Emory
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October 17 , 2005
Fall sports squads start fast in 2005
Douglas Blair is Emory’s sports information director
Volleyball
The fall sports season once again finds Emory fielding several nationally ranked teams. Of the seven teams competing in the fall, six can be found in their respective top 25 polls. Leading the way is the volleyball team. Jenny McDowell has her squad ranked No. 3 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Coaches Poll. The team stands 16-1 on the season, matching the program’s best start after 17 games. The Eagles are riding a 15-match winning streak that has seen them win 45 consecutive games. The win streak has also seen Emory claim three tournament championships, the Washington & Lee Invitational, the Emory Classic and the Emory Invitational. Seniors Katrina Damasco and Catherine Zidow, along with junior Courtney Rose, lead the talented squad. Damasco and Rose, both outside hitters, lead the team in kills with 154 and 142, respectively. Zidow is second in assists with 200.
Men’s soccer
Head coach Mike Rubesch and his men’s soccer team have blitzed the competition through the first 10 games, sporting a perfect 10-0-0 record and 1-0-0 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The Eagles are ranked sixth in the country and first in the south region. The Emory defense has been stellar, giving up only two goals, while the offense has scored 33 goals. Freshman Patrick Carver has been a huge lift on offense, accounting for 10 goals to lead the team. His play already has earned him UAA athlete of the week honors. Senior Karl Dix has provided solid leadership and needs two assists to break the UAA record for assists all-time.
Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team joins the men in the top 25, ranked 22nd. The defending UAA champions are under new leadership this season. Sue Patberg comes to Emory from the University of Georgia where she was the head coach for the past five seasons. The women stand 7-0-2 on the season and 1-0-0 in the conference. Like the men, a superb effort on the defensive end has held opponents to one goal on the season. Senior goalie Amy Franciscovich leads a solid core of defenders. She has 22 saves on the season and has been named UAA athlete of the week twice for soccer defense. Junior Jessie Dean leads the team with three goals (10 other players have scored at least once this year). Senior co-captain Lauren Hudak leads the team in assists with four.
Golf
The golf team stands eighth in the country following an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships this past spring. Head coach Mike Phillips and his squad have already competed in two tournaments, finishing third at the NCAA Div. III Preview and fifth at the Tom O’Briant Invitational. Senior captain Mike Lebow leads the team with a scoring average of 74.75.
Cross country
John Curtin’s men’s and women’s cross country teams have gotten off to fine starts. The women’s team is ranked 25th in the country through three events. They already have one team victory to their credit by winning the Sewanee Invitational at the beginning of the year. Sophomore Lauren Shores has two top 10 finishes and a season-best time of 18:18 where she finished third at the Sewanee Invitational. Although the men are not ranked, they won the Vanderbilt Invitational earlier this year, defeating mainly Div. I schools. Sophomore Bryan Forsyth is the team’s top runner with his best finish a second place at Vanderbilt Invitational with a time of 25:42.
For more information on Emory athletics and a schedule of events, go to www.go.emory.edu.
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