Saints Spotlight Newsletter January 2014 by Emmanuel College

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT | 400 THE FENWAY | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02115

JANUARY 2014

Men’s Volleyball Eyes First-Ever GNAC Title The Emmanuel College men’s volleyball team recently kicked off the 2014 season with aspirations of bringing home the program’s first-ever conference title. After posting a 12-2 conference mark in 2013 and advancing to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship match for the fifth time in six years, the Saints feel poised to capture Emmanuel’s first men’s volleyball championship this spring. The experienced Saints are returning 15 veterans from last year’s 18-14 team, which ranked among the nation’s top 15 programs for much of the year. Of the 14 losses in 2013, twelve of them came at the hands of nationally-ranked opponents and one was a hard-fought 3-1 setback to Division I Harvard University. Among the experienced veterans, are two-time All-GNAC outside hitters Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) and Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.). The

two junior standouts will captain the 2014 squad along with classmate Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.). Whitermore and Jackson were both 2nd Team All-GNAC picks and led the Saints in total kills and kills per set last season. The duo combined for 473 kills, 265 digs and 62 total blocks in 2013. Kessler, described as “the hardest worker on the team” by Head Coach Adam Martel, is expected to continue the solid contributions he made toward the end of the 2013 campaign, when he was voted to the GNAC All-Tournament Team. Fellowjunior, Austin Cockerill is back for his third collegiate season as an opposite for the Saints. Cockerill, who put down 71 kills last season, will look to continuing his development and step into a more consistent role this spring.

Pictured above are members from the Men’s Volleyball team which opened its’ 2014 schedule on January 26.

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By the Numbers – With their victory over Mount Ida College on January 25, the Emmanuel College women’s basketball team has now been victorious in 44 consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference regular season contests dating back to the 2009-10 season. Counting GNAC tournament play, EC’s GNAC winning streak is up to 56. Click here to view the Emmanuel College women’s basketball team 2013-14 schedule.

Get up-to-date news, game results and schedules or watch a game live at goecsaints.com.

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EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

14,733

By the Numbers – Since the inception of the EC Men’s Volleyball program in 2003, the Saints have compiled a total of 14,733 kills over the last 11+ seasons of competition.

Upcoming Games

MEN’S VARSITY SPORTS • BASKETBALL • CROSS COUNTRY • GOLF • INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • LACROSSE | OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • SOCCER • VOLLEYBALL WOMEN’S VARSITY SPORTS • BASKETBALL • CROSS COUNTRY • INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • LACROSSE • OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • SOCCER • SOFTBALL • TENNIS

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Women’s Basketball

Women’s Hoops Volunteers During their winter break, the Women’s Basketball team volunteered in a community service initiative at the Hope House. The Hope House is a facility in West Roxbury that provides treatment to individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). Click Here to view more pictures

Editor EC Sports Information Dept.

Layout Daniel Campagna

Writers Daniel Campagna Alexis Mastronardi

Design Direction/ Graphic Design Helen Kimeria

Photographers Merrill Shea Carla Osberg Photography EC Sports Information Dept.

Published Monthly by Athletic Department 400 The Fenway Boston, Massachusetts 02115

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JANUARY 2014

2/1 2/4 2/6 2/8 2/11 2/15 2/18 2/22 2/25 2/27 3/1

at Suffolk * vs. Simmons * vs. Saint Joseph’s (ME) * at Saint Joseph (CT) * at Anna Maria * vs. Rivier * vs. Johnson & Wales * at Albertus Magnus * GNAC Quarterinfals GNAC Semifinals GNAC Finals

Men’s Basketball 2/1 2/5 2/8 2/11 2/15 2/18 2/22 2/25 2/27 3/1

vs. Lasell * at Norwich * at Johnson & Wales * vs. Saint Joseph’s (ME) * vs. Rivier * vs. Suffolk * at Albertus Magnus * GNAC Quarterinfals GNAC Semifinals GNAC Finals

1:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 5:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 1:00 PM TBD TBD TBD 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 7:30 PM 3:00 PM TBD TBD TBD

Men’s Volleyball

2/2 vs. NYU 1:00 PM 2/8 vs. Endicott 1:00 PM vs. Elms 3:30 PM 2/12 vs. Johnson & Wales * 8:00 PM 2/14 at Lasell * 7:00 PM 2/19 vs. Rivier * 8:00 PM 2/20 at Anna Maria * 7:00 PM 2/21 at Baruch ^ 8:00 PM 2/22 vs. Stevens ^ 10:00 AM vs. Elmira ^ 12:00 PM 2/25 at Springfield 6:00 PM 2/26 vs. Albertus Magnus * 8:00 PM

