2017 NSU Women's Tennis Media Guide by Northwestern State Sports Information

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Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Quick Facts Name Northwestern State University Location Natchitoches, Louisiana Population 17,865 Founded 1884, as Louisiana Normal Affiliation Division I Conference Southland Enrollment 9,179 Nickname Lady Demons Colors Purple and White, Orange Trim President Dr. Chris Maggio Vice President, External Affairs Jerry Pierce Director of Athletics Greg Burke Ticket Office 318-357-4268

Team Information Program All-Time Record 399-245 First Season 1977 SLC Titles 4 (1989, 1994, 2010, 2014) SLC Tournament Titles 3 (2010, 2013, 2015) NCAA Regionals 3 (2010, 2013, 2015) 2016 Season Record 13-11 SLC Record/Finish 7-4/6th NCAA Postseason N/A Letterwinners R/L 3/4 Newcomers 5 Seniors 0 Head Coach Olga Bazhanova (Northwestern State, 2012) Record/Years 29-20/3rd Record at NSU 29-20 Assistant Coach Patric DuBois (St. Bonaventure, 1987) Athletic Trainer Kayla Johnson Sports Information Director Doug Ireland Email ireland@nsula.edu Cell 318-471-2086 Tennis Contact Drew Bartlett Email JBartlett123126@nsula.edu Cell 256-654-3075 Assistant SID Jason Pugh SID Graduate Assistants Drew Bartlett, Lloyd Courtney SID Office Phone 318-357-6467 Website nsudemons.com Tennis Twitter @NSUDemonsWTN

Table of Contents 2017 NSU tennis Maintaining a Championship Tradition Quick Facts & Table of Contents 2017 Roster 2017 Season Outlook Coaching Staff & Athletes Head Coach Olga Bazhanova Assistant Coach Patric Dubois Graduate Assistant Daniel Emirzian Athletic Trainer Kayla Johnson Polina Ivanova Polina Mutel Iryna Vardanian Kateryna Avram Judit Castillo Emilija Dancetovic Elizaveta Gerasimova Vladislava Litvinova

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The Southland Conference

History & Records Series Records Individual and Career Records Year-by-Year Results NSU Tennis History Paddlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Professor A Surge of Success

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University & Athletic Personnel President Dr. Chris Maggio Vice President Jerry Pierce Director of Athletics Greg Burke Athletics Administration Sports Information

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Northwestern State We are Northwestern State 35 City of Natchitoches 36 Academics 37 Campus Life 38 CHAMPS/Life Skills 39

2017 Media Guide Credits Design & Layout Drew Bartlett Covers Drew Bartlett Editorial Assistance Jason Pugh, Matt Vines, Doug Ireland Photography Gary Hardamon, NSU Photographic Services

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Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;˘ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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2017 Lady Demons Roster Name Polina Ivanova Polina Mutel Iryna Vardanian Kateryna Avram Judit Castillo Emilija Dancetovic Elizaveta Gerasimova Vladislava Litvinova

Ht. 5-9 5-8 5-5 5-6 5-4 5-10 5-9 5-7

Yr.-Exp. Jr.-2L So.-1L So.-1L Fr-HS Fr-HS Fr-HS Fr-HS Fr-HS

Hometown/Previous School Moscow, Russia/Moscow University of Economics Yaroslavl Russia/School Number 12 Kiev, Ukraine/Evening School Kiev, Ukraine Teruel, Spain Lipjan, Serbia Belgorod, Russia Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Head Coach: Olga Bazhanova (Northwestern State, 2012) Assistant Coach: Patric DuBois (St. Bonaventure, 1987) Graduate Assistant: Daniel Emirzian (Martin Methodist, 2016) Athletic Trainer: Kayla Johnson Pronunciation Guide Polina Ivanova: PO-leena EE-va-nova Polina Mutel: PO-leena MOO-tell Iryna Vardanian: EAR-eena Var-DANE-ian Kateryna Avram: Cat-uh-reena ay-vrum Judit Castillo: JEW-dit Cas-tee-yo Emilija Dancetovic: Eh-mili-ah Dance-toe-vich Elizaveta Gerasimova: eh-lit-zah-beta Gera-suh-mova Vladislava Litvinova: Vlah-dis-lava Lit-vuh-nova Olga Bazhanova: bah-JOHN-uva Patric DuBois: do-BWAH Daniel Emirzian: E-mer-ZH-ian

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;˘ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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NSU on the hunt for fifth-straight conference Final Appearance

Olga Bazhanova enters her third season at the helm of a tennis squad that has reached the conference tournament final in four straight seasons and every year but one since 2010. Past teams have had the advantage of veteran players that led on the courts and off. One of the greatest Lady Demon tennis members, Natalya Krutova, graduated in 2016. Bazhanova has been charged with finding a replacement for longtime team leader Krutova, who earned NCAA Academic All-American honors -- the 14th for NSU Athletics. Krutova was voted to the 2016 Academic All-America team and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in biology with a minor in biomedical science. To go along with her national award, she also earned Academic All-Southland Conference first-team honors three times as well as Academic All-District 6 At-Large Team acclaim three times. The Academic All-District 6 At-Large Team consists of 10 players from Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. “Natalya was an exceptional student-athlete,” Bazhanova said. “She showed great character on the court and was a strong leader for the girls on the team. Every match she played with intensity, team spirit and determination to compete for her team. She is an example of an amazing fighter on and off the court.” The 2016 Lady Demon team had its struggles throughout the year, but finished strong – winning six of the last seven conference matches – before falling just short in the SLC championship match against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi.

Polina Ivanova

“ We had a challenging last year but the way girls came out in the end was truly inspiring and amazing,” Bazhanova said. “Team spirit and chemistry have always been one of the priorities and advantages of our team.” “We have been in four-straight conference finals and it takes strong team leadership to do that.” A chance for a trip to a fifth-straight conference tournament final appearance is rare no matter the sport. For NSU tennis, it is expected to make a deep run in the tournament every season. “We are very proud of all our traditions and strong culture we have developed,” Bazhanova said. “Our conference is tough and we do not have any easy matches. Everyone can beat one another on any given day, so we have to be mentally and physically prepared for everyone.” NSU returns three athletes from a team that went 13-11 overall and 7-4 against Southland Conference foes during 2016 spring dual play. “We have a very good core from last year,” Bazhanova said. “We have three top players coming back and we have five good, strong players who want to be a part of our great tradition and fit very well with our team. The girls get along very well, and they challenge each other to bring their level of tennis up every practice.” Junior Polina Ivanova led the team in wins in both singles (16-3) and doubles (12-4) this past season, playing primarily in the No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles positions. Ivanova finished the season on a hot streak in singles with a 9-1 record in the team’s final ten matches.

Polina Mutel Iryna Vardanian Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Sophomore Iryna Vardanian competed primarily in the No. 2 singles position and went 15-8 in dual play last spring, winning her sole match in the No. 1 position. Sophomore Polina Mutel is aiming to build on her 13-9 singles record at the No. 3 position. In doubles, Mutel and Vardanian teamed up and won nine of 12 matches in the spring. The rest of the team is filled with talented, albeit collegiately unproven freshmen. “We have a young but very The 2015 Conference Tournament Championship Team talented team with positive and motivated players,” Bazhanova said. The five international freshmen that fill out the roster all held national rankings in their home countries. A family atmosphere and bond is often talked about all around NSU athletics, and it is no different inside the Lady Demon tennis program. “We have strong leadership and positive team culture. For such a young team it is very important to get in to the rhythm and adjust to the team atmosphere,“ Bazhanova said. “Our three returners have matured very much within past year and are ready to step up for our freshmen. We are a big family here and always bring the team first.”

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Olga Bazhanova Head Coach 5th season • 3rd as Head Coach Northwestern State (2012) Third-year head coach Olga Bazhanova helped rebuild the championship tradition of Northwestern State tennis as a player and an assistant coach, and she continues to build on a foundation based on strong character and values since taking over the program in 2015. This past season, the Lady Demons returned to the Southland Conference championship match, making it four straight seasons of reaching the tournament finals since Bazhanova joined the staff. NSU won tournament titles in 2013 and 2015, securing a berth to the NCAA tournament both years. Bazhanova tutored Natyla Krutova, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA in biomedical science was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American team in 2016, and earned All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana selections all four years she competed. Krutova finished tied for fourth all-time in career singles wins in NSU history. The Lady Demons have posted a 3.4 GPA over the past eight academic years. “We have built a program that has strong academic values that our students carry beyond that classroom,” said Bazhanova. In 2015, The Lady Demons won the Southland Conference Tournament as a No. 4 seed, the program’s third league tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in six seasons. NSU (16-9, 9-2 SLC) tied for the fourth-most wins in program history led by All-Louisiana selections Tatiana Larina and Krutova. The season was highlighted by winning streaks of six and seven matches. The six-match streak carried NSU to a conference tournament title highlighted by a 4-2 win against Nicholls, a team that had beaten the Lady Demons 4-0 in the regular season. Bazhanova has been an integral part of five total conference titles as a player or coach in the past seven years. As an assistant coach under then-head coach Patric DuBois, she helped the 2013 Lady Demons win the SLC Tournament title and another NCAA Tournament before the 2014 NSU team won the SLC regular season title and advanced to the conference tournament finals. As a player, she was NSU’s No. 1 singles player and part of a nationally ranked doubles pairing with Adna Curukovic, leading the 2010 squad to SLC regular season and tournament titles while posting the fewest losses in the country with a 21-2 record. She was also member of a team that climbed to No. 64 in the ITA Collegiate rankings.

senior in 2012. She was also a two-time All-Southland Academic Team selection while posting a career doubles mark of 64-20, giving her the fourthmost dual match victories in school history. Her 48 singles wins (48-31) is tied for 13th on the NSU career list. She was first-team All-Southland Conference in doubles in 2010 and 2012. “Olga has been a leader for the Lady Demon tennis program since she first set foot on campus (seven) years ago. As either a coach or player, she has been a part of three championship teams and understands the expectation of success that is so prevalent within the program,” said NSU athletics director Greg Burke. Bazhanova, a 26-year-old native of Nikolaev, Ukraine, has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NSU.

Bazhanova vs. All Opponents

Opponent Record Abilene Christian 1-1 Air Force 1-0 Alcorn State 1-0 Arkansas Tech 1-0 Baylor 0-1 Central Arkansas 3-1 Grambling 2-0 Incarnate Word 2-0 Lamar 2-0 UL Monroe 0-2 Louisiana Tech 0-2 LSU 0-1 McNeese State 2-0 New Orleans 3-0 Nicholls 2-1 North Texas 1-0 Sam Houston State 2-0 Southeast Missouri State 1-0 SMU 0-2 Southeastern Louisiana 3-0 Southern Mississippi 1-1 Stephen F. Austin 0-2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-2 Texas-San Antonio 0-2 Texas State 0-2 Overall 29-20

Bazhanova won All-Southland honors as a sophomore in 2010 and a 6

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Patric Dubois Director of Tennis 16th season • 3rd as assistant coach St. Bonaventure (1987) Patric DuBois enters his 16th year as a member of the Lady Demon tennis program and third consecutive season as an assistant coach and tennis director after leading the team as head coach for 13 seasons. DuBois is one of the most successful tennis coaches in Southland Conference history and has a track record of developing nationally competitive teams and players who succeed on the court and in the classroom. As NSU’s head coach from 1989-94 and from 2006-2014, he led the Lady Demons to a combined six Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles and 3 NCAA Tournament appearances. In 24 seasons of collegiate coaching, DuBois has led Northwestern State and Texas-Arlington to 13 Southland Conference regular season titles, 11 Southland Conference Tournament titles, and nine NCAA Tournament appearances. DuBois began his coaching career at NSU in 1989. The Lady Demons consistently improved in the standings each year before winning the SLC Championship in 1994. His 1994 team included freshman Lludmila Pavlov, who was ranked as high as No. 33 in the ITA national singles rankings, and the doubles team of Karen Bacon and Emily Nichols, who was ranked as high as No. 20 in the ITA national doubles rankings. That trio was the cornerstone of the Lady Demons’ 1994 SLC championship. Moving to UTA, he took over a men’s program which had never won an SLC title but went on to win six Southland Conference regular season titles, five Southland Conference Tournament Championship titles, and five NCAA Tournament appearances under his guidance. DuBois was named Director of tennis in 1997, taking on additional head coaching duties for the UTA women’s program. In his third season in that capacity, the UTA women launched a 46-match winning streak in conference play, winning four SLC Regular season titles, four SLC Tournament championships, and making three NCAA appearances. He coached Andy Leber, who was the NCAA Division I Senior Male National Player of the Year in 2002. Leber had a singles record of 44-3, was an NCAA All-American, and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in Division I singles. DuBois returned to NSU in 2003 as the Director of Wellness & Recreation and started his second stint as head coach for the 2006-2007 season. DuBois knocked the rust off the NSU tennis program, guiding NSU to a 10-10 mark in his first year after the Lady Demons had just one winning season from 1999-2006 with no championships. The Lady Demons won the SLC regular season and conference titles in 2010, starting a string of five total titles in four different seasons with three NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2010 team recorded a program record 20 wins (20-2), winning percentage (.909) and the program’s first NCAA Tournament trip. DuBois coached Martina Rubesova, who in 2010, became the first Lady Demon player to be invited and participate in the 64-woman NCAA Singles Championship, and was the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and the All-Louisiana Player of the Year.

DuBois guided Northwestern State to another Southland Conference tournament title in 2013 and the school’s second appearance in the NCAA Team Tournament, posting an overall 14-8 record while placing four members on the All-Southland teams. The 2014 Lady Demons matched their 20-win record (20-6) with another SLC tournament title and NCAA appearance. He recruited current head coach Olga Bazhanova (2009-12) as a player, guided her as she assumed assistant coaching duties and eventually head coaching duties when DuBois shifted his focus to the Director of Wellness and Recreation position and began duties as Assistant Athletic Director for special projects & facilities. His overall coaching record is 381-221, including a 185-45 mark in Southland Conference matches. DuBois is a nine-time SLC Coach of the Year and his teams have won 11 SLC Tournament championships and13 regular-season titles to go along with the nine NCAA Tournament appearances. He has coached more than 100 athletes who have earned first or secondteam All-SLC honors, including 10 SLC Tennis “Conference Player of the Year” recipients. DuBois has seen 14 of his teams honored by the ITA for their outstanding academic achievements, posting a cumulative team grade point average of 3.2 or better and over 100 ITA scholar-athletes honored for having over a 3.5 individual grade point average. A Kingston, N.Y. native, DuBois was an outstanding tennis player at St. Bonaventure University in the Atlantic 10 Conference where he received his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. DuBois then earned his graduate degree in sports administration from Kent State in Ohio. DuBois’ wife, Lise, is an instructor in the Business Department & Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Northwestern State University. They have one daughter, Mazie Catherine, who is a freshman at NSU.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Daniel Emirzian Graduate Assistant Coach 1st season Martin Methodist College (2016) With 18 years of tennis experience, including a decade at a high competitive level, Daniel Emirzian has joined the NSU Lady Demon tennis coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Emirzian graduated with a business administration degree (emphasis in management) in May 2016 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average from Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., where he was captain of the tennis team. He was also active on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2013-16, gaining valuable community service experience that included fundraising for worthy causes. He was a Daktronics/NAIA Scholar-Athlete who won the Tom-Read Academic Excellence Award. He made the president’s list seven straight semesters and was initiated in Omicron Delta Kappa honor fraternity. Emirzian was ranked in the NAIA’s top 30 team players after being in the top 10 of the Swedish junior rankings. He reached the conference tournament team semifinals in 2013 and was an NAIA Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional quarterfinalist in 2015. Fluent in English, Spanish, Swedish, and Armenian, he served from 2013-16 in his college’s tutoring program, specializing in languages, communication skills and social sciences. He also has marketing experience. Emirzian worked promoting the Yerevan and Jerusalem tennis events during his undergraduate career.

