted to the all-tournament team at the Thomas More (Ky.) Invitational. Swimming & Diving (Men) Emory may never play Notre Dame in football or Duke in basketball, but the swimming and diving teams have traditionally gone head to head against NCAA Div. I schools and this year managed to upset two of them: Davidson (N.C.) and Charleston (S.C.). The Eagles, who finished sixth at the NCAA Div. III nationals last season, appear ready to move up when Emory hosts this season's nationals in March. Entering this month, the Eagle men had attained four provisional qualifying performances for nationals, the second highest number in the nation. Swimming & Diving (Women) Emory welcomed back nearly every swimmer from last season's squad that finished 12th in the nation at the NCAA national championships. So the odds of a freshman emerging as this year's top swimmer were about as remote as a solar eclipse. Yet that's exactly what happened. Freshman Lindsey Hoffner broke an 8-year-old school record in her first college meet. In her first five meets, she set six school records, swam four provisional qualifying performances for nationals and one automatic qualifying time (1,650-yard freestyle event) for the NCAA championships in March at Emory. Thanks to Hoffner, Emory female swimmers have accounted for eight Div. III provisional qualifying times, third highest in the nation. John Arenberg is Emory's sports information director. Return to December 13, 1999 contents page