Indoor Track & Field 2/1 2/7 2/8 2/8 2/15 2/21 2/21

at Harvard Invitational 10:30 AM at BU Dave Hemery Invite (w) 10:00 AM at BU Dave Hemery Invite (m)10:00 AM at MIT Invitational 12:00 PM at Tufts Univ. Cupid Challenge 9:30 AM at DIII New Englands 3:00 PM (held at MIT) at DIII New Englands 3:00 PM (held at Spr ingfield)

^ Indicates match played at Baruch College Invitational * Indicates a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest

Get the full schedule at www.goecsaints.com

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EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

Mellyn Costello Women’s Indoor Track & Field

Costello, a freshman from East Bridgewater, Mass., set a new Women’s Indoor Track & Field program record in the 55m hurdles at the University of Southern Maine Invitational on Saturday, January 11, 2014. The rookie completed the race in a time of 9.91 seconds and finished eighth overall in the event for the Saints.

Kyle Smith Men’s Basketball

Smith was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for his play during the first week back from the winter break in which he netted a season-high 24 points in an 82-76 win over Fisher College. His game-high scoring tally came off 10 for 16 shooting from the field and four for six shooting from behind the arc. The rookie guard also garnered team-highs of five assists and three steals to balance out his solid 24-minute effort.

Lena Negri Women’s Basketball On January 22 against Tufts University who is ranked No. 4 in the NCAA DIII National Poll, Negri dominated the action, scoring a game-high 26 points to go along with her game-high 10 rebounds for a monster double-double. In 31 minutes of action, the junior converted 7 of 13 shots from the floor as well as 12 of 16 from the free throw line.

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JANUARY 2014

WOMEN’S VARSITY SPORTS • BASKETBALL • CROSS COUNTRY • INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • LACROSSE • OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • SOCCER • SOFTBALL • TENNIS MEN’S VARSITY SPORTS • BASKETBALL • CROSS COUNTRY • GOLF • INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • LACROSSE | OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD • SOCCER • VOLLEYBALL

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Shining Saints

EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

Men’s Volleyball preview cont... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1...

The Saints lost just one senior, Nick Updike (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), to graduation last year. The loss is substantial, however, as Updike graduated as the program’s all-time leader in assists (3,629), matches played (132) and set played (431). He also ranks third all-time among the program’s leaders in aces with 222 and fifth all-time in digs with 540. Updike is currently playing professional volleyball overseas in Oslo, Norway for Oslo Volley.

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Filling the void left by Updike will be junior setter Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.). Baxley saw time behind Updike in 23 matches last season, dishing out a total of 84 assists in his 56 sets played. Baxley is expected to not only fill Updike’s role, but to be one of the top setters in the country this season.

Also returning to the Saints’ strong front line are Julian Hess (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Wyatt Cooper (Ridgefield). Hess was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week twice and received a spot on the All-GNAC 3rd Team. He was Emmanuel’s blocking leader with 57 total putbacks, including 20 solo and 37 assists blocks. Cooper was solid offensively in his rookie campaign with his 142 kills coming at a clip of .323, ranking him 29th nationally in hitting percentage. He also accounted for 45 of the Saints’ total blocks.

Back on the court this year will be sophomore middle hitter Garrett McGarry (Chicago, Ill.), who sat out much of his rookie season with an injury. Prior to being sidelined, McGarry averaged a team-leading 0.79 blocks per set. Anchoring the Saints’ backrow will be Ernie Gurule (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Kevin Gallegos (Los Angeles, Calif.). Gurule, who will be the team’s starting libero this season, was selected the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week once and tallied 144 digs as a rookie. Gallegos picked up 92 digs in his first collegiate season. He will return to his starting role as the Saints’ defensive specialist. Joining the 2014 squad are newcomers, Jorge Rojas (San Juan Puerto Rico) and Spencer Lane (Lake Forest, Calif.). Rojas will see time as a setter, after playing four seasons of high school volleyball in Florida. Lane is expected to see minutes in his middle blocker role. Coach Martel is excited about his team’s potential this season. “We our looking to build on the program’s success over the past several years,” commented the fourth-year head coach. “Returning all of our starters, except Nick, we are excited to fight for our first conference title and be competitive nationally once again this year.”