Kayla Johnson Athletic Trainer 2nd year Southwestern Oklahoma State (2015) Kayla Johnson is in her second year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Northwestern State after earning her bachelor’s in Athletic Training from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2015. Johnson serves as the lead trainer for tennis and a secondary trainer for football while assisting with other sports as needed. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Health and Human Performance. Johnson also provided coverage for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state cross country meets held in Natchitoches. At SWOSU, she assisted with rehabilitation plans and evaluations for a number of sports as well as at a physical therapy clinic. Her sports included men’s basketball, football and baseball, covering practices and games. Johnson assisted athletic trainers working high school sports as well. She began her athletic training duties as a volunteer at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2010. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native is a Licensed Athletic Trainer by the State of Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and is first aid certified.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Polina ivanova 5-9 • Junior Moscow, Russia Moscow University of Economics

2016 Season (Sohphomore) • Posted a team best 16-3 (9-2 SLC) overall singles record for the season in the No. 4 (10-1), 5 (4-1), and No. 6 (2-1) postions • Finished the season strong, winning nine of her last ten matches • Went 12-4 (8-1 SLC) in doubles at the No. 1 position playing alongside Natalya Krutova and Polina Mutel 2015 Season (RS Freshman) • Played No. 4 singles for majority of Southland Conference season, posting a 6-3 record overall at the position • Overall record was 13-6 in 23 matches • Appeared at the No. 5 spot as well, posting a 6-2 mark • Took a set from Skylar Holloway and No. 37 LSU in three-set loss • In doubles, posted a 9-11 mark overall • Went 5-2 in 10 matches with Kateryna Piatakova and 3-6 with Barbora Kollarova 2014 Season (Freshman) • Redshirted. High School • Graduated from School 97 in Moscow, Russia • Earned a 4.0 GPA • Participated in tennis and taekwondo. Personal: • Daughter of Irina Ivanova and Evgeniy Ivanova • Three sisters, Zoya, Galya and Alina • Majoring in Business Administration and Accounting • After NSU, plans to start own business • Life’s ambition is to become a pilot • Born Oct. 27, 1997 Ivanova’s Career Stats Singles Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dual 2015 13-6 -- -- -- 6-3 6-3 1-0 13-6 2016 16-3 -- -- -- 10-1 4-1 2-1 16-3 Totals 29-9 -- -- -- 16-4 10-4 3-1 29-9 Doubles Total 1 2 3 Dual 2015 9-11 -- 8-8 1-3 9-11 2016 12-4 11-4 1-0 -- 12-4 Totals 21-15 11-4 9-8 1-3 21-15 Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Polina Mutel 5-8 • Sophomore Yaroslavl, Russia School Number 12

2016 (Freshman) • Played majority of season in the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles positions. • 13-9 record in singles • 10-6 record in doubles • Had the second-best doubles record on the team in conference play (6-2) with teammate Iryna Vardanian High School: • Won junior national championship in doubles in Russia • Ranked top 10 in juniors in Russia Personal: • Daughter of Ekaterina and Pavel Mutel • One brother Semen (14) • Finance major who wants to study in the USA and be useful to her team • Aspires to find a job and be strong. Mutel’s Career Stats Singles Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dual 2016 13-9 - 1-0 12-9 - - - 13-9 Totals 13-9 - 1-0 12-9 - - - 13-9 Doubles Total 1 2 3 Dual 2016 10-6 - 10-5 0-1 10-6 Totals 10-6 - 10-5 0-1 10-6

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Iryna Vardanian 5-8 • Sophomore Kiev, Urkaine Evening School

2016 (Freshman): • Played majority of season in the No. 2 position in doubles and singles • 15-8 record in singles • Played one match in the No. 1 position, beating Arkansas Tech’s Macarena Acosta 6-0, 6-2 • Finished with an 8-1 record in the team’s last ten matches • In doubles, finished 11-5 (6-2) playing all conference matches with teammate Polina Mutel High School: • Ranked No. 577 in the world in the ITF junior rankings • Best win came against Silvia Njiric (ITF U18 No. 6 and WTA No. 398) • Reached two ITF semifinals in singles and doubles Personal: • Daughter of Ganna and Artur Vardanian • One brother, Garnik (18) • Business major who aspires to hold a master’s degree in the field • nickname is “Ira” • born March 16, 1997

Vardanian’s Career Stats Singles Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dual 2015 15-8 1-0 14-8 - - - - 15-8 Totals 15-8 1-0 14-8 - - - - 15-8 Doubles Total 1 2 3 Dual 2015 11-5 2-2 9-3 - 11-5 Totals 11-5 2-2 9-3 - 11-5

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Kateryna Avram 5-6 • Freshman Kiev, Ukraine Kiev Gymnasium 287

High School: • Attended Kiev Gymnasium 287 in Kiev, Ukraine, earning a 3.4 GPA • Best ITF Junior victory came vs. Kristina Vasina (BLR) 7-5, 6-2. Personal: • Only child of Maksym and Iuliia Avram, both of whom are lawyers • Majoring in Business Administration • Wants to be the best version of herself • Plans to play tennis professionally and obtain a job as a PR manager • Born Sep 24, 1999

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Judit Castillo 5-4 • Freshman Teruel, Spain IES “Ramon Llull

High School: • Attended IES Ramón Llull in Valencia, Spain, earning a 3.2 GPA • Competed in cross country and track and field, earning championships in each • Ranked No. 133 nationally in Spain • Won several Spanish national junior tournaments • Won a number of matches over world top 500 ITF junior competitors. Personal: • Youngest child of María Pillar and Miguel Gerónimo, • Has one brother, Ismael, and one sister, Marta • Ismael has a Master of Music Therapy degree and Marta has a Master of Archaeology degree • Majoring in health and exercise science • Plans to use her degree to work as a sports trainer • Life ambition is to play tennis at the professional level • Nickname is Gorrión, which translates to “sparrow” in English.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Emilija Dancetovic 5-10 • Freshman Lipjan, Serbia Gimnazija-Lipljan

High School: • Graduated from Gimnazija-Lipljan high school in Lipljan, Serbia, earning a 4.89 GPA • Reached No. 921 in the WTA rankings • Reached No. 9 in the European U-14 rankings. Personal: • Daughter of Aleksandra and Nemanja Dancetovic • Has one brother, David • Born Dec. 09, 1997.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

Elizaveta Gerasimova

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5-9 • Freshman Belgorod, Russia Gymnasium 2

High School: • Attended Gymnasium 2 in Belgorod, Russia, earning a 3.2 GPA • Lettered in basketball, volleyball, track. Personal: • Youngest child of Alexandra and Sergey Gerasimova • Siblings include Daniel and Anastasia • Majoring in Business Administration • Plans to stay in America and coach tennis after graduation • Nickname is Gera • Born Oct. 27, 1997

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Vladislava Litvinova 5-7 • Freshman Rostov-on-Don, Russia School 78

High School: • Attended School 78 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, earning a 4.0 GPA & red diploma • Ranked No. 8 in the Russian junior rankings • Ranked No. 67 in the European Tennis Federation • Ranked No. 962 in the Junior ITF rankings • Advanced to the Russian Championship semifinals in both singles and doubles in 2013. Personal: • Only child of Victor and Julia Litvinova • Intends to work as a nutritionist after graduating with a degree in medicine • Nickname is Slava • Born Oct. 15,1998.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

2017 m ed ia g uid e Well into its sixth decade of service, the Southland Conference continues to be a model of innovation, stability and consistent achievement as it celebrates the academic and athletic accomplishments of its member institutions and approximately 4,200 studentathletes. Having commemorated its 50th anniversary in 2013, the Southland Conference has transformed itself into a dynamic and respected consortium of 13 member universities in three states. Beginning with a historic meeting of five institutions in Dallas on March 15, 1963, the Southland Conference set on an extraordinary course that has proven successful well into the 21st Century. The successful transformation continues, as the Southland Conference welcomed four additional members in 2013: Abilene Christian University, Houston Baptist University, the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, and the University of New Orleans. In addition to its newest members, the Southland also consists of the University of Central Arkansas, Lamar University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Sam Houston State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi. An original Southland member from 1963-73, Abilene Christian rejoined the league as one of the most decorated athletic programs in NCAA history, and the addition of Houston Baptist, UIW and New Orleans gives the Southland a regular competitive presence in the key metropolitan areas of Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. Southland cities encompass approximately 14 million people, and six of its television markets rank among the top 100 in the U.S. All told, the membership of the Southland encompasses nearly 140,000 current students and an alumni base of nearly 800,000. Famous alums from current Southland Conference schools include former CBS news anchor Dan Rather (Sam Houston State), NBA executive Joe Dumars (McNeese State), ABC news anchor Robin Roberts (Southeastern Louisiana), Major League Baseball star Wade Miley (Southeastern Louisiana), NBA legend Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas), and track and field Olympians Kenta Bell (Northwestern State), and Bobby Morrow and Billy Olson (both Abilene Christian). Other notable alums from current members include Grammy Award-winning musicians Frank Ocean (New Orleans), Don Hen-

2016 All-Southland Women’s Tennis Teams First Team Singles Renee Villarreal, Southeastern Louisiana Jelena Dzinic, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Lucile Pothier, Abilene Christian Hannah Brett, McNeese Whitney Williams, Abiline Christian Liza Aginskaya, Stephen F. Austin Second Team Singles Hortense Boscher, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Dhanielly Quevedo, Stephen F. Austin Sarah Jurakova, McNeese Celia Rodriguez, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Maider Martin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Maddie Montimore, Sam Houston State First Team Doubles Renee Villarreal/Dalina Dahlmans, Southeastern Louisiana Lucile Pothier/Kaysie Hermsdorf, Abilene Christian Hortense Boscher/Alexandra Belle, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Second Team Doubles Polina Ivanova/Natalya Krutova, Northwestern State Maider Martin/Celia Rodriguez, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Mada Manataweewat/QiLi Ma, Central Arkansas

ley and Rodney Crowell (both Stephen F. Austin), and Ronnie Dunn (Abilene Christian), television personality and actress Ellen DeGeneres (New Orleans), current NFL standouts Lardarius Webb (Nicholls State), Terrence McGee (Northwestern State), and Daniel Manning (Abilene Christian), professional golfers Shawn Stefani and Chris Stroud (both Lamar) and Colin Montgomerie (HBU), award-winning filmmaker Richard Linklater (Sam Houston State), American Idol winner Kris Allen (Central Arkansas), NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Harris (Northwestern State), former NFL standouts Bobby Hebert (Northwestern State), Gary Barbaro (Nicholls State), Wilbert Montgomery (Abilene Christian) and Gary Reasons (Northwestern State), former MLB stars Darryl Hamilton (Nicholls State) and Kevin Millar (Lamar), NCAA football coach Charlie Strong (Central Arkansas), actors John Larroquette (New Orleans), Ricardo Chavira (UIW) and Jesse Borrego (UIW), and the late NFL coaching legend O.A. “Bum” Phillips (Lamar and Stephen F. Austin). The Southland sponsors 17 full championship sports, all at the NCAA Division I level. The eight men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. The women compete for nine championships in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. The conference earns automatic qualification to NCAA championships in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball. The Southland Bowling League, an affiliated Conference sport, originated in 2015, and four of its members filled out half of the eight-team bracket, with Stephen F. Austin advancing to the national title match.

2016 Tournament (Corpus Christi, Texas) Quarterfinals No. 1 Texas A&M-Corpus Chriti 4, No. 8 Lamar 0 No 4 McNeese 4, No. 5 New Orleans 1 No. 3 Northwestern State 4, No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana 3 No. 7 Central Arkansas 4, No. 2 Stephen F. Austin 1 Semifinals No. 1 Texas A&M-Corpus Chriti 4, No. 4 McNeese 3 No. 3 Northwestern State 4, No. 7 Central Arkansas 2 Championship No. 1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, No. 3 Northwestern State 2

Player of the Year: Renee Villarreal, Southeastern Louisiana Freshman of the Year: Giovanna Fioretti, McNeese Newcomer of the Year: Hortense Boscher, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Coach of the Year: Steve Moore, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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All-Time Series Records

Opponent W L Last Abilene Christian 3 2 2016 Abraham Baldwin 0 1 1999 AIR FORCE 1 0 2016 Alabama 0 2 2013 Alabama-Birmingham 0 2 2014 ALCORN STATE 1 0 2016 Arkansas-Little Rock 10 11 2011 Arkansas Tech 2 0 2016 Arkansas State 7 6 2013 Auburn 0 1 2014 Baylor 1 4 2010 Bethune Cookman 1 0 2009 Centenary 26 7 2008 Central Arkansas* 11 1 2016 Drury 1 0 2012 East Texas Baptisti 2 0 1985 East Texas State 1 0 1987 Florida Atlantic 1 0 2009 Florida Gulf Coast 1 0 2009 Grambling 11 0 2015 Gustavus Adolphus 1 0 1979 Houston 3 5 2012 Houston Baptist 2 2 1986 Incarnate Word* 3 0 2016 Illinois State 1 0 1983 Jacksonville 2 0 1992 Kansas State 1 0 1986 Lamar* 17 13 2016 Louisiana College 4 0 1982 UL Lafayette 20 22 2014 ULM 14 17 2016 Louisiana Tech 35 10 2016 LSU 0 16 2015 LSU-Alexandria 2 0 1978 McNeese* 29 9 2016 Memphis 1 1 2008 Memphis State 3 1 1984 Middle Tennessee State 0 1 1993 Mississippi State 2 0 2012 Mississippi Valley State 1 0 2001 Miss. Univ. for Women 0 1 1999 Mobile College 0 1 1992 Murray State 0 1 2003 New Orleans* 12 7 2016 Nicholls* 24 3 2016 Northern Iowa 1 0 1983 No. Carolina-Wilmington 1 0 1992 North Texas 8 6 2015 Notre Dame 1 0 1982 Oklahoma City 3 0 1993 Oklahoma State 0 1 1983 Ole Miss 0 1 1978 Oral Roberts 2 1 2014 Prairie View-A&M 1 0 2014 Purdue 0 1 1979 Rice 0 4 2009 Samford 1 0 2004 Sam Houston State* 27 2 2016 Schreiner 1 0 1990 South Alabama 0 4 1992 Southeast Missouri State 1 0 2015 Southeastern Louisiana* 23 8 2016 Southern 2 0 1990 Southern Arkansas 3 0 1983 Southern Mississippi 8 7 2016 Southern Methodist 1 3 2016 Stephen F. Austin* 20 11 2016 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi* 9 6 2016 Texas-Arlington 10 11 2012

Opponent Texas Christian Texas-El Paso Texas-Pan American Texas-Permian Basin Texas-San Antonio Texas-Tyler Texas State Texas Tech Tulane Vanderbilt West Florida West Texas State Wichita State TOTALS

W L Last 0 1 1987 1 0 2011 6 0 2012 1 0 1987 9 12 2016 3 3 1989 17 7 2015 0 1 1990 3 17 2010 0 1 1979 2 1 1999 1 0 1984 0 1 1981 399 235

