Troy University Athletics
Terrific Time to be a Trojan
3/20/2009 5:00:00 AM | General
What a time to be a Trojan!!
As many of you have read the blog by my boss, Ricky Hazel, about spring football, baseball, rodeo and golf - I just thought I would get you updated on the other sports going on at the Troy University campus this semester.
BASKETBALL (WOMEN)
The season is now complete with a quarterfinal loss to the University of South Alabama in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. What many people may not realize is that the Trojans finished second in the East Division and were awarded the fourth seed based on a loss to the University of Denver (third seed) earlier in the season. It is the best finish in the Sun Belt Conference for the Trojans, since joining the conference four seasons ago. Senior Kylie Morrissy finished her career with a pair of awards, a First Team selection on the All-Sun Belt team and a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. The Trojans were awarded for the academic performance during the 2007-08 academic year with the Team GPA award with a 3.22 GPA; with the award being handed out at the beginning of their quarterfinal game in Hot Springs; along with seven individuals being awarded for their work by being named to the Commissioner's List in the conference.
Meanwhile, senior point guard Larelle Roper wrote her name in the Sun Belt Conference history books by ending her career in the Top 25 all-time in assists - finishing 20th overall.
Former Trojan, and current graduate assistant, Audrey Muse will head to Australia in a little over two weeks to begin play in the ABA with Geelong. She will work on her game in hopes of signing with the WNBL following the ABA season.
Looking back at the schedule that the Trojans completed with a 16-14 overall record, the team played two teams (Middle Tennessee and Austin Peay) who are in the NCAA Tournament, recording a 1-2 record against those teams. They also played three others (UALR, George Washington and Richmond) who are in the WNIT and played at a tournament (Chattanooga) of another team that is in the tournament.
SOCCER
Head coach Chris Bentley is making final preparations for the start of next season, and the team has had a busy time since the end of the season. Assistant coach Clair Scanlan was recently awarded for her outstanding accomplishments with the Irish women's national team, click here for more information. The team also welcomed Gary Green, a head women's soccer coach in the English Premier League, earlier this year. Among other things, the Trojans signed seven on National Signing Day and Bentley announced his camp dates for this summer.
SOFTBALL
The Trojan softball team is actually on the diamond right now as we speak preparing to face FIU beginning tomorrow in Miami. The Trojans have started the season off strong and two of our students, Taylor Bryan and Ben Stanfield, will provide in-depth coverage of the Trojans throughout the remainder of the season. Click here for more information on the Troy softball program and their chase for the Sun Belt Conference championship.
TENNIS
The men's and women's tennis teams are back in action this weekend after missing time due to Mother Nature and illness. The men are back on the court for the first time since March 3 after missing two matches due to rain. Yesterday, the Trojans defeated Missouri-Kansas City 7-0, and are taking on Drake today and 71st-ranked UNC-Wilimington tomorrow morning. The Trojan men have faced numerous ranked teams all ready this season. Meanwhile, the women have missed their last four matches due to an illness that affected almost 75 percent of the team the last two weeks. The Trojans are on the road at the Southern Miss Invitational to take on West Virginia, Lamar and Southern Miss - but will have to do so without senior Annabelle Bares who is out with an arm injury. The Trojans only have a pair of home matches left, so check the schedule for those matches and make sure to come out and support these student-athletes.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Troy track and field program is at the Georgia Relays starting today and running into tomorrow. This will be the toughest meet of the season for the Trojans until the conference meet, and maybe even tougher than that meet as well. This weekend, the Trojans will see national powers Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Texas and USC. They will also see every team in the conference in action. Check back to www.TroyTrojans.com for results from the meet this weekend.
The Trojans are coming off a 21-medal performance last weekend in their first outdoor meet of the season at Birmingham-Southern. Junior Tiphanie Baker recorded the best day for the Trojans with a pair of golds, a silver and a new school record. Meanwhile, the men captured the championship at the Southern Invitational, while the women finished second.
Save the date, April 25, the Trojans will host the Coach O Invitational. Come out and watch some of the best track and field student-athletes in the nation on the Troy University campus at the J.O. Colley Track and Field Complex.
VOLLEYBALL
Although volleyball is played in the fall, the team is allowed to work out individually and some team workouts during the Spring. Make sure to come by Trojan Arena on Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. when the Trojans will play their only match of the Spring against Auburn University. It will be the second time this season that the Tigers have visited Trojan Arena. Also, head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick has announced his camp dates for this summer, click here for more information.
That is a look at what is going on in the sports that I cover during the athletic season, or have oversight (soccer and softball). It is a busy week in Trojan athletics in all sports, so make sure to check www.TroyTrojans.com for more information about the Troy Athletics Department - the best source for Troy Trojans Athletics news.
Until next time,
Travis