Men’s Volleyball Earns No. 2 Spot in GNAC Pre-Season Poll BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College men’s volleyball team landed the No. 2 ranking in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Pre-Season Coaches’ Poll, it was announced by the conference office on Thursday, January 23. The Saints received 71 points to finish second in the conference and also received four points in the AVCA national poll for a No. 18 ranking. The only program finishing ahead of EC in the GNAC poll was Rivier Univeristy who has captured the GNAC title each of the last six seasons. Emmanuel opened the 2014 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Southern Vermont College and will return to action on Sunday, February 2 when they host New York University at 1:00 PM. Click Here to view the entire Pre-Season Poll

SuperFan of the Month EC SuperFan of the Month – Kevin Farrell If there’s a home game in the Jean Yawkey Center, chances are you’ll spot Kevin in the stands cheering on the Saints. As the Director of Student Center Services and Assistant Director of Student Activities, Kevin’s pulse for on campus events is as good as it gets and so is his EC spirit.

Will you be the next SuperFan? Get spotted in the stands! Go to www.goecsaints.com for a full game schedule.

JANUARY 2014

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EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

Pictured above: Nathan Bruno and Ryan Thomas

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3rd in the 800m with a time of 2:32.59. Fellow team captain Meaghan Mauer (South Hadley, Mass.) ran down a PR in the 1000m with her 3:22.16 finish. In the men’s 4x400m relay, Bruno teamed up with Thomas, Julien and Ben Perdue (West Springfield, Mass.) for a time of 3:29.32 to place 4th overall. Both the men’s and women’s 4x800m relay teams earned 5th place finishes and qualified for their respective Division III New England Championships. The men’s team of Chris Baker (Holden, Mass.), Thomas Tallo (Lincoln, R.I.), Patrick Callan (Pawling, N.Y.) and Ian Chamenko (Beacon Falls, Conn.) combined for a time of 8:34.92. The women’s team was led by Egan and Mauer, handing off to Chloe Pangonis (Keene, N.H.) and anchored by Julie Roberts (Williamsburg, Mass.). The team crossed the line in a qualifying time of 10:55.35. Senior captain Kelly Ulf (Lunenburg, Mass.) leaped 15’0.75” to capture 6th place in the long jump and 4’9.75 for 8th place in the high jump. Freshman Ashley Brooks (Danvers, Mass.) earned Emmanuel’s top field finish with her 4’11.75” high jump. The jump gave Brooks 4th place overall and qualified the rookie for the New

EC Grads Return for Annual Alumni VB Game

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College men’s volleyball team welcomed back some familiar faces Friday evening in the annual Alumni Volleyball Game played at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. In their final tune up before their 2014 schedule gets underway, the Saints took care of business against some of their former teammates with a 3-1 victory. Click to see who played in the 2014 Alumni Game

England Division III Championships. The Saints will compete again this weekend, when they head across the river to compete in the 2014 Harvard University Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at

10:30 AM. CLICK HERE for the full Men’s Results CLICK HERE for the full Women’s Results

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JANUARY 2014

MEDFORD, Mass. The Emmanuel Saints competed in the Tufts University Invite on January 18, 2014. This was the third meet of the season for both the EC Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Teams. The Saints cruised to seventeen new personal records, while recording seven top-five finishes and four Division III New England qualifying performances. Senior captain Nathan Bruno (Lenox, Mass.) paced the Emmanuel men, clocking two top-five individual finishes and nabbing another as part of a relay squad later in the day. Bruno raced to 2nd place in the men’s 600m with his Division III New England qualifying time of 1:23.88. He also captured 4th place in the 600m hurdles with his 8.94 finish. Junior Ryan Thomas (Wakefield, R.I.) ran his personal best in the 60mH, crossing the line in 9.18. Thomas also picked up a 7th place finish in the 400m with his time of 52.45. Classmate Adam Julien (New Orleans, La.) finished 6th in that same race, racing to a 52.16 finish. Junior Martina Benassi (North Haven, Conn.) hit her PR in the women’s 400m with a time of 65.15. Junior captain Chloe Egan (Burlington, Vt.) posted the top women’s finish on the day, placing

VOLLEYBALL

Indoor Track & Field Competes at Tufts

EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

Athlete of the Month VanessaBramante

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Women’s Basketball

Birthday: Hometown: Nickname

What do you like most about Emmanuel? The fact that there are three different Starbucks within less than a one mile radius... But in all seriousness I love the close-knit community Emmanuel has to offer, as well as this beautiful city. Favorite place on campus? The atrium... ECWB practically lives there Favorite sports team? All the Boston sports teams especially the Patriots and Celtics Favorite athlete? I have always admired Kevin Garnett’s intensity Lucky #? 34 Something that most people don’t know about you? I laugh at just about anything, and my laugh is extremely loud and obnoxious Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere with a beach Accomplishment you are most proud of in your sport? Making it to the Elite 8 back in 2012. It was such an incredible experience, and I am very eager to get back there! Favorite holiday? Christmas Do you have any pets? I have 2 dogs. Favorite movie? The Lion King or Billy Madison Favorite music artist/band? Queen Favorite pre-game song to get pumped up? Otis by Kanye West/ Jay Z

JANUARY 2014

March 13 Stoneham, Mass. Ness or V.