* Southland Opponents

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;˘ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Individual and Career Records Career Singles wins Name 1.Vicky Sims 2. Bianca Schulz 3. Shayne Fitzwilliam 4. Andrea Nederostova Natalya Krutova 6. Shirley Echaiz 7. Karen Patel 8. Tatiana Larina 9. Babette Cramer 10. Daniela Posada 11. Nanette Beasley Jane Paterson

Record 67-19 65-21 63-14 60-23 60-25 58-35 56-23 55-28 53-36 51-26 50-23 50-30

Career Doubles wins Years 1989-92 2008-11 1986-89 2010-13 2013-16 1979-82 1988-91 2012-15 1987-88 2006-09 1979-81 1988-91

Season Singles wins Name 1. Marie Jeanne Huyben 2. Carin Roux 3. Shayne Fitzwilliam 3. Shirly Echaiz 5. Martina Rubesova 5. Natalya Krutova 5. Andrea Nedorostova 5. Bianca Schulz 5. Nannette Beasley

Record 30-4 23-3 20-0 20-7 19-3 19-4 19-4 19-4 19-7

Name 1. Andrea Nederostova 2. Tatiana Larina 3. Bianca Schulz 4. Natalya Krutova 5. Kathrin Lange 6. Olga Bazhanova 7. Karen Patel 8. Barbara Tons Adna Curukovic 10. Shayne Fitzwilliam 11. Jane Paterson 12. Karla Tubss

Record 71-11 68-13 67-21 66-17 65-21 64-20 63-22 57-13 57-26 55-19 52-16 49-30

Years 2010-13 2012-15 2008-11 2013-16 2008-11 2009-12 1988-91 1986 89 2008-11 1986-89 1988-91 1983-85

Season Doubles wins Years 1979 1980 1986 1979 2011 2015 2011 2008 1979

Top Singles Career Percentage (minimum 20 matches) Name Pct. Record Years 1. Carin Roux .885 23-3 1980 2. Marie Jeanne Huyben .882 30-4 1979 3. Tory Plunket .829 34-7 1985-86 4. Shayne Fitzwilliam .828 63-14 1986-89 5. Vicky Sims .780 67-19 1989-92 6. Barbara Tons .766 46-22 1986-89 7. Bianca Schulz .756 65-21 2008-11 8. Diane Raybon .741 20-7 1978 9. Andrea Nederostova .723 60-23 2010-13 10. Natalya Krutova .722 60-25 2013-16 11. Kim Tollet .698 44-19 1983-85 12. Nanette Beasley .685 20-23 1979-81 Top Singles Season Percentage (minimum 15 matches) Name Pct. Record Years 1. Shayne Fitzwilliam 1.000 20-19 1986 2. Marie Jeanne Huyben . 882 30-4 1979 3. Matina Rubesova .864 19-3 2011 4. Bianca Schulz .850 17-3 2008 Tory Plunkett .850 17-3 1986 6. Tatiana Larina .842 16-3 2012 Polina Konop .842 16-3 2012 Polina Ivanova .842 16-3 2016 9. Natalya Krutova .826 19-4 2015 Andrea Nedorostova .826 19-4 2011 Bianca Schulz .826 19-4 2008 12. Kathrin Lange .810 17-4 2010 Tory Plunkett .810 17-4 1985 Natalya Krutova .810 17-4 2015

Name 1. Siw Johnson 2. Tatiana Larina 3. Andrea Nedorostova Martina Rubesova 5. Andrea Nedorostova Natalya Krutova Bianca Schulz 8. Martina Rubesova Vicki Sims Karen Patel Jane Paterson

Record 28-13 21-2 20-3 20-3 19-0 19-3 19-4 18-0 18-7 18-1 18-1

Years 1990 2015 2011 2011 2010 2015 2009 2010 1990 1988 1988

Top Doubles Career Percentage (minimum 20 matches) Name Pct. Record Years 1. Andrea Nedorostova .866 71-11 2010-13 2. Kateryna Piatakova .857 18-3 2014 3. Tatiana Larina .839 68-13 2012-15 4. Barbara Tons .814 57-13 1986-89 5. Dragana Colic .800 28-7 2008-11 6. Natalya Krutova .795 66-17 2013-16 7. Jane Paterson .765 52-16 1988-91 8. Bianca Schulz .761 67-21 2008-11 9. Kathrin Lange .755 65-21 2008-11 10. Tory Plunkett .744 29-10 1985-86

Top DOubles Season Percentage (minimum 15 matches) Name Pct. Record Years 1. Andrea Nedorostova 1.000 19-0 2010 1. Martina Rubesova 1.000 18-0 2010 3. Karen Patel .947 18-1 1988 3. Jane Paterson .947 18-1 1988 5. Tatiana Larina .913 21-2 2015 6. Olga Bazhanova .895 17-2 2009 6. Olga Bazhanova .895 17-2 2012 6. Polina Konop .895 17-2 2012 9. Andrea Nedorostova .870 20-3 2011 9. Martina Rubesova .870 20-3 2011 11. Daniela Posada .867 13-2 2009 12. Natalya Krutova .864 19-3 2015 13. Natalya Krutova .857 18-3 2014 13. Kateryna Platakova .857 18-3 2014 Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;˘ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

Year- by-year results 1977 (9-5)

Tulane Southwestern Navarro College Southern Arkansas Northeast Louisiana Southern Arkansas LSU Nicholls State Southwestern Louisiana Tech LSU-Alexandria Navarro College Nicholls State Louisiana Tech

L, 4-5 W, 9-0 W, 5-2 W, 8-1 L, 0-9 W, 7-0 L, 1-8 L, 4-5 W, 6-3 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 6-1 L, 1-7 W, 8-1

1978 (10-4) LSU-Alexandria Centenary Southern Arkansas Southwestern La. North Texas State Houston Ole Miss McNeese State Southeastern La. Tulane Louisiana Tech Tulane Northeast La. Centenary McNeese State Centenary McNeese State LSU Northeast La. LSU-Alexandria Northeast La.

W, 9-0 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 W, 6-3 W, 7-2 L, 1-8 L, 0-9 W, 8-1 W, 8-1 L, 1-8 W, 9-0 L, 4-5 L, 0-9 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 L, 2-7 L, 0-9 W, 9-0 L, 2-4

1979 (14-8) Louisiana College Southwestern La. Vanderbilt Purdue LSU Lousiana Tech Memphis State Stephen F. Austin Southeastern La. Louisiana Tech

W, 6-0 W, 8-1 L, 3-6 L, 4-5 L, 0-9 W, 6-3 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 W, 9-0

1980 (16-5) Southern Arkansas Louisiana College Lamar Southwestern La. McNeese State Centenary Southwestern La. Southwestern La. Memphis State Louisiana Tech Northeast La. Southeastern La. Louisiana Tech LSU Arkansas-Little Rock Centenary Louisiana Tech LSU Southeastern La. LSU Tulane

W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 5-4 W, 3-1 W, 9-0 W, 5-2 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 6-3 W, 9-0 L, 0-9 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 L, 3-5 W, 9-0 W, 7-2 W, 6-3 L, 2-7 W, 9-0 L, 1-8 L, 3-6

1981 (12-10) @ Stephen F. Austin L, 2-6 @ Centenary L, 4-5 McNeese State W, 6-3 @ Tulane L, 1-8 @ Southwestern La. W, 8-1 Arkansas-Little Rock W, 8-1 #Oral Roberts L, 4-5 #Alabama L, 4-5 Wichita State L, 3-6 @ Houston Baptist W, 9-0 @ McNeese State W, 9-0 Southwestern La. W, 9-0 Louisiana Tech W, 6-3 Stephen F. Austin L, 0-5 Grambling W, 9-0 Houston Baptist W, 7-2 @ Arkansas-Little Rock W, 8-1 @ Louisiana Tech W, 6-3 Centenary L, 3-6 ##McNeese State W, 5-4 ##LSU L, 0-9 ##Tulane L, 1-8 #LSU Team Tournament ##LAIAW State Tournament, placed 4th

Southwestern La. Louisiana College Louisiana Tech Grambling McNeese State @ Southwestern La. #SFA Tournament, placed 3rd 1983 (11-11) 2/26 @ Southern Arkansas 2/28 @ Stephen F. Austin 3/2 McNeese State 3/3 @ Southwestern La. 3/6 @ Houston 3/7 Stephen F. Austin Illinois State 3/10 #Lamar 3/10 #Louisiana Tech 3/11 #Oklahoma State 3/11 #Memphis State 3/12 #Northeast La. Northern Iowa 3/15 @ Grambling 3/19 @ New Orleans 3/20 @ Tulane 4/8 @ Louisiana Tech 4/15 Southwestern La. 4/16 Lamar 4/18 Arkansas-Little Rock Louisiana Tech 4/23 Grambling #NLU Invitational, placed 4th 1984 (11-9) @ Nicholls State @ Tulane Southwestern La. Arkansas-Little Rock #Arkansas State #Memphis State #Northeast La. #Arkansas-Little Rock West Texas State Nicholls State @ Southwestern La. Louisiana Tech @ Centenary @ McNeese State @ Stephen F. Austin LSU

Seniors Tatiana Larina and Amy Williams with the SLC Tournament Championship Trophy

McNeese State Gustavus Adolphus Southeastern La. South Alabama South Alabama Tulane McNeese State LSU Tulane Centenary Northeast La. Centenary

W, 8-1 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 L, 4-5 L, 4-5 L, 3-6 W, 8-1 L, 1-8 L, 3-6 W, 8-1 L, 0-9 W, 7-2

1982 (9-9) @ Louisiana College @ Tulane Centenary @ Grambling Notre Dame #New Orleans #Sam Houston #Stephen F. Austin Arkansas-Little Rock McNeese State Louisiana Tech Stephen F. Austin

W, 9-0 L, 0-9 L, 2-7 W, 9-0 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 W, 5-4 L, 0-9 W, 7-2 L, 3-6 L, 0-9 L, 2-7

Tulane Stephen F. Austin McNeese State @ Louisiana Tech #NLU Invitational, placed 4th 2/9 2/20 2/23 2/24 2/26 3/1

1985 (14-4, 4-1 GSC) East Texas Baptist @ East Texas Baptist @ Tulane @ New Orleans Lamar @ McNeese State

W, 6-3 W, 7-2 L, 3-6 W, 8-1 W, 6-3 L, 4-5

W, 9-0 W, 7-2 W, 8-1 L, 1-7 L, 0-9 W, 7-2 W, 6-3 L, 0-9 L, 3-6 L, 1-8 L, 3-6 L, 1-8 W, 8-1 W, 7-2 W, 7-2 L, 0-9 L, 4-5 W, 5-4 L, 1-8 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 W, 8-1

W, 5-4 L, 3-6 L, 4-5 L, 3-6 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 L, 1-8 L, 3-6 W, 6-3 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 L, 2-7

L, 4-5 W, 7-2 L, 4-5 W, 5-4

W, 9-0 W, 9-0 L, 1-8 W, 7-0 W, 8-1 W, 7-2

3/10 @ Southwestern La. 3/12 @ Centenary 3/17 Tulane 3/19 Louisiana Tech 3/25 *@Sam Houston 3/31 McNeese State 4/1 *Stephen F. Austin 4/2 @ Arkansas-Little Rock 4/6 *@ Nicholls State 4/8 *Southeastern La. 4/13 *@Southwest Texas 4/22 @Louisiana Tech Finished 2nd in Gulf States Conference 1986 (13-4) GULF STAR CHAMPIONS New Orleans Southern Miss Louisiana Tech Mississippi State Houston Baptist Southwestern La. Lamar Kansas State Louisiana Tech Sam Houston Houston Baptist Stephen F. Austin McNeese State Southeastern La. Northeast La. Texas-Tyler Tulane

W, 8-1 W, 6-2 L, 1-8 W, 6-3 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 L, 3-6 L, 3-6 W, 9-0 W, 7-2 W, 5-4 W, 5-4

W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 6-3 W, 6-3 L, 3-6 L, 2-7 W, 6-3 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 L, 3-6 W, 6-3 W, 6-3 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 L, 4-5 W, 5-4

1987 (12-7) 2/14 Northeast La. 3/6 #Texas-Permian Basin 3/6 #Texas-San Antonio 3/7 #Texas-Tyler 3/10 @ Northeast La. 3/13 Southwestern La. 3/18 @ LSU 3/25 @ New Orleans 3/26 @Tulane 3/27 *@ Nicholls State 3/31 @ McNeese State 4/1 @ Texas-Tyler 4/4 @ Southwestern La. 4/7 McNeese State 4/8 Louisiana Tech 4/11 *@ Sam Houston 4/12 @ Baylor 4/13 @ Texas Christian 4/14 @ East Texas State # Texas-Tyler Invitational

W, 5-4 W, 8-1 W, 9-0 L, 2-5 W, 6-3 L, 2-7 L, 1-8 W, 9-0 L, 2-7 W, 7-2 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 L, 0-9 W, 6-3 W, 7-2 W, 7-2 W, 5-4 L, 0-9 W, 8-1

1988 (12-5, 2-2 SLC) 2/24 @ Louisiana Tech 2/27 @ Nicholls State 2/28 @ New Orleans 3/1 @ Centenary 3/13 LSU 3/16 Texas-Tyler 3/20 New Orleans 3/22 Louisiana Tech Lamar 3/27 *Southwest Texas Southwestern La. 4/9 *Sam Houston 4/11 *@ North Texas State 4/15 Tulane 4/17 @ Southwestern La. 4/19 Centenary 4/23 *Northeast La. Finished 2nd in Southland Conference

W, 7-2 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 W, 6-3 L, 1-5 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 7-2 L, 4-5 L, 3-6 W, 6-3 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 W, 8-1 W, 8-1 L, 4-5

2/22 3/3 3/3 3/4 3/8 3/27 4/2 4/5 4/6 4/10 4/17 4/20 4/21 4/23

1989 (13-2, 3-0 SLC) SOUTHLAND CO-CHAMPIONS Texas-Tyler W, 5-3 New Orleans W, 9-0 Louisiana Tech W, 9-0 Southeastern La. W, 8-1 LSU L, 0-9 Southwestern La. L, 4-5 *Sam Houston W, 9-0 Grambling W, 9-0 Southern W, 9-0 Grambling W, 9-0 *North Texas W, 7-2 Southwestern La. W, 7-2 Texas-Tyler W, 8-1 *Northeast La. W, 8-1

2/11 2/18 2/24 2/26 3/1

1990 (9-9, 4-0 SLC) @ Baylor @ Louisiana Tech @ Arkansas-Little Rock @ Southwestern La. #Texas Tech

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

L, 0-9 W, 7-2 L, 4-5 L, 1-8 L, 1-8

2017 m ed ia g uid e

Year- by-year results

The team celebrating seeing their seeding during the 2013 NCAA Tournament Selection Show 3/2 #Texas Pan-Am 3/3 #Schreiner 3/6 @ Lamar 3/9 @ Centenary 3/17 @ Tulane 3/22 Centenary 3/24 Tulane 3/27 *Northeast La. 3/31 @ North Texas 4/1 *@ Texas-Arlington 4/4 Southern 4/7 *Southwest Texas 4/8 *Sam Houston Finished 4th in Southland Conference 1991 (15-5, 3-2 SLC) 2/9 @ LSU 2/10 Southwestern La. 2/17 Southeastern La. 2/22 Arkansas-Little Rock 2/24 Lamar 2/25 Centenary 3/6 Louisiana Tech 3/11 @ Centenary 3/15 Nicholls State 3/20 Oklahoma City 3/24 @ South Alabama 3/28 @ Jacksonville 3/29 @ West Florida 3/30 @ Southern Miss 4/2 @ Louisiana Tech 4/6 *@ Southwest Texas 4/10 *@ Northeast La. 4/13 *Texas-Arlington 4/16 *Sam Houston 4/18 *@ North Texas Finished 4th in Southland Conference 2/8 2/14 2/20 2/28 2/29 3/1 3/3 3/4 3/18 3/20 3/21 3/22 3/25 4/1 4/4 4/5 4/7 4/11 4/12 4/20

1992 (13-7, 6-1) @ Southeastern La. @ Centenary @ Louisiana Tech @ Mobile College @ South Alabama @ West Florida @ Jacksonville #N. Carolina-Wilimington Oklahoma City Southwestern La. *Sam Houston *Nicholls State Centenary *Northeast La. *Texas-San Antonio *Southwest Texas Louisiana Tech *@ Texas-Arlington *@ North Texas @ Southwestern La.

