Sidelines – Spring 2011
Volleyball scores first NCAA Tourney berth
The Georgia Southern volleyball team made history – picking up the program’s first set win in NCAA postseason history – but the Eagles couldn’t overcome Florida State’s offensive attack, falling 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-13) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. “I’m proud of our Georgia Southern Eagles,” said head coach Chad Callihan. “I thought they came out and played a hard-fought match. We have to give credit to Florida State for their effort this evening. They got better as the match went on.” All 15 members of the 2010 GSU roster saw action in the match.
Vanderspiegel named new women’s soccer coach
An assistant coach for the Hofstra women’s soccer program for the last four seasons, Lindsey Vanderspiegel has been named the new women’s soccer coach for the Eagles.
Vanderspiegel helped lead the Pride to its most successful seasons in school history and two NCAA second-round championship appearances. Vanderspiegel joined Hofstra in 2007 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator and helped guide the Pride to a 58-21-3 record over four years. Hofstra captured the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in 2007 and regular season championship in 2010, with victories in the NCAA postseason tournament both years. The Pride registered an 11-0 mark in league play in 2010, the first CAA team to post an unbeaten and untied record since 1998.
Four Eagles named All-America
Sophomore nose tackle Brent Russell highlighted a list of four Georgia Southern Eagles honored with Associated Press NCAA Division I FCS All-America honors.
Russell, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, was named a first-team AP All-American, adding to an impressive list of 2010 accolades. Junior offensive tackle Brett Moore, junior place kicker Adrian Mora and junior defensive back Laron Scott earned third-team All-America honors for their efforts this season. With a total of four players, Georgia Southern tied Stephen F. Austin and Appalachian State for the most All-America selections in 2010.
SoCon names seven Eagles All-Conference
Seven Georgia Southern players earned Southern Conference All-Conference honors as selected by the league’s coaches.
Punter Charlie Edwards (Tifton, Ga.), offensive lineman Brett Moore (Warner Robins, Ga.), nose tackle Brent Russell (Comer, Ga.), and Laron Scott (Warner Robins, Ga.), who was selected as both a defensive back and return specialist, were recognized on the 2010 first team.
Two Eagles, linebacker Josh Rowe (Opelika, Ala.) and junior Roderick Tinsley (Soperton, Ga.), received All-Conference Second Team honors for defense.
Golf signs five to letters of intent
Five student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play golf at Georgia Southern beginning in the fall of 2011. The class consists of all Georgia signees, two of whom are high school teammates. According to the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, the Eagles’ 2011 signing class includes five of the top 11 golfers from the state of Georgia.
“We are very excited about this class,” said coach Larry Mays. “All five are home-grown Georgia kids who have proven junior golf resumés. This group will be a great building block for the future success of Georgia Southern golf. Coach Collins and I are proud to call all of these fine young men Eagles.”
The 2010 Georgia Southern Golf Recruiting Class includes Caleb Morris (Metter, Ga.), ranked ninth in Georgia and 102nd nationally; Charlie Martin (LaGrange, Ga.), ranked seventh in Georgia and 82nd nationally; Henry Mabbett (Griffin, Ga.), ranked 10th in Georgia and 106th nationally; Zach Hartman (St. Simons Island, Ga.), ranked 11th in Georgia and 109th nationally; and Scott Wolfes (St. Simons Island, Ga.), ranked third in Georgia and 26th nationally.
Baseball Eagles sign 11 freshmen
Eagles head baseball coach Rodney Hennon has signed 11 players to national letters of intent to play for Georgia Southern beginning this fall.
“We are very excited about this group of young men who will join our program,” said Hennon. “Our signees are not only talented players who will make major contributions on the field, they are fine young men who will be outstanding representatives of our program and University.
The 2010 signing class includes: Infielder Tyler Avera (Appling County); catcher Clint Clark (Newnan); pitcher/outfielder Heath Durand, (Lakeside-Evans); catcher/infielder Chase Griffin (Lee County); pitcher Sam Howard (Cartersville); infielder Casey Kicklighter (Wayne County); infielder Nick Rau (Thomson); infielder Aubrey Shivers (Charleton County); pitcher Clint Taylor (Dodge County); outfielder Hunter Thomas (Chattahoochee); and pitcher Joe Watkins (Liberty County).
Tennis inks state’s No. 9 senior
Men’s tennis Coach Nick Zieziula has signed Carson Jones to a national letter of intent to enroll at the University and play tennis for the Eagles in the fall of 2011. Jones is currently ranked as the No. 9 senior in Georgia and 177th in the nation. Tennisrecruiting.net rates Jones as a four-star recruit.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Carson to the squad for next fall,” said Zieziula. “His attacking game style, along with his relentless work ethic, is going to be a great addition to the program.”
Jones is a second-generation Eagles tennis player. His father, Craig, played in 1981 and 1982.
Baseball attendance ranks in Top 50
Nearly 53,000 fans walked through the turnstiles at J.I. Clements Stadium last season, which ranks in the top 40 among Division I baseball programs. The Georgia Southern home baseball attendance has ranked in the top 50 in each of the last four seasons.
The Eagles ranked 37th nationally in total home attendance and 39th in average home attendance. Georgia Southern drew 52,488 fans in 32 games for an average of 1,640 a contest. The Eagles recorded the second-best attendance in the history of J.I. Clements Stadium against third-ranked Georgia Tech and drew 2,782 in the first game of a two-game series against the Yellow Jackets on Feb. 23.