Class Year: Junior Major: English Comm.

Pepsi or Coke? Coke Guilty Pleasure TV Show? Law and Order: SVU Favorite cereal? Reese’s Cocoa Puffs or Frosted Flakes with slices of bananas Best Halloween costume you’ve worn? When I was little my Mom would coordinate our outfits. My older sister was Bo-peep, and I was the sheep. Favorite city or town? Boston! Favorite ice cream? Brigham’s Chocolate Chip How many foreign countries have you been to? 1 (London, England freshman year), but I am itching to go to Italy someday If it could rain something other than rain, what would it rain? Chocolate! Favorite Family Guy character? Stewie Favorite Person at Emmanuel? Andy Yosinoff of course... or my Italian Professor Isa Orvieto Favorite quote? “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall

together” ~Marilyn Monroe

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EMMANUEL COLLEGE SAINTS SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER

Jackson & Rentie Attend NCAA Convention Earlier this month, EC Men’s Volleyball player Ashanti Jackson and Women’s Basketball player Shaniya Rentie attended the 2014 NCAA Convention in SanDiego, Calif. as representatives of the GNAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Below is a summary of the convention through Jackson’s perspective:

Attending the 2014 NCAA Convention in San Diego was a phenomenal experience. It was not what I expected considering I had also attended the 2014 NCAA Leadership Forum in Providence, RI on the campus of Johnson & Wales University.

Another session involved us engaging in unified sports with the special Olympians. This was amazing and really got me amped for my upcoming season. Seeing the passion in these individuals playing bocce ball reminded me of the same passion I crave for volleyball. I believe that at Emmanuel we can and will make more of a collective effort to support our DIII partnership with the Special Olympics. Another workshop that I really enjoyed outside of the required SAAC meetings was the presentation of wellness given by Latrice Sales. Although it was geared more toward faculty and coaches, it reminded me of the importance of wellness and nutrition which will enhance my performance as both a student and an athlete if properly tended to. Another take away from this convention was the understanding of the hierarchy of power within the NCAA. Presidents of schools had a lot of “say” in what got passed and what did not. I was extremely thankful for the connections I made and the people that I got to speak with and gain advice from. This may have been one of my first big professional occasions and I believe I represented myself, the Men’s Volleyball team, Emmanuel College, and the GNAC to the highest of standards.

Jackson, GNAC Assistant Commissioner Dan Campagna and Rentie at the Convention

I am very fortunate for the information that I was able to put under my belt after this convention. With this information, I plan to improve our SAAC. Instead of stopping our commitment and

energy after Midnight Madness, I would like to surface legislation early and improve the student-athlete voice and awareness. I also plan to address our needed involvement in our DIII partnership. I would like student-athletes to understand their importance to the NCAA and utilize the opportunities it encourages us to use. - Ashanti Jackson, Class of 2015

Support Emmanuel College Athletics Today! The Saints Booster Club supports Emmanuel athletics by providing additional resources to keep our programcomprehensive and competitive and ensure the continued growth and success of our student-athletes.

Visit www.goecsaints.com to support Emmanuel College Athletics. GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS! GO SAINTS!

JANUARY 2014

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Jackson and Rentire at the 2014 NCAA Convention

I was able to learn more about the current troubles that the conference and organization face such as the million-dollar deficit that the NCAA is struggling with. As a student-athlete, this was important for me to hear because this directly affects our game play. I was very dissapointed to hear the possible solution of cutting the season short due to this dilemma.

VOLLEYBALL

Unlike the Providence conference, which was more about leadership education and student-athlete-to-student-athlete interaction, this convention was more business oriented and involved more of the serious legislation as its audience was more faculty and administration-oriented. In the exclusive GNAC meeting, I was able to see what really goes on behind the scenes. I thought this was the most beneficial. The AD perspectives, combined with the Commissioner’s and ours, SAAC, really impacted the outcome of some of the legislation that was being decided on. Understanding the budget of not only the GNAC, but also the NCAA, was one of the most intriguing topics, I thought.

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