W, 7-3 W, 9-0 W, 7-2 L, 2-7 W, 5-4 W, 9-0 L, 4-5 W, 5-4 L, 4-5 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 5-4 W, 5-4

L, 0-9 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 W, 7-2 W, 5-4 W, 9-0 L, 4-5 W, 6-1 W, 5-4 L, 1-5 W, 9-0 W, 9-0 W, 7-2 W, 6-0 W, 6-3 L, 2-7 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 L, 3-6

L, 5-1 L, 4-5 W, 8-1 L, 4-5 L, 1-5 W, 6-3 W, 7-2 W, 5-1 W, 5-1 L, 2-7 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 L, 0-9 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 W, 6-0 W, 8-1 W, 5-4 L, 1-8

1993 (11-9, 4-3 SLC) 1/29 @ Lamar 1/30 @ Texas-Pan Am 2/6 Baylor 2/7 Southeastern La. 2/9 Centenary 2/27 Middle Tennessee State 2/28 @ Arkansas-Little Rock 3/6 Arkansas-Little Rock 3/7 Centenary 3/14 *@ Sam Houston 3/17 Oklahoma City 3/18 Louisiana Tech 3/20 *North Texas 3/21 *@ Texas-Arlington 3/27 @ Southwestern La. 3/28 *@ Nicholls State 4/1 *@ Northeast La. 4/9 *@ Texas-San Antonio 4/10 *@ Southwest Texas 4/16 Southwestern La. Finished 4th in Southland Conference

1/29 1/30 2/5 2/25 2/26 3/4 3/13 3/15 3/19 3/20 3/30 4/1 4/2 4/9 4/10 4/14 4/16

W, 5-1 W, 9-0 L, 3-6 W, 5-4 W, 7-2 L, 3-5 L, 3-6 W, 7-2 L, 4-5 W, 9-0 W, 6-3 W, 8-0 W, 7-2 W, 9-0 L, 2-7 L, 3-6 L, 4-5 L, 1-8 W, 8-1 L, 1-8

2/17 2/24 2/25 3/9 3/10 3/18 3/23 3/24 3/28 3/30 4/1 4/5

1996 (4-10, 4-5) at Balor ^ Southern Miss ^ Tulane *@ Stephen F. Austin *@ Sam Houston St. # Texas Tech *@ Nicholls St. *@ McNeese *@ NLU *@ UTSA *@ Southwest Tex. *@ at UTA

L, 7-2 L, 5-2 L, 6-1 W, 7-2 W, 7-2 L, 6-2 L, 6-3 W, 5-4 L, 8-1 W, 5-4 L, 6-3 L, 6-3

4/6 *@ at North Texas 4/8 at USL ^ Tulane Quadrangular # in Lafayette $ in Monroe 2/15 3/1 2/28 3/4 3/8 3/9

1997 (9-5, 6-2) at New Orleans @ Arkansas State # Harding University *Northeast La. *Stephen F. Austin *Sam Houston State

L, 8-1 L, 5-3

L L W L W W

5-4 7-2 5-2 9-0 6-3 6-3

1994 (13-4, 8-0) SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONS @ Rice L, 0-6 @ Houston W, 5-4 @ Baylor L, 3-6 Arkansas State W, 5-4 Lamar W, 7-2 @ Southwestern La. L, 1-5 *@ Texas-Arlington W, 9-0 Centenary W, 5-1 *@ Stephen F. Austin W, 9-0 @Sam Houston W, 9-0 *Northeast La. W, 5-4 *Nicholls State W, 7-2 *McNeese State W, 9-0 *Southwest Texas W, 8-1 *Texas-San Antonio W, 7-2 Southwestern La. L, 3-6 *@ North Texas W, 8-1

1995 (2-12, 2-7) 2/12 Mississippi State L, 7-2 2/21 Centenary L, 5-4 3/9 UNO L, 6-3 3/10 *UTA L, 8-1 3/11 *North Texas L, 6-3 3/18 *Stephen F. Austin W, 7-2 3/19 *Sam Houston St. W, 6-3 3/21 *@ Northeast La L, 9-0 3/27 Centenary L, 5-4 4/1 *@ Nicholls L, 9-0 4/2 *@ McNeese L, 5-4 4/8 *@ Southwest Texas L, 8-1 4/9 *@UTSA L, 7-2 4/20 ^McNeese St. L, 7-2 ^ Southland Conference Tournament

Current head coach Olga Bazhanova playing as a senior in 2012

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s 3/15 *@ Southwest Tex 3/23 *UTA 4/2 Centenary 4/6 *@@ Nicholls State 4/6 *McNeese State 4/10 Louisiana Tech 4/13 $ ULAR 4/15 * at UTSA 4/17-20 SLC Championships # at Arkansas State $ at La Tech

W W W L W W W

5-2 6-1 4-2 4-3 4-3 4-1 W 5-2

1998 (5-8, 3-6 ) 2/18 @ Centenary 3/8 *Nicholls 3/11 UNO 3/17 *Southwest Texas 3/21 *UTSA 3/25 Centenary 3/28 *@ McNeese 3/29 *@ Stephen F. Austin 3/30 *UTA 4/3 *@ Sam Houston St. 4/4 *@ Northeast La. 4/12 USL 4/13 *@ SLU 4/17-19 SLC Championships

W, 5-2 L, 8-1 L, 5-4 L, 7-2 L, 7-2 W, 5-1 W, 5-4 L, 5-1 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 L, 7-2 L, 9-0 L, 6-3

1999 (7-12, 4-6 SLC) 2/6 @ Centenary 2/12 #ABAC 2/13 #Miss. Univ. for Women 2/13 #West Florida 2/20 @ New Orleans 2/27 Centenary 2/28 Tulane 3/6 *@ Texas-San Antonio 3/7 *@ Southwest Texas 3/14 *@ Stephen F. Austin 3/20 *Southeastern La. 3/21 *Nicholls State 3/27 *@ McNeese State 3/31 @ Southwestern La. 4/2 *Sam Houston 4/3 *Texas-Arlington 4/5 *Northeast La. 4/9 Louisiana Tech 4/11 *@ Lamar #West Florida Spring Fling

W, 8-1 L, 2-5 L, 2-3 L, 0-6 L, 1-8 W, 7-2 L, 0-9 L, 2-7 W, 8-1 L, 3-6 W, 9-0 L, 3-6 L, 0-9 L, 1-5 W, 8-1 L, 0-9 W, 9-0 W, 8-1 L, 4-5

2/1 2/5 2/20 2/26 3/2 3/4 3/5 3/8

2000 (6-12, 3-7 SLC) Centenary @ Rice New Orleans @ Arkansas State @ Centenary *@ Texas-Arlington *@ Stephen F. Austin @ North Texas

W, 9-0 L, 0-9 L, 1-5 L, 1-8 W, 6-3 L, 2-7 L, 3-6 L, 1-8

3/11 3/12 3/14 3/18 3/25 3/28 4/1 4/2 4/10 4/10

Year- by-year results *Lamar *McNeese State *@ Louisiana-Monroe *@ Nicholls State *Sam Houston Louisiana Tech *Southwest Texas *Texas-San Antonio *@ Southeastern La. @ Louisiana-Lafayette

L, 3-6 W, 7-2 W, 5-4 W, 5-4 L, 2-7 W, 4-3 L, 0-5 L, 0-6 L, 0-5 L, 1-5

2001 (8-12, 4-6 SLC) 2/2 @ North Texas L, 1-6 2/10 @ Louisiana-Lafayette L, 0-7 2/11 @ New Orleans L, 0-7 2/13 Centenary W, 5-2 2/17 Southern Miss L, 1-6 2/17 @ Mississippi Valley State W, 7-0 2/21 Arkansas State L, 2-5 2/23 @ Arkansas-Little Rock L, 1-6 3/3 *@ Texas-San Antonio L, 2-5 3/4 *@ Southwest Texas W, 5-2 3/10 *@ Lamar W, 5-2 3/11 @ Texas-Pan Am W, 6-1 3/17 *Southeastern La. L, 2-5 3/18 *Nicholls State W, 5-2 3/20 *Louisiana-Monroe L, 2-5 3/24 *@ McNeese State L, 1-6 3/25 *@ Stephen F. Austin (!) W, 5-2 3/31 *Texas-Arlington L, 0-7 4/1 * Sam Houston W, 4-3 4/16 @Louisiana Tech W, 6-1 !- Won on court but lost by forfeit on appeal 1/26 2/1 2/2 2/25 2/27 3/2 3/5 3/9 3/10 3/16 3/17 3/23 3/24 4/3 4/6 4/7 4/12 4/14

2002 (8-11, 5-5 SLC) @ North Texas @ Arkansas-Little Rock @ Arkansas State New Orleans @ Centenary Texas-Pan Am *Louisiana-Monroe *Texas-San Antonio *Southwest Texas *@ Sam Houston *@ Texas-Arlington *Lamar *Stephen F. Austin Louisiana-Lafayette *@ Nicholls State *@ Southeastern La. Louisiana Tech *McNeese State

L, 1-6 L, 1-6 L, 1-6 L, 0-7 W, 7-0 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 L, 1-6 L, 3-4 W, 4-3 L, 0-7 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 W, 5-2 W, 7-0 W, 6-1 L, 1-6

1/8 2/15 2/21 2/22

2003 (8-12, 5-5 SLC) @ Southern Miss North Texas Arkansas State @ New Orleans

L, 2-5 W, 4-3 L, 0-5 L, 1-6

3/7 3/8 3/15 3/16 3/18 3/23 3/27 3/29 3/30 4/2 4/5 4/6 4/12 4/13 4/19

@ Memphis @ Murray State *Southeastern La. *Nicholls State *Louisiana-Monroe *@ Stephen F. Austin Arkansas-Little Rock *@ Southwest Texas *@ Texas-San Antonio Centenary *Sam Houston *Texas-Arlington *@ McNeese State *Lamar Louisiana Tech

L, 1-6 L, 0-7 W, 4-3 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 W, 4-3 L, 1-6 L, 1-6 L, 0-3 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 L, 2-5 W, 5-2 W, 4-3

2004 (14-5, 9-1 SLC) 1/23 @ Arkansas-Little Rock 1/24 @ Arkansas State 1/30 @ Centenary 2/15 Grambling 2/28 @ Southern Miss 2/29 @ Samford 3/6 *@ Texas-Arlington 3/7 *@ Stephen F. Austin 3/13 *Lamar 3/14 *McNeese State 3/16 *@ Louisiana-Monroe 3/20 *@ Nicholls State 3/21 *@ Southeastern La. 3/27 *Sam Houston 4/3 *Texas State 4/4 *Texas-San Antonio 4/10 @ Louisiana Tech 4/17 Louisiana-Lafayette 4/25 $McNeese State $ - Southland Conference Tournament

L, 0-6 L, 5-1 W, 4-2 W, 5-2 W, 5-2 W, 4-3 L, 1-6 W, 5-2 W, 4-3 W, 4-3 W, 5-2 W, 6-1 W, 4-3 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 W, 4-3 L, 2-5 W, 4-3 L, 4-0

1/29 2/4 2/4 2/5 2/19 2/20 3/5 3/6 3/10 3/12 3/19 3/20 3/22 3/26 4/2 4/3 4/9 4/10 4/15

2005 (6-13, 3-7 SLC) @ Louisiana-Lafayette @ Texas A&M-CC @ Texas-Pan Am @ Abilene Christian Southern Miss Arkansas State *@ Texas-San Antonio *@ Texas State @ Texas A&M-CC *@ Lamar *@ Southeastern La. *Nicholls State *Louisiana-Monroe @ Louisiana Tech *@ McNeese State *@ Stephen F. Austin *@ Texas-Arlington *Sam Houston @ Arkansas-Little Rock

L, 1-6 W, 3-2 W, 6-0 L, 1-4 L, 0-7 L, 2-5 L, 3-4 L, 1-4 L, 3-4 L, 1-6 L, 1-6 W, 6-0 L, 2-5 W, 6-1 L, 0-7 W, 4-3 L, 2-5 W, 4-3 L, 1-6

2006 No records available 2007 (10-10, 5-6 SLC) 2/3 @ Louisiana-Lafayette L, 1-6 2/10 Arkansas State W, 4-3 2/11 Southern Miss L, 1-6 2/15 @ LSU L, 1-6 2/28 Louisiana Tech W, 5-2 3/1 Centenary W, 7-0 3/2 *Central Arkansas W, 7-0 3/10 *@ Lamar L, 2-4 3/11 *@ McNeese State W, 5-2 3/16 @ Louisiana Tech W, 6-0 3/18 Nicholls State W, 4-3 3/19 #59 Southeastern La. L, 0-7 3/24 *@ Stephen F. Austin W, 4-3 3/25 *@ Sam Houston State L, 3-4 3/31 *Texas State L, 3-4 4/1 *Texas-Arlington L, 2-5 4/4 *@ Texas A&M-CC L, 2-5 4/5 Texas-San Antonio W, 5-2 4/11 Arkansas-Little Rock L, 3-4 4/12 @ Louisiana-Monroe W, 5-2 2008 (16-8, 9-2 SLC) 2/3 @ Arkansas State 2/4 *@ Central Arkansas 2/5 @ Arkansas-Little Rock 2/9 @ Alabama-Birmingham 2/10 @ Southern Miss 2/16 @ Rice 2/17 @ Houston 2/23 Louisiana Tech 2/23 Centenary 3/1 *@ Texas State 3/2 *@ Texas-Arlington 3/8 *Texas A&M-CC 3/9 *Texas-San Antonio 3/15 Memphis 3/20 Louisiana-Monroe 3/25 #71 Louisiana-Lafayette 3/30 *@ Nicholls State 4/5 *Stephen F. Austin 4/6 *Sam Houston 4/12 *Lamar 4/13 *McNeese State 4/19 *@ Southeastern La. 4/25 $Sam Houston 4/26 $Lamar $ - Southland Conference Tournament 2/7 2/8 2/14 2/16 2/21 2/22 2/23

2009 (15-8, 8-3 SLC) @ Tulane @ New Orleans Houston Southern Miss @ Florida Gulf Coast @ Bethune Cookman @ Florida Atlantic

The 11-1 2014 Southland Conference Regular Season Champion Team

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

W, 4-3 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 L, 4-3 L, 4-3 L, 1-6 L, 1-6 W, 6-0 W, 7-0 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 L, 5-2 W, 4-2 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 W, 4-3 L, 0-7 W, 4-0 L, 0-4

W, 4-3 L, 2-5 L, 1-6 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 W, 7-0 W, 6-1

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Year- by-year results 2/28 *Texas State 3/1 *Texas-Arlington 3/7 *@ Texas A&M-CC 3/8 *@ Texas-San Antonio 3/17 @ Louisiana-Lafayette 3/28 *Southeastern La. 3/29 *Nicholls State 4/1 Louisiana-Monroe W, 5-2 4/4 *@ Lamar 4/5 *@McNeese State 4/8 *Central Arkansas 4/11 @ Rice 4/15 *@ Stephen F. Austin 4/16 *@ Sam Houston 4/24 $Texas State 4/25 $Texas-Arlington $ - Southland Conference Tournament

W, 6-1 L, 1-6 W, 5-2 L, 2-5 L, 1-6 W, 5-2 W, 7-0 L, 3-4 W, 7-0 W, 7-0 L, 0-7 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 W, 4-0 L, 0-4

2010 (20-2, 11-0 SLC) Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions 2/2 @ Louisiana Tech W, 7-0 2/17 Tulane L, 3-4 2/19 New Orleans W, 7-0 2/21 @ Houston W, 6-1 2/27 *Lamar W, 5-2 2/28 *McNeese State W, 7-0 3/6 *Stephen F. Austin W, 6-1 3/7 *Sam Houston W, 6-1 3/13 *@ Central Arkansas W, 7-0 3/14 @ Arkansas-Little Rock W, 6-1 3/27 *Texas A&M-CC W, 6-1 3/28 *Texas-San Antonio W, 7-0 4/2 *@ Southeastern La. W, 6-1 4/4 *@ Nicholls State W, 5-2 4/8 *@ Texas State W, 6-1 4/11 *@ Texas-Arlington W, 6-1 4/14 @ Louisiana-Monroe W, 4-3 4/16 Louisiana-Lafayette W, 5-2 4/23 $Stephen F. Austin W, 4-0 4/24 $Texas-Arlington W, 4-3 4/24 $Lamar W, 4-0 5/14 $$#1 Baylor L, 0-4 $ - Southland Conference Champions $$ - NCAA Tournament (Waco, Texas) 2011 (18-6, 8-4 SLC) 2/11 Arkansas-Little Rock 2/13 Southern Mississippi 2/13 Central Arkansas 2/18 Louisiana-Monroe 2/20 Houston 2/26 Arkansas State 2/26 Louisiana Tech 3/6 *Texas-Arlington 3/12 *at *Texas A&M-CC 3/13 *at Texas San-Antonio 3/16 at Louisiana-Lafayette 3/25 #Texas State 3/26 # Texas-El Paso 3/27 #North Texas 4/2 *Southeastern La. 4/3 * Nicholls 4/3 Grambling 4/9 *@Stephen F. Austin 4/10 *@ Sam Houston 4/16 *@ Lamar 4/17 *@McNeese State 4/29 $ Texas A&M CC 4/30 $ Lamar 5/1 $ Texas-Arlington $- Southland Conference (3rd) #- North Texas Invitiational

W, 6-1 W, 7-0 W, 7-0 L, 2-5 W, 6-1 W, 4-3 W, 6-1 L, 1-6 W, 4-3 W, 6-1 L, 3-4 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 L, 2-5 W, 6-1 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 W, 6-1 W, 4-2 L, 2-5 W, 6-1 W, 4-0 W, 4-1 L, 2-4

2012 (14-5, 8-3 SLC) 2/5 @ Mississippi State 2/11 @ Houston 2/19 @ Southern Miss. 2/25 Louisiana-Lafayette 2/26 Texas-Pan American 3/3 Texas A&M-CC 3/4 Texas-San Antonio 3/12 @ Texas State 3/16 @ Arkansas State 3/17 @ Central Arkansas 3/17 @ Drury 3/23 @ Stephen F. Austin 3/28 @ Texas Arlington 4/1 @ Sam Houston 4/6 @ Lamar 4/7 McNeese 4/14 Southeastern La. 4/15 Nicholls

W, 4-3 L, 4-3 L, 10-7 W, 4-3 W, 7-0 W, 4-3 W, 6-1 W, 4-3 W, 5-2 W, 6-1 W, 5-2 L, 6-1 W, 4-3 W, 5-2 L, 5-2 W, 6-1 W. 6-1 W, 6-1

2013 (14-8, 6-3 SLC) Southland Tournament Champions 1/26 @ LSU L, 4-3 2/1 Abilene Christian W, 6-1 2/9 Southern Mississippi W, 7-0 2/11 @ Southern Methodist L, 6-1 2/16 @ Texas State W, 4-3 2/17 @ UTSA L, 4-3 3/2 Arkansas State W, 5-2 3/3 @ Louisiana-Lafayette W, 6-1 3/9 AMCC L, 4-3 3/14 Louisiana Tech L, 4-3 3/16 @ Central Arkansas W, 7-0 3/17 @ Oral Roberts W, 7-0 3/22 Sam Houston State W, 4-3 3/29 @ Stephen F. Austin W, 4-3 4/6 Southeastern La. L, 4-3 4/7 Nicholls W, 6-1 4/13 @ Lamar L, 4-3 4/14 @ McNeese W, 4-3 4/26 ^Stephen F. Austin W, 4-1 4/27 ^Southeastern La. W, 4-1 4/28 ^AMCC W, 4-1 5/10 #9 Alabama* L, 4-0 ^-Southland Conference Tourn. *-NCAA Tournament (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 2014 (20-6, 11-1 SLC) Southland Conference Regular Season Champions 1/26 @ SMU W, 4-3 2/8 @ Southern Mississippi W, 4-3 2/9 @Alabama-Birmingham L, 4-3 2/15 *vs. Auburn L, 4-0 2/16 @ LSU L, 5-0 2/22 UL Lafayette W, 6-1 2/23 Texas-San Antonio W, 4-3 2/23 Prairie View W, 7-0 3/2 Texas State W, 4-2 3/8 @ Oral Roberts W, 7-0 3/9 @ Central Arkansas W, 6-1 3/9 !vs. Arkansas Tech W, 6-1 3/15 Incarnate Word W, 7-0 3/16 AMCC W, 5-2 3/21 @ Abilene Christian W, 4-3 3/29 Stephen F. Austin W, 4-3 3/30 @ Louisiana Tech L, 7-0 4/5 New Orleans W, 5-2 4/12 @ Nicholls W, 5-2 4/13 @ McNeese State L, 4-3 4/18 Lamar W, 4-0 4/19 Sam Houston State W, 6-1 4/22 Southeastern Louisiana W, 4-0 4/25 ^Lamar W, 4-0 4/26 ^Stephen F. Austin W, 4-1 4/27 ^AMCC L, 4-2 *-at New Orleans !-at Conway, Ark. ^-Southland Conference Tourn.

2016 (13-11, 7-4 SLC) 2/5 @Louisiana Tech 2/8 @SMU 2/10 UL Monroe 2/13 @Southern Miss 2/19 UT San Antonio 2/20 Texas State 2/20 Alcorn State 2/28 !vs. Arkansas Tech 2/28 *@Central Arkansas 3/4 Air Force 3/5 *Incarnate Word 3/6 Grambling State 3/7 *Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3/21 *Stephen F. Austin 3/25 *New Orleans 3/26 *Southeastern Louisiana 3/30 *@Abilene Christian 4/2 *@Nicholls 4/3 *@McNeese State 4/9 *Lamar 4/10 *Sam Houston State 4/22 ^Southeastern Louisiana 4/23 ^Central Arkansas 4/24 ^Texas A&M-Corpus Christi !-at Conway, Ark. ^-Southland Conference Tourn.

L, 1-6 L, 0-7 L, 2-4 L, 3-4 L, 2-5 L, 2-4 W-4-0 W, 6-1 L, 3-4 W, 5-1 W, 7-0 W, 6-0 L, 2-5 L, 3-4 W, 5-2 W, 4-3 L, 2-4 W, 4-3 W, 4-3 W, 4-3 W, 5-2 W, 4-3 W, 4-2 L, 2-4

2015 (16-9, 9-2 SLC) Southland Tournament Champions 1/31 @LSU L, 7-0 2/3 ULM L, 4-3 2/6 Louisiana Tech L, 5-2 2/14 @North Texas W, 4-3 2/15 @SMU L, 6-0 2/21 @Texas State L, 4-3 2/22 @UTSA L, 5-2 2/28 Southern MIss W, 4-1 3/7 Central Arkansas W, 4-1 3/7 Grambling W, 5-0 3/14 @Incarnate Word W, 5-2 3/15 @Texas A&M-Corpus Christi W, 4-3 3/19 Southeast Missouri State W, 6-1 3/22 Abilene Christian W, 5-2 3/28 @Stephen F. Austin L, 4-1 4/3 @New Orleans W, 4-3 4/4 Southeastern Louisiana W, 5-2 4/10 Nicholls L, 4-0 4/11 McNeese State W, 4-1 4/19 @Lamar W, 5-2 4/20 @Sam Houston State W, 4-3 4/24 ^Central Arkansas W, 4-0 4/25 ^New Orleans W, 4-2 4/26 ^Nicholls W, 4-2 5/9 #8 Baylor* L, 4-0 !-at Conway, Ark. ^-Southland Conference Tourn. *-NCAA Tournament (Waco, Texas)

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Tennis at NSU date s to th e e arl y 1900s; to ok of f i n th e ’ 7 0 s

Tennis at Northwestern State dates to the earliest days of the institution. Dating back to the early 1900s, there are photos of students playing tennis, in a day when all but a few students at Louisiana Normal School were women training to be teachers. More than a century later, with plenty of history in place, women’s tennis is annually one of the strongest sports at what is now Northwestern State University. An official intercollegiate women’s team dawned in the late 1970s as additional women’s sports popped up in college tennis around the country, thanks to the creation of Title IX spurring formalized competition in many women’s sports that were previously contested on the club level. During those days, NSU had an extremely strong men’s tennis program -- so strong that in the late 1970s, the Demons were ranked in the NCAA’s Top 20 and played in the NCAA Division I Championships in Athens, Georgia. Under coach Johnnie Emmons, the Demons produced All-Americans Gregg Manning and Ricardo Acuna. Among several players who became professionals, Acuna reached the game’s greatest levels. In 1985, he was a singles quarterfinalist at Wimbledon. He was voted by his peers to serve on the Association of Tennis Professionals board and remained in that capacity for several years. He was ranked as highly as No. 47 in the world in March 1986, won three ATP doubles titles in his career, and since has been associated with the ATP as a coach and player development official after his playing career wound up. Acuna was NSU’s first NCAA All-American (Manning won the honor in the NAIA) and never lost to a Louisiana opponent during his career. A former Lady Demon standout, Emily Nichols, has been in the highest of tennis circles around the pro courts. She was part of a No. 19 nationally-ranked doubles team for NSU in 1993 and helped the 1994 Lady Demons win the Southland Conference championship. After going home to England, she worked for the Lawn Tennis Association for five years, as a press officer working with, among other events, the Wimbledon Championships. She is currently a senior account director for Progressive Sports and Entertainment, working with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, and has worked with the International Tennis Federation, the 2004 Olympic Games, the French Tennis Federation (French Open), Tennis Australia and with the Davis Cup series.

Ricardo Acuna was NSU’s first NCAA All-American and advanced to the Round of 8 at the 1985 Wimbledon Championships Modern-day tennis at Northwestern was launched in 1970 when Emmons, hired as a football assistant coach, was named head tennis coach for a men’s program. He soon developed a friendship with Nick Bollettieri and attended the Junior Orange Bowl Championships each year, looking for international prospects. It led to a tradition of global influence producing a strong program that continues at NSU today. In 1972, Carlos Blanco, a Bolivian native, became the first in a long line of foreign tennis players to attend NSU, bringing the Demons one of the strongest programs in the region. Many recruits and three years later, NSU became a force to be reckoned with, winning the school’s first conference championship (Gulf South) and fashioning a 23-4 record. With Acuna, Manning, Willie Paz and Blanco among the stars, NSU developed into a powerhouse that lost just four matches over three years -- going 24-1 in 1976, 22-1 in 1977 and 16-2 in 1978. Emmons remembers the players from that era fondly. “As any coach knows, the number one reason for success is the material that you have to work with. Gregg Manning, Juan Lopez, Luis Varela, Steve Fricker, Mike Phillips, Jose deCamino and Ricardo Acuna - those players put Northwestern State on the map.” Emmons is most proud of the fact that his teams had just two losing seasons in 17 years. But that is just one item on a long list of accomplishments. “Every player that played here for four

years graduated and all are successful in life. Some are judges, lawyers, engineers, and tennis pros. All of my players were hard workers and were respectful of everyone. They gave the alumni of Northwestern a winning program and one that could be identified with.” That tradition transferred to the Lady Demons program. Emmons took over as head baseball coach in his final three seasons (1986-89) and relied upon graduate assistants to help run the women’s team which won the Southland championship in 1989 under Emmons and Alex Kukaros. He was followed by Patric DuBois, who became the first fulltime women’s tennis coach and had a strong run of success from 1990-94 culminating with the 1994 Southland crown as Ljudmila Pavlov ranked as highly as No. 33 nationally in singles. DuBois moved on, only to return in 2007 to create a renaissance for NSU tennis -- which is back where it’s often been, a program regionally and nationally respected, bringing in players from near and far bonding to produce championship play and the highest level of academic success. DuBois again receded to the background in September, transitioning to an assistant coaching position and being named director of tennis. DuBois’ replacement was one of his former players, Olga Bazhanova, who took over the lead role with the program in September. In her first season, Bazhanova extended Northwestern State’s winning tradition, guiding the squad to the SLC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth at Baylor.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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I n M e m o r y o f H a r r y B r i g g s . . . N S U ’s “ P a d d l i n’ P r o f e s s o r ” Veteran’s Day 2016 produced, as it always should, a tsunami of tributes on social media to those who served our country For over 15 years, the “Paddlin’ It was NSU’s first Veterans’ Day without the most remarkable Professor” aided the NSU Marine we’ll ever know, Harry Briggs. He died June 25, at the age of 95, in his adopted hometown Women’s tennis program with of Leesville, far away from his Massachusetts roots. But distances a scholarship fund in memory never bothered Harry. He thrived on them. It was nothing for him to climb into his late-model, bareof his wife Lydia, an avid tennis bones, beat-up Volkswagen van and make the drive up bouncy La. 117 through the Fort Polk training grounds and Kisatchie Forest to watch player. the Lady Demon tennis team play. It was not uncommon for him to travel to matches around the Southland Conference. When the Lady Demons won their most recent Southland Tournament title in 2015 in Beaumont, there was Harry, peering through the chain link fence at his favorites locked in a joyous group hug on the courts in the moment after Natalya Krutova scored the championship point. That same van made hundreds of thousands of miles crisscrossing much of America while Harry sold knick-knacks at fairs big and small. For nearly 50 years of being a self-described “carney,” he was something of a cult hero on that circuit. During his 18 years in Leesville, in late May, off he’d go, heading north to New England, over to the heartland, maybe out to the Rockies or even the west coast, hawking his wares, from boots or moccasins, to his last line of products, jewelry, gold chains and ankle bracelets. That gig led him to Leesville, and a role as an adjunct political science professor at the NSU Leesville campus. As a young man, he practically leapt at the chance to go halfway around the world and fight for freedom in World War II. He found his role as an advance scout for American forces mounting assaults in the Pacific Theatre in World War II battles at Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. That meant he was 50, maybe 100 yards out in front of the troops. Distances brought him a measure of fame, and provided the path for him to impact so many lives. While traveling Europe, he reached the summit of the 14,962-foot Matterhorn in 1954, two weeks before making his first distance swim, a 16-mile adventure through the shark-infested Strait of Bonifacio. Nearly four dozen more followed, elevating him into celebrity status, and ultimately, into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. His most notable aquatic feat was becoming the first person to swim across Lake Erie, going for 35 hours, 55 minutes while covering 32 miles from Ohio to Ontario. A failed attempt at Lake Michigan, halted by 11-foot tall waves, was the top front page story in the Chicago Sun Times, with baseball superstar Ted Williams phoning him in the post-swim press conference to offer his salute for the effort (and hoping, Harry said, that the swimming star could get the Splendid Splinter, an avid fisherman, an Evinrude Outboard endorsement). Dr. Briggs was profiled in the New York Times by noted author Gay Talese, who created “The Paddlin’ Professor” nickname. He appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in his prime. The 5-foot-5 sparkplug was a big deal. Eight days after his induction in the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Harry celebrated his 77th birthday on May 20th, 1998, with a 14-mile trek across Tampa Bay. That was the spring he’d arrived in Leesville. A few years later, he launched a relationship with the Lady Demon tennis program. Even after breaking his hip in 2014 when a Wal-Mart stock cart ran into him in Leesville – the indomitable Dr. Briggs made his way to the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex several times in the next two springs. Semper Fi never fit any Marine better. To contribute to the Briggs Scholarship, in any amount, contact Haley Blount Taitano in the NSU Athletic Association at 318-3574295 or at Blounth@nsula.edu

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Dr. Chris Maggio

Northwestern State President

Chris Maggio is a competitor for all seasons. Northwestern State’s acting president was an all-sports athlete in high school, a college distance runner at NSU, and a high school football, basketball and track coach. He became a college coach in track and field for the Demons and Lady Demons. He even spent a few years as a high school basketball referee. Today, you can find him making earlymorning runs, and you might see him on the tennis courts. He’s made memorable putts at Demon Hills

Golf Course. His zeal for competition makes him a dynamic recruiter and fund raiser for NSU, and his ability to mentor staff members and students combined with his warmth and sincerity to produce a tremendously effective university administrator. U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R AT I O N Those traits, along with Dr. President: Maggio’s deep roots and far. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Chris Maggio reaching relationships made him Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs: an ideal choice to take over the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Lisa Abney presidency at his alma mater. Vice President for External Affairs: Dr. Maggio was appointed as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Pierce acting president of Northwestern Vice President for Student Experience: State effective January 1. He . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Maggio succeeded Dr. Jim Henderson, Vice President for Business Affairs: whose dynamic tenure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carl Jones spearheaded significant growth Vice President for University Affairs: and achievement in two years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus Jones as president. Henderson was Vice President for Technology, Innovation and named to run the University of Economic Development: Louisiana System, which includes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Darlene Williams Northwestern and eight other state universities. The appointment of Maggio, a lifelong resident of Natchitoches and long-time faculty and staff member at Northwestern State, will run through the spring semester and into June as the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System conducts a national search for Northwestern State’s president. Maggio is a candidate for the post. Maggio was named vice president for the student experience at Northwestern State in September after serving as interim vice president for just over a year. He will maintain his role as vice president for the student experience while serving as acting president. When the NSU Student Services building opened a couple of years ago, designers had a lovely office location for Maggio on the second floor. He asked instead for the room just inside the front door to the building, not connected to any administrative wing, but envisioned as a conference space. His reasoning: Maggio wanted to see everybody who walked in the door, and providing the ability to immediately engage them or at least be easily accessible for anyone who needed help. As vice president, Maggio has led the Dean of Students and the Offices of Admissions, Recruiting, Financial Aid, Student Activities and Organizations, First Year Experience and Leadership Development, Judicial Services, Counseling and Career Services, Student Life, the Student Activities Board, Student Government Association, Student Support Services, and Greek Life. Northwestern State has recorded enrollment increases for the past two years. Enrollment for the Fall 2016 semester was 9,819 students, a seven percent increase over the previous fall, the highest growth rate of any University of Louisiana System institution. Maggio served as assistant vice president of external affairs for university advancement from 2013 until 2015, when he was promoted by Dr. Henderson. He has been a staff member at Northwestern State since 1988, when he joined the track and field coaching staff. After several years as director of admissions and recruiting during record-setting enrollment for NSU, Maggio was selected as director of alumni affairs in 1999, director of alumni and development in 2003, executive director of the NSU Foundation in 2005 and Dean of Students and assistant provost for student success in 2007. During his career at NSU, Maggio also served as director of enrollment services. Under Maggio’s leadership, the NSU Foundation completed its first capital campaign in Northwestern’s history, exceeding a campaign goal of $18.84 million and raising $31 million to support the university. He has also been a faculty member in the Department of Health and Human Performance for more than 20 years as an instructor, assistant professor and associate

An Involved President

professor. Maggio came on board the NSU staff in 1988 as assistant track and field coach, then became head women’s coach a year later. After a very successful five years in that capacity, in 1994 Maggio moved into administration as the fundraiser for NSU Athletics before quickly being snapped up to become the university’s director of admissions and recruiting. Maggio is a 1985 summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern State. He won Gulf Star Conference All-Academic honors in track and field. As a senior, he was elected Mr. NSU by his fellow students. Maggio earned his master’s of education at NSU. He received a doctorate in developmental education from Grambling State University. His parents helped run a family business in Natchitoches. His father, Buddy, was honored as a “Natchitoches Treasure” last fall by the City of Natchitoches. As a young boy, Maggio became playmates with future Basketball Hall of Fame member Joe Dumars, whose home was near one of the Maggio’s stores. Dr. Maggio’s wife, Jennifer, is on the NSU staff as Coordinator of Adult Education Initiatives. They have three children, Melanie, Scott, and Emily. Emily is a high school student at St. Mary’s Catholic School of Natchitoches, while her older siblings attend other colleges.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

Jerry Pierce

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Vice President • External Affairs Only a handful of people have served Northwestern State as long as DEMONS’ DELIGHTS alumnus Jerry Pierce has, and nobody has done so in a more underHighlights of NSU athletics under the leadership of Vice President Jerry stated manner. Pierce and Director of Athletics Greg Burke In his 51st year on the university’s staff, Pierce’s impact on NSU and the city of Natchitoches is indelible. He’s never wanted or gotten top 24 Southland Conference Championships (8 sports) billing, but consistently, he gets results to benefit the university. He is in his 26th year as vice president of external affairs at North- Football (1997, 1998, 2004), basketball (2005, 2006), women’s basketball western. A significant aspect of his job is oversight of intercollegiate (1999, 2004), baseball (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005), women’s soccer athletics. Pierce works closely with athletic director Greg Burke and all NSU coaches and staff members to (2000), softball (1998, 1999, 2000, 2015), women’s tennis (2010, 2014), keep Northwestern athletics competing at a championship level week after week, month after month and men’s track and field (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002). All-Sports (1997-98). year after year. Pierce, an avid tennis player, has been a member of USTA teams that have won more than a dozen 18 Southland Conference Tournament Championships (5 sports) Basketball (2001, 2006, 2013), women’s soccer (1997, 2000, 2002, 2005), state championships, five regional titles and one national championship. Well before moving into the executive position, Pierce had already served his alma mater, adopted women’s basketball (2004, 2014, 2015), softball (1998, 2000, 2002, 2013, hometown and state with distinction. In his role as vice president, he over- 2014), women’s tennis (2010, 2015), volleyball (2014). NSU Athletic Council sees university operations in athletics, alumni and development, public and media relations and assists President Dr. Jim Henderson in govern- 24 NCAA Postseason Appearances (7 sports) Jody Biscoe (Chair) mental affairs activities. Many of those duties were his since the 1970s as Football - FCS Division I playoffs (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004); basketHall Adams Kwan Adkins (Student-Athlete) he worked under five previous presidents as Northwestern advanced from ball (2001, 2006, 2013); women’s basketball (2004, 2014, 2015); baseball LaCarsha Babers NAIA to NCAA College Division to NCAA Division I athletic status in 1977. (2005); softball (1998, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014); women’s soccer (2000, Brittany Blackwell A 1961 graduate of Northwestern, Pierce served as trainer/manager 2002, 2005), women’s tennis (2010, 2015), volleyball (2014). Women’s basAngela Bolton for the Demon football team during his college years, working closely with ketball also played in the 1999 WNIT. Track and field qualifications are for Sid Hall legendary coach Jack Clayton. After earning his journalism degree, Pierce individuals, not entire teams. Natalie Jaeger (Student-Athlete) went to work for the New Orleans Times Picayune, serving as a reporter Aaron Johnson 94 NCAA Postseason Individual Participants (5 sports) and editor. He was named executive sports editor at the age of 24. Lori LeBlanc Men’s indoor track and field 14 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2014, 2015), men’s In 1965, he chose to raise his two sons in Natchitoches and returned Chris Lyles outdoor track and field 44 (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, to NSU as sports information director. He was promoted to news bureau Dr. Charles Pellegrin director two years later and assumed additional responsibilities in athlet- 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016), women’s indoor track and Christie Price ics, alumni affairs and other areas through the years. field 9 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), women’s outdoor track and field 26 He founded, in 1972, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame facility in (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, Ex-Officio Members Greg Burke Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus, providing a home for an entity cre- 2014, 2015, 2016), women’s tennis 1 (2010). Dustin Eubanks ated in 1958. He established annual induction activities that remain in Roxanne Freeman place nearly four decades later, and served as director of the Hall for 19 83 National Awards (7 sports) Betsy Nohavitza years until his promotion to vice president in April 1990 forced him to step All-America awards - track and field (34), football (26), baseball (3). AcaDr. Patrice Moulton aside from the volunteer post. demic All-America honors – softball (2), baseball (3), football (2), women’s Dr. Vicki Parrish He helped guide Northwestern into three athletic conferences (Trans track and field (1), women’s tennis (1). U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Jerry Pierce America, 1979; Gulf Star, 1983; Southland, 1987) and NCAA Division I sta- Coaches Association Women’s Field Evens Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1). tus in 1977. He is a past president of the Southland and has served the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete (2); AFCA Allstate Good Works conference through other offices and committee positions. Team (1), NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (1). Basketball - 2006 Pontiac In 1994, he was named one of Louisiana’s 20 most influential sports figures by the Times-Picayune. Game Changing Performance $100,000 Scholarship. NCAA Academic ProgAlso on the list were New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, LSU athletic director Joe Dean and basketball ress Rates Public Recognition, top 10 percent nationally, (3, 2 by basketball, coach Dale Brown, and Grambling football coaching legend Eddie Robinson. 1 by women’s soccer) His salesmanship and managerial skills were instrumental in convincing Tri-Star Productions to film the 1989 smash hit movie “Steel Magnolias,” with an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Sally Field and 3 Olympic Competitors (2 sports) Dylan McDermott in Natchitoches and on the NSU campus. The movie’s impact on tourism in Natchitoches Track and field alumni LaMark Carter (2000) Kenta Bell (2004 and 2008) continues to resonate nearly three decades later. represented the USA in the Olympic Games in the triple jump. Former De Pierce is regarded as one of the most effective legislative liaisons for Louisiana’s higher education mon basketball player Dr. Gayle Hatch was the USA’s head men’s weightliftsystem. He is also a sought-after dinner speaker and master of ceremonies who has spoken at hundreds of ing coach in the 2004 Athens Games. events since 1965. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Pierce is a tenured member of the Journalism Department faculty. He is the author of one book and editor of two others and has written thousands of editorials, columns, features and other articles for newspapers and magazines. Pierce and his wife Regina, a recently retired teacher, live on Cane River Lake in Natchitoches. He has two sons, Randy and Rick, both NSU graduates; and three grandchildren, twins Evan and Amanda, 27, and Miranda, 16, along with two adult stepchildren, Nicholas and Natalie. He’s a doting “Poppy” to Natalie’s preschool daughters. 29 Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

Greg Burke

Director of Athletics The Burke File

AGE: 60 (Born Oct. 22, 1956) • HOMETOWN: Alliance, Ohio • HIGH SCHOOL: Marlington ’74 • COLLEGE: Mt. Union ’78 (cum laude) POSTGRADUATE: Kent State ’86 • BEFORE HE WAS A.D.: Sports writer, Alliance (Ohio) Review, 1972-78; director of news and sports information, Hiram (Ohio) College, 1978-85; administrative intern, NSU athletics, 1985-86; director, NSU Athletic Association, 1986-92; director of athletic development, University of Akron, 1992-96; director of athletics, Northwestern State, 1996-present. BIG FAN OF: Cleveland Browns, Indians and Cavaliers • INTERESTS: Working out, watching ESPN and VH1 Classic, family outings.

In his 21st year as director of athletics at Northwestern State, Greg Burke is highly regarded due to the work he’s done in his adopted hometown. Burke, a native Ohioan still beaming about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA title, has been the Demons’ athletics director since Aug. 29, 1996, when his first day included speaking at the annual NSU/Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Burke is the longest serving AD at any Louisiana or Southland Conference institution. He has steered NSU athletics to many of its greatest accomplishments while overseeing a program that has fielded championship caliber teams in a dozen of the school’s 14 NCAA Division I sports. Highlights in Burke’s two decades as athletic director include 41 Southland Conference regular-season or tournament championships, 67 All-America and Academic All-America student athletes, and three U.S. Olympic competitors. Twenty-five NSU teams have taken part in NCAA or other postseason competition. All of the school’s athletic facilities have undergone over $7 million in improvements in the past few years. Burke spearheaded a $2 million series of sponsorships for new scoreboards installed for 2008-09 at all NSU athletic venues; the $700,000 Second Century Circle fencing project for athletic venues; a $500,000 softball grandstand project; and a $600,000 upgrade of chairback seating at Turpin Stadium for the 2016 football season. Fundraising initiatives reached new levels in 2015-16. Formalizing the endowed giving program, branded as “Perpetually Purple,” generated an influx of over $100,000, while overall revenue generated by donations and sponsorships cracked $2 million. Competitively, milestones continue. One of the biggest under Burke: NSU in 2004-05 became the first (and remains the only) Southland Conference member in the league’s five decades of history to sweep football, men’s basketball and baseball championships in the same athletic year. It’s been done only once in Southeastern Conference history, by Alabama in 1933-34, and only four times in Big Ten Conference history, the last time by Michigan State in 1979-80. Those accomplishments have come with one of the more modest athletic budgets in the state and conference. Burke’s management skill and fundraising ability have been pivotal. Burke has a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head coaches. Anchors of the department are current head coaches Mike McConathy, Louisiana’s all-time career basketball wins leader; softball coach Donald Pickett, and track and field coach Mike Heimerman, a trio with nearly 50 combined years on staff at NSU. Two former student-athletes in Burke’s tenure are now NSU head coaches: third-year tennis coach Olga Bazhanova, and first-year baseball coach Bobby Barbier. Numerous Burke hires had great success at Northwestern State that propelled them to national prominence in subsequent positions. Over 100 former NSU student-athletes, coaches and support staff members, most of them here with Burke as AD or assistant AD (1986-92), are working in college athletics at some level. Former Demons are head coaches in the SEC, Big XII, ACC, Mountain West Conference, Conference USA, SWAC, and Southland Conference. Five others hold Associate AD positions in the SEC, PAC 12, and American Athletic conferences. From his first day on the job, Burke has stressed the importance of having a balanced athletic program. Tremendous competitive strides have been made in women’s athletics under his guidance. Just in the past three years, Lady Demon basketball (2014, 2015), softball (2013, 2014), tennis (2013, 2015) and volleyball (2015) have reached NCAA Tournaments. Burke established a high standard for NSU Athletics in academic achievement and community service. The academic accomplishments are reflected annually in the NCAA’s APR and GSR studies. Community service by NSU student-athletes, coaches and staff more than doubled to over 5,000 hours in 2009-10 and has remained at that level. The Southland Conference created the “Southland Strong” Community Service award to recognize the member institution whose student-athletes compile the most service hours each year. NSU won the inaugural prize in 2014-15 and was second in 2015-16. Burke spearheaded the adoption of the slogan “Great Tradition, Brighter Future” for NSU Athletics, and the creation of NSU Athletics “Cornerstones” for student-athletes: “Academic Achievement, Personal Responsibility, Competitive Success … Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day!” During Feb. 2013, he was presented the “Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Football Award” by the North Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Six years ago, he was included among 29 winners of the Under Amour AD of the Year Award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Burke was the 2010-11 president of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association. He serves on the year-old NCAA Committee on Academics, a 20-person group replacing the Committee on Academic Performance, which included Burke. He also has served on the NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. Burke previously served a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee (1999-2002) and concurrently served a term on the eight-member NCAA FCS Committee that administers the national playoffs. He has served as a site supervisor for Football Championship Subdivision playoff games across the nation, and he is regarded as one of the country’s premiere advocates of FCS football. In 2005, Burke was one of three recipients of the All-America Football Foundation’s Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award and that same year, was also tabbed as one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of 2005 by the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper’s editorial staff. He received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his alma mater, Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio, recognizing his community service and professional achievements. At the time, Burke became one of only 21 alumni honored since the award was instituted in 1982. Burke serves on the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau board, and on the board of directors for the Central Louisiana Community Foundation. He is a past president of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club and remains active in that civic group. He has also been part of the steering committee for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and is a former member of the Natchitoches Area Jaycees. He is involved with the American Heart Association and was 2010 March of Dimes chairman locally. His wife, Susu, is a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and an elementary teacher. Their 22-year-old daughter, Catherine, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in May of 2012 and is entering graduate school at UL Lafayette after earning her undergraduate degree from Louisiana Burke with his wife Susu and daughter Catherine Tech.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Esi ATINKAH

ASSOCIATE HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Alabama, 2013 • Northwesten State, 2015 3rd season at NSU After earning her master’s degree from Northwestern State in May 2015, Esi Atinkah was promoted to associate head athletic trainer in July.. In her new role, Atinkah supervises two assistant athletic trainers and all graduate assistant athletic trainers. She also is responsible for the administrative duties of the NSU athletic training room. Atinkah spent her graduate school tenure as the athletic trainer for the Northwestern State baseball team and will continue that role in the spring. A 2013 University of Alabama graduate in athletic training, Atinkah worked with the Crimson Tide baseball, football, track, and tennis teams. She worked for six months at Central High School in Tuscaloosa along with the University Orthopedic Center. At Central, she evaluated upper and lower extremity injuries and assisted with practice and game coverage for basketball, softball, baseball, track and soccer. At University Orthopedic, she assisted in rehabilitation with patients and applied therapeutic modalities. While working with the Tide baseball team she aided in athlete rehabilitation, concussion testing, therapy and participation physicals. She has worked the Alabama Relays, Nick Saban football camps, tennis tournaments, and the BCS National Championship Game. The Fayetteville, Georgia, native is a Licensed Athletic Trainer by the State of Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and is first-aid certified.

Jody BISCOE

FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE

Joseph (Jody) Biscoe has served as Northwestern State University’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) since 2006, which includes the role as chairperson for the NSU Athletic Council. Currently, Jody serves as the chairperson for the Southland Conference Faculty Athlete Representatives and is a member of both the Compliance and Awards Committees. Additionally, Jody holds a tenured faculty position in the Psychology Department. Jody also is the Coordinator for the undergraduate Addiction Studies program and the Director for the Louisiana Addiction Technology Transfer Center. The Biscoes have lived in Natchitoches since 2002. Jody’s wife, Roni, is an avid runner and their daughter Roxy is a graduate of Northwestern’s Nursing program (BSN). You might often see Jody and Roni spending time with 2-year-old Jaxson, who already is training to be a future Demon multi-sport athlete whose favorite character is “Vic.”

ASSISTANT ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

Jasmine CHIEVOUS

Jasmine Chievous is in her first year as Northwestern State’s Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development, joining the department in August. Chievous spent the previous two-plus years as Troy’s Life Skills and Academic Coordinator, where she served as the academic coordinator for women’s basketball, women’s soccer and men’s tennis and developed and supervised the life skills program. Chievous’ other duties included advising the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, conducting the athletic department’s first full awards ceremony, offering career counseling and was the department liaison for the regional and state Special Olympics. Chievous spent more than two years at the University of Missouri, where she earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology. Her work experience as an intern then a graduate assistant included serving as the academic coordinator for basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country, wrestling and swimming and diving at different points in her tenure. Those duties included helping at-risk student-athletes with course selection, time management and study strategies. A Provost Scholar at Fisk University, Chievous earned a Spanish degree in 2010, also serving as an administrative assistant to the athletic director. Chievous was an adjunct instructor in psychology at Troy. She also has been a committee member for the National Association of Student-Athlete Development and a member of the National Association for Athletic Academic Advisors. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

Andrew CLAUSEN

Andrew Clausen returned to his graduate school alma mater in May as the director of marketing and promotions. After earning a master’s degree in sport administration from Northwestern State in May 2015, Clausen spent a year at Harvard University as a marketing and promotions

assistant. While at Harvard, Clausen directed in-game promotions for Crimson football games, coordinated social media efforts for the Harvard athletics marketing department, produced online graphics and printed materials, developed marketing and promotional plans for men’s and women’s basketball and helped lead group ticket sales for men’s and women’s basketball. Clausen’s first stint in the Northwestern State athletic department came as a marketing and promotions associate while he completed his master’s degree. For three semesters, Clausen was responsible for implementing a marketing plan for Northwestern State softball and implementing and executing promotional plans for soccer and volleyball. Clausen also coordinated tailgating activities and sales for NSU football. Clausen earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a focus in sport management from Colorado Mesa University in 2013. He began his career as a marketing intern at Texas-San Antonio.

ASSISTANT NCAA COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR

Demetrus CALDWELL

Demetrus Caldwell enters his first full year in the Northwestern State athletic department, serving as the assistant director for NCAA compliance. Caldwell, a Bastrop native, joined the NSU staff in November 2015 spent the past eight years as a master coordination center officer with the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration in St. Rose. Caldwell earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from the University of New Orleans and his master’s in sport management studies from California University of Pennsylvania. He is completing a dissertation toward a doctorate in athletic administration from Northcentral University. During his time as an undergraduate at New Orleans, Caldwell served as an academic and compliance intern with the school’s athletic department. HEAD STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Dustin CHADWICK

Cody CRUMP

DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS

Cody Crump begins his first year as the Northwestern State Director of Equipment Operations. Crump spent the past year as an equipment intern at the University of Oregon where he assisted in day-to-day operations of the program’s three equipment rooms, helped oversee game day equipment operations for 19 sports, served as the point of contact for equipment during the Women’s NIT and was an active member of the NCAA track and field and softball postseason host committees. Additionally, Crump was the liaison for visiting football teams and managed practice and game laundry for all sports. Crump, an August 2015 graduate of Louisiana Tech in kinesiology, spent four seasons as a student equipment manager for the Bulldogs football team. During his time as an undergraduate, Crump was instrumental in fitting, issuing, repairing, inventorying and storing all football equipment. He was responsible for setting up the coaches’ communication headsets during game day. Crump, a Belcher native, is married to the former Lindsey Crook.

Pacific Lutheran, 2011 Second Season at Northwestern State

Dustin Chadwick is in his second year as assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for Northwestern State where he assists with strength and conditioning for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, baseball and tennis. In his first year, Chadwick helped train the Southland Conference Tournament champion Northwestern State women’s basketball team. Prior to NSU, Chadwick interned with TCU where he worked with the strength and conditioning program including women’s basketball, baseball, swimming and diving and women’s golf. Chadwick was a competitor in the NANBF bodybuilding and AAPF power lifting competitions in 2012 and 2013. He received a bachelor’s in fine arts from Pacific Lutheran in 2011 where he was a three-sport athlete competing in football, rugby and lacrosse.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Jason DRURY

Idaho State, 1999 • Northwestern State, 2001 9th season at NSU Now in his ninth season at Northwestern State, Jason Drury was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in 2012 after the retirement of long-time trainer Ed Evans. Drury joined the sports medicine staff at Northwestern State University in the summer of 2005 after being the head athletic trainer at Natchitoches Central for five years. In the spring of 2009, Drury took over as the head football athletic trainer for the Demons, after working for three seasons with the women’s soccer team and one season with men’s basketball team. A 1999 graduate of Idaho State University in biology, Drury worked with numerous sports in Pocatello, Idaho, including football, men’s basketball and track and field. Drury earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern State in 2001, during which time he worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the NSU softball team. Drury is a native of Paoli, Ind. He and his wife, Toni, have been married for nine years. They have two children, Maddox and Kenzie. ASSISTANT AD/NCAA COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR

Dustin EUBANKS

Dustin Eubanks is in his 20th year in the NSU athletic department and his 17th year at the helm of the compliance duties, keeping all athletic personnel current and in accordance with NCAA and Southland Conference guidelines. Eubanks was inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame in October 2015, becoming just the fourth noncompetitor to do so. A 1996 education graduate of Northwestern, the 43-year-old avid fan of all teams that hail from Pittsburgh seized an opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant in the sports information department at Northwestern while beginning the pursuit of his master’s degree in health and physical education (concentration in sports administration), which he obtained in May of 2003, and was impressive enough to earn a promotion to full-time status in November 1998. Eubanks is married to the former Dawn Hornsby of Branch and the couple has two daughters, Emilie and Taylor Nicole. The sisters share the same birthdate. Dustin and Dawn, who is the Associate Director of Financial Aid at NSU, celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary this summer. ATHLETICS BUSINESS MANAGER

Roxanne FREEMAN

Roxanne Freeman began working at NSU in 1983 as an accounting clerk in business affairs. She transferred to the athletic department as football/baseball/track secretary and served under Sam Goodwin, Leon Johnson and several baseball coaches for eight seasons before graduating with a B.S. in accounting in May 1995. Freeman then became the compliance coordinator and academic advisor during a three-year span before leaving in 1998. She returned to NSU in the Fall of 2000 in her current position as Business Manager where she now serves as liaison between the athletic department and business affairs. She has one son, Aaron Pizani, who is also a NSU alum.

Mike JACKLICH

DIRECTOR OF TICKETING

Mike Jacklich made an immediate impact on the NSU athletic department after being named director of ticketing in October 2014, increasing basketball ticketing revenue by more than 60 percent from the 2013-14 season. Jacklich, beginning his third year on staff, spearheaded the re-seating project at Turpin Stadium, which saw the installation of 2,360 uniformly purple chairback seats that will debut during the 2016 season. Jacklich came to Natchitoches from suburban Chicago, where he was the director of ticketing for the Schaumburg Boomers of independent baseball’s Frontier League. While with the Boomers, Jacklich worked closely with the Boomers general manager to shape and enhance all aspects of fan services. He was responsible for creating and executing all ticketing and sales reports, while training a full-time sales staff and overseeing a group of 15 interns. Jacklich also wore a variety of hats outside of the Boomers ticket office, including serving as a tour guide at Boomers Stadium and filling in as “Coop,” the Boomers’ mascot. Jacklich earned his bachelor of arts degree in mass communication from the University of Tulsa in 2001. Following graduation, he returned to Chicago where he began a six-year run as the assistant audience services manager for the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company. While with Steppenwolf, Jacklich helped implement Tessitura, an innovative ticketing software system. Jacklich, a Lisle, Ill., native, is married to Krishni, whose family lives in nearby DeRidder and who can totally do better than him.

Dr. Steven KAUTZ

HEAD TEAM PHYSICIAN

Dr. Steven Kautz begins his second season as the head team physician for Northwestern State athletics. Kautz is board certified in orthopedic medicine and serves as medical director for Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Sports Medicine and PRISM Sports Medicine and outpatient comprehensive therapy services. He received his Bachelor of Science at the University of California-Irvine and attended the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at LAC and USC Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Kautz has been in private practice since 2000 and has worked with athletes on the professional, collegiate and high school level. He is affiliated with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, Sabine Medical Center, DeSoto Regional Medical Center and University Hospital (LSU) in Shreveport. Addtionally, Kautz serves as an adjunct professor at LSU School of Medicine and is a member of the medical team for NRMC Comprehensive Wound Care Center. He is the team doctor for Many High School and enjoys coaching local youth basketball and soccer teams. Kautz’s wife, Kathleen, is an internal medicine physician with the Natchitoches Medica Specialists Group. The couple has three children - Carissa, Andrew and Peter.

Dr. James KNECHT

TEAM PHYSICIAN

Dr. James Knecht has been a Northwestern State team physician since 1984. He finished his pre-med curriculum from LSU in 1975. While at LSU, he was an Academic All-SEC and Academic All-American football ASSISTANT ACADEMIC COORDINATOR player in 1974. He has been in private practice family medicine in Natchitoches since 1982. In addition to being Northwestern’s team physician, he has also been Natchitoches Central’s team physician since 1992. At the 2016 university commencement, Knecht was presented an honorary doctorate in recognition of his long service to Alexis Guess began her first year as Northwestern State’s assistant academic the university by NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson. coordinator in July. Dr. Knecht is actively involved in many professional organizations, including the Natchitoches Parish Medical Guess brings a varied background, having worked in numerous facets of studentSociety, Active Staff Physicians at Natchitoches Parish Hospital, and the Louisiana State Medical Society. He is also athlete development at both LSU and Duquesne. a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. As a student services graduate assistant at Duquesne, Guess conducted individual study sessions for His father, Gene, was an assistant football coach at Northwestern State and has been active in the Graduat-risk student-athletes, compiled mid-term grade reports for various coaching staffs, coordinated studentate N Club for three decades. His brother, Brett, is a three-year football letterman who served as Joe Delaney’s athlete tutoring in the spring and summer 2016 semesters, oversaw study hall for incoming and transfer fullback. student-athletes and helped create and execute the “Student-Athlete Career Seminar.” Knecht’s wife, Liz, is a CPA and an internal auditor at NSU. The couple has three chilrden - Ashley, Amanda As an undergraduate at LSU, Gross spent two years as a content tutor in the Cox Communications Center and Landon - and two grandchildren, Ryder and Ian. for Student-Athletes where she tutored student-athletes, composed tutor reports, met with athletic advisors and attended NCAA, SEC and LSU compliance and tutor training sessions. She also completed ethics training for public servants. As an intern at the Baton Rouge Community College athletic department, Gross oversaw the men’s basketball study table, verified student-athlete eligibility and observed student-athlete advising. Gross has been involved with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Summit on Sportsmanship and has taken part in the NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar.

Alexis GUESS

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

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Ashley LEGGETT

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

Idaho State, 1999 • Northwestern State, 2001 9th season at NSU Ashley Leggett is in her first season with the Northwestern State athletic training staff. She is hired through NSU’s partnership with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. Leggett spent the past year interning at Samford, where she served the softball and volleyball programs. She organized physical examinations, SCAT3 and ImPACT testing for softball and volleyball student-athletes along with the rehabilitation, management and treatment of injuries. In addition, she implemented postsurgical SLAP repair protocol and a return-to-play throwing program. After graduating from Alabama in 2013 with a bachelor’s of science in athletic training, she completed a master’s at Iowa in leisure and recreational sports management in 2015. As a graduate assistant trainer at Iowa, she worked with the softball program. Leggett managed all aspects of daily medical needs including prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of studentathletes. As an athletic training student at Alabama, she aided the football, softball, swimming and diving programs as well as the rowing team. She traveled with the football team to the SEC and national championships and worked the Women’s College World Series. Leggett has also worked with the Alabama Patrick Murphy Softball School, the Nick Saban Football Camp, and the Big Ten Cross Country Championship among other events. Her professional memberships and certifications include the states of Louisiana, Iowa and Alabama athletic training boards, a, NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer, a National Athletic Trainers’ Association member, a Southeastern Athletic Trainers’ Association member, and an American Heart Association CPR Health Care provider. DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND GAME OPERATIONS

Luke MASHBURN

Luke Mashburn was named Northwestern State’s Director of Athletic Facilities and Game Operations in July. Mashburn spent 2015 at the University of Kentucky, serving as Assistant Director of Event Management and Championships. He was the point man for all home volleyball, women’s basketball and gymnastics contests, drawing crowds up to 6,000. His duties and events included facility maintenance and arena conversion, tournament manager for NCAA volleyball regional, overseeing the Joe Craft Welcome Center and managing guest services stations on football game days. He has previous Southland Conference experience with a stint at Sam Houston State from 2013-15 as the athletic facilities coordinator. On top of routine facility maintenance and set up, he oversaw a staff of 50 student workers and was a game administrator for home events such as FCS playoff games. Other duties included handling facility rentals, coordinating facility repair projects such as bleacher and scoreboard renovations and operating parking lots on game days. Mashburn served as the interim athletics event and facilities coordinator at Kennesaw State from 201113 after completing internships at Erskine and Shorter colleges. Building a foundation for many of his duties later in his career, Mashburn also coordinated renovation projects such as new basketball goal systems and other major equipment purchases. He pitched in as a game clock operator and as a fan fest coordinator for the 2011 Division I Women’s College Cup. A South Carolina graduate, Mashburn has a sport and entertainment management degree and is pursuing a master’s in sport management from Morehead State. ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Zack NIELSEN

Eastern Washington-Cheney, 2014 First Season at Northwestern State Zack Nielsen is in his first full season with the Northwestern State strength and conditioning staff after being hired as an assistant this past March. He is the lead trainer for men’s basketball and also develops comprehensive strength programs for women’s soccer and softball. Nielsen assists in designing the football strength program. Nielsen, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Eastern Washington-Cheney in 2014, spent nearly two years as a graduate assistant strength coach at his alma mater. At EWU-Cheney, he implemented comprehensive programs for cross country and jumpers and throwers on the track team. He served as an assistant to soccer, volleyball and basketball as well. Nielsen, a four-year letter winner in throws and won the 2014 Big Sky Conference hammer title, designed warm-up activities for a variety of sports at EWU-Cheney. He served as an assistant to soccer, volleyball and basketball. Nielsen assisted USA Weightlifting Coach Pat Corbet in instructional sessions. Nielsen is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Level 1 USA Weightlifting coach. Nielsen is enrolled in NSU’s graduate program for Health and Human Performance.

ASSISTANT ACADEMIC COORDINATOR DIRECTOR OF ENHANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Betsy NOHAVITZA

Betsy Nohavitza enters her second full academic year as part of the Northwestern State athletics academic services staff and her first leading NSU’s Enhanced Academic Program. Nohavitza arrived in Natchitoches in February 2015 after earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas A&M. She manages NCAA academic eligibility requirements for four Northwestern State athletic programs, provides assistance to student-athletes and tutors in NSU’s Johnnie Emmons Athletic Study Center and facilitates meetings and activities with NSU’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee. While at Texas A&M, Nohavitza was a graduate assistant instructor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology while pursuing her master’s in sport management. As an undergraduate, Nohavitza interned in the Aggies athletic department in the life skills department. There she assisted student-athletes with creating resumes and cover letters, planned informational business meetings for student-athletes and organized and hosted three student-athlete banquets in the Spring 2013 semester. Nohavitza was named Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development Distinguished Student in Spring 2012 and was named to the Dean’s Honor Roll in Fall 2012. ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR

Haley Blount TAITANO

Haley Blount Taitano, a school record-setting competitor as a Northwestern State track and field student-athlete, enters her third year as NSU’s assistant athletic director for development and marketing and her first as NSU’s Senior Woman Administrator. Taitano has overseen the rebranding and the revamping the N-Club, Northwestern State’s association of former athletic letterwinners, and helped coordinate the annual N-Club Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. Additionally, she increased funding to the Demons Unlimited Foundation Annual Fund by 16 percent, setting records for funding to the fund, which supports the Northwestern State athletic department. Taitano, a magna cum laude graduate of NSU in May 2006, was executive director of the NSU Alumni Association as well as the associate director of alumni affairs from July 2011-September 2014. She solicited funds for the Alumni Association and NSU Foundation, planned and coordinated all alumni events and events assigned by the office of NSU president Dr. Randy Webb, and managed the Alumni Association website, social media pages, the Purple Pulse e-newsletter and the Alumni Columns magazine. Previously, she worked as an assistant in student services for the Stephen F. Austin athletics department for 18 months from 2010-11. For nearly three years following her graduation from Northwestern, Blount was an assistant track and field coach and head cross country coach at NSU. Taitano is actively engaged in community service organizations, serving as a board member and officer in three prominent local organizations. She earned her master’s degree in sport administration from NSU in 2007 and is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Louisiana Tech. Taitano was a four-year competitor as a pole vaulter for the Lady Demons and still holds the NSU women’s school record with an 11-6 ¼ clearance at the 2006 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships. She did an internship with USA Track & Field in 2007, serving as assistant producer of the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, and she also assisted with operations at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. She was the women’s track and field team representative from 2004-06 on the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was on the 2005 All-Louisiana Collegiate Track and Field Team based on posting one of the top three marks by any state competitor in her event. Blount was included on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll for academic achievement each season from 2002-06. Taitano is a past president of the women’s service organization Les Amies of Natchitoches and has been a board member since 2009. She has coordinated Les Amies community service activities and assisted with fundraising. She currently is the president of the Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches. Blount also has been the fundraising coordinator and a board member for the Natchitoches Hope for Paws organization. She’s also been a team captain for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Natchitoches, has assisted with the Natchitoches Parish Special Olympics and is the Chair of the Natchitoches Young Professionals group. As an undergraduate, Taitano won the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority highest grade point average award in 2005 and 2006, and earned the NSU Health and Human Performance Department’s Hall of Fame Award in 2006 for being the outstanding student-athlete of the year. Taitano and her husband Jesse, an assistant chief with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, were married in July, and the couple has one son, Jesse Jr. (13).

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

They cover the Demons: primary media outlets

DOUG IRELAND

Assistant AD/ Sports Information Director

In charge of athletic media relations at his alma mater since January 1989, Doug Ireland coordinates publicity efforts for Northwestern’s 14 intercollegiate sports teams through local, regional and national media outlets in print, broadcast, television and the internet. He also serves in the volunteer role of chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Ireland assumed that post in April 1990. He was chosen as the 2016 recipient of the Southland Conference’s Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award, named for the iconic retired McNeese SID. His 1992 Demon Football Media Guide won “Best in the Nation” in FCS Division from the College Sports Information Directors of America. A 1997 story on Joe Delaney, “The Guy We Called Joe D,” won a national second-place award in a CoSIDA writing contest. Ireland has won dozens of awards as SID from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, including 27 this century. In 1981-82, while an undergraduate at Northwestern, Ireland worked as chief of the Shreveport Times Natchitoches Bureau, coordinating news coverage of an eight-parish region along the Red River. From 1982-85, he was assistant SID at Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette), working with a men’s basketball program that made three straight postseason tournament appearances. He won CoSIDA publications and writing awards while at USL. Ireland was the sports editor of the Natchitoches Times in 1985-86 and attended graduate school at Northeast Louisiana (now UL Monroe) before joining the Alexandria Town Talk sports staff in 1987. In 18 months at the Town Talk, he covered both NSU and LSU sports and won 15 writing awards from the Louisiana Sports Writers’ Association. In 2001, the LSWA presented its prestigious Mac Russo Award to Ireland for his contributions to the organization. In 1999, Ireland was awarded honorary membership in the Graduate N Club at NSU by the university’s group of athletic lettermen for his service to Northwestern and its athletic program, and in 2003 he was given full membership. He was appointed by President Dr. Randall Webb to serve a two-year term on the inaugural University Planning Council in 1997-99. In 2008, he was awarded the Northwest Louisiana’s National Football Foundation “Distinguished American” award and in 2012 he was honored by the Alexandria Town Talk by being named the “CENLA Sportsman of the Year” award for his work as an SID and toward the completion of the $23 million Hall of Fame Museum. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne presented a special award to Ireland at the grand opening of the museum on June 28, 2013, for his “tireless work and dedication to the creation” of the museum. The Louisiana Association of Museums gave him its Lois Wyatt Bannon “Heart and Soul” Service Award in April 2014 for his work with the museum. A member of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity and a student government senator while completing a journalism degree from Northwestern, Ireland was editor of the student newspaper “Current Sauce” as a sophomore before going to work for the Shreveport Times. He was an all-district baseball player and the student body president at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, where he was a wingback for the Tigers’ 1977 Class AA state football finalists coached by the late Don Shows.

JASON PUGH

Assistant Sports Information Director A 12-year veteran of The (Shreveport) Times newsroom, Jason Pugh is in his third year as the assistant sports information director at Northwestern State after joining the department in October 2014. During his Times tenure, Pugh was the Northwestern State football and men’s basketball beat writer from 2010-2013 and covered the 2012-13 NSU team that captured the program’s third NCAA Tournament berth. Prior to covering area college athletics, Pugh was the primary high school sports writer at The Times, during which he covered several athletes whose careers led them to Northwestern State, including All-Southland Conference men’s basketball performers Jalan West and Zeek Woodley and former All-Southland Conference third baseman Chase Daughdrill (baseball). At The Times, Pugh had the opportunity to cover all three World Series that have taken place in Texas, one College World Series, one NCAA Men’s Final Four and Super Bowl XLV. He has won first-place awards in Best Feature Story and Best Sports Story from the Louisiana Press Association and first place in Best Prep Feature from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. While a student at Louisiana-Lafayette, Pugh was the sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Vermilion, for two years and was a part of the sports information office for three years. In 2000-01, Pugh was the primary media contact for the inaugural season of Lady Cajuns soccer and for the nationally ranked Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team, which made its lone College World Series appearance the previous year. A 1997 graduate of Airline High School in Bossier City, Pugh was named the 2001 Louisiana-Lafayette Department of Communication Outstanding Graduate. He completed requirements for a master’s of science in sport management from the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts in 2015.

Daily Newspapers -LaMar Gafford, Sports, Alexandria Daily Town Talk, P.O. Box, 7558, Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-487-6351, fax 487-6315) - Roy Lang III, Scott Ferrell, Sports, The Times, 222 Lake Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 (318459-3296, 800-462-6436, fax 459-3301) - Joe Schiefelbein, Sports, Baton Rouge Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225-383-1111, fax 388-0371) - Russell Hedges, Sports, Bossier Press Tribune, 4250 Viking Dr., Bossier City, LA 71111 (318-352-3618, fax 747-5298) - Daniel Green, Leesville Daily Leader, P.O. Box 619, Leesville, LA 71446 (318-239-3444, fax 318-238-1552)

Non-Daily Newspapers - NSU Current Sauce, Kyser Hall, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-5456, fax 357-6564) - Sports, Times-Picayune/NOLA.com, 3800 Howard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70140 (504-826-3405, fax 826-3401) -Natchitoches Times, 904 Hwy. 1 South, Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318-352-3618, fax 352-7842)

Television Stations - Luke Edwards, Mike Cianciolo, KALB-TV, 605 Washington St., Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-445-6397 exts. 516, 523; fax 442-7427) - Rashad Johnson, KSLA-TV, 1812 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104 (318-677-6709, fax 677-6705) - Tim Owens, Brad Cesak, KTAL-TV, 3150 N. Market St., Shreveport, LA 71107 (318-629-7134, 7133, fax 318-629-7171) - Tatum Everett, Alex Anderson, Daniel Brown, KTBS-TV, 312 E. Kings Hwy., Shreveport LA 71104 (318-861-5838, fax 318-862-9431) - David Antilley II, NSU-TV, 104A Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-4417) Campus Radio Station - KNWD, 109 Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-5693) Wire Service - Bret Martel, Associated Press, 1001 Howard Ave. Suite 200A, New Orleans, LA 70113 (800-662-7717, 504-523-3931, fax 586-0531)

Conference/NCAA Offices - Southland Conference, 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 150, Frisco, TX 75034 (972-422-9500, fax 422-9225) - Jim Wright, NCAA Statistics, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317-917-6222, fax 917-6888)

National Outlets - USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22107 (703-276-3400) - Sports Illustrated, Time/Life Building, New York, NY 10020 (212-522-5782, 212-9774540/4541) - Sporting News, Box 56, St. Louis, MO 63166 (800-433-1886, 314-993-7111) - CBS Sports, 51 W52nd St., 30th Floor, New York, NY 10019 (212-975-5162/3559) - ABC Sports, 1330 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 (212-456-7777) - ESPN, ESPN Plaza, Bristol, CT 06010 (203-585-2154/2125, 800-843-6416) - CNN, One CNN Plaza, 100 International Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30348 (404-822-1588) Follow us on Twitter -@NSUDemons & @NSUDemonsWBB (Basketball) Facebook -Northwestern State Demons

SPORTS INFORMATION STAFF

Davey Antilley Statistician/ Video

David Antilley Statistician

Drew Bartlett Graduate Assistant

Lloyd Courtney Graduate Assistant

MATT VINES

Assistant Director of Communication Former sports journalist Matt Vines is in his second year in the Northwestern State sports information office. Vines, a sports writer at The Jackson (Tennessee) Sun, The (Monroe) News-Star and The (Shreveport) Times, began his sports information career as a graduate assistant during the 2015-16 academic year before joining the university as its assistant director of communications. Vines, a 2008 LSU journalism graduate, serves as the primary media contact for the NSU soccer and softball teams and is the secondary contact for the men’s basketball team. Vines is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. He is pursuing a master’s degree in sport administration at NSU.

Stacy Morgan Statistician

Dr. Charles Pellegrin Statistician

Ronnie Pellegrin SID Admin. Asst.

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions • Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

2017 m ed ia g uid e

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

2017 m ed ia g uid e

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

2017 m ed ia g uid e

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions

lady dem on t e n n i s

Four-Time Southland Conference Champions â&#x20AC;¢ Three-Time Southland Conference Tournament Champions