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MOCS PLACE FIVE TEAMS IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

TAMPA - All five teams from Florida Southern earned places in the inaugural Sunshine State Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship played Mar. 29 at Tampa.  Each of the nine schools in the Sunshine State Conference was represented.  The Moccasins' team of Danielle Durham and Danielle Higginbotham took first place in the silver division.  The team of Anna Greenwood and Beverly Stasis and the team of Ashley Martin and Natalie Arvizu tied for the fifth and the team of Elise Burke and Courtney Johnson tied for seventh in the silver division.  In the bronze division, the team of Maggie Drumm and Stephanie Goldstein placed second.  The championship was awarded to the team earning the most points based on pool play results.  Tampa won the team title, with Saint Leo second and FSC third.

 

JOSH HILL NAMED ASSISTANT VOLLEYBALL COACH

Josh Hill, an assistant volleyball coach at Campbell University the past two seasons, is the new assistant volleyball coach at Florida Southern College.  Hill replaces Chuck Waddington on the staff of head coach Jill Stephens.  Waddington resigned after five seasons to become the head volleyball coach at Angelo State in Texas.

“I’m super excited to have Josh joining our staff,” Stephens said.  “He has great experience and fits in with our philosophy of excellence and family.  He also wants to win a national championship, which is one of our goals every season.” 

Prior to his two seasons at Campbell, Hill served as a volunteer assistant at Florida for the 2005 season.  The Gators reached the NCAA regional finals that season.  During his tenure at Florida, he also worked at the nationally acclaimed Florida Volleyball Camp and served as director of the Faith Sports Camps.

Hill was a four-year letterwinner in men’s volleyball at Northland Baptist Bible College (Wis.), earning first-team all-conference honors three times.  He was the conference tournament MVP in 2000 and was an all-tournament selection at the 2000 NCCAA Tournament.  He received his bachelor’s degree in counseling from Northland Baptist and earned his master’s degree in counseling from Bob Jones University in South Carolina.

Hill begins his duties at Florida Southern on Feb. 18.  He and his wife, Annie, have two sons, Noah (3) and Jacob (10 months).

  STEPHENS EARNS HALL OF FAME HONOR

Moccasin volleyball coach Jill Stephens recently was inducted into the Hall of Fame of her high school alma mater, Cardinal Gibbons High School in Ft. Lauderdale.  Stephens was a standout in both volleyball and basketball at Cardinal Gibbons.  In basketball, she set the school’s single-game scoring record (52 points), as well as the career scoring record.  In volleyball, she was a two-time all-state selection while playing for legendary coach Louise Crocco.  “Knowing that Coach Crocco also is in the Cardinal Gibbons Hall of Fame makes it an amazing honor,” Stephens said.  “It was great to go back and visit with family and friends.” 

Crocco, currently the athletic director at Cardinal Gibbons, coached volleyball for 39 years and won 18 state championships.  She had this to say about Stephens:  "Jill ranks as one of the top volleyball players to come out of our program.  Her athleticism gave her the ability to be a top player, but her dedication to becoming the best she could be was what made her a great player.  She was a student of the game, learning as much as she could in a very short period of time, getting better each practice.  Jill was very coachable and would do anything to get better.  Her leadership on and off the court contributed to our success in winning three state championships while she was on the team.  She also was given the highly esteemed "Lady Redskin Award" her senior year.  This award is not automatically given out every year.  It is only given when a player shows exceptional qualities of leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship and will go the extra mile to do everything for the betterment of her team.  Jill epitomized all these qualities and highly deserved this award.  She still exhibits these qualities today as she coaches.  We are so proud of Jill and the person and coach she has become, and she is a great addition to the Cardinal Gibbons Athletic Hall of Fame."

Stephens is the second Moccasin volleyball player named to the Cardinal Gibbons Hall of Fame.  Denise Sanscrainte, who played at FSC from 1977-80, was an earlier inductee.  Both Stephens and Sanscrainte played at FSC for FSC and SSC Hall of Fame Coach Lois Webb.    

AVCA ALL-AMERICA HONORS FOR MARTIN, STASIS

The Moccasins' Ashley Martin and Beverly Stasis are second-team selections on the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-America Team announced Monday.  Martin receives second-team recognition  for the second straight year.  Stasis has received honorable mention recognition each of the last two years, after being named AVCA Freshman of the Year in 2004.  Their selection brings to 28 the number of All-America selections the Moccasins have received from the AVCA.

Martin, a junior, led the Moccasins in kills with 439 and had a .280 hitting percentage.  Stasis, a senior, was second on the team in kills with 434 and third in digs with 418.  She finished her four-year career as the FSC and Sunshine State Conference leader in kills with 2001.  She is second in FSC career digs (1659), fifth in career aces (195) and fourth in career games played (487) and matches played (145).  The Moccasins were 26-9 and finished second in the South Regional.  

AVCA ALL-REGION HONORS FOR MARTIN, STASIS

Ashley Martin and Beverly Stasis are the Moccasins' representatives on the America Volleyball Coaches Association All-South Region Team.  Martin is a first-team selection for the second straight year, while Stasis earns her third straight all-region award after being named the national and region freshman of the year in 2004.

Martin, a junior, led the Moccasins in kills with 439 and had a .280 hitting percentage.  Stasis, a senior, was second on the team in kills with 434 and third in digs with 418.  She finished her four-year career as the FSC and Sunshine State Conference leader in kills with 2001.  She is second in FSC career digs (1659), fifth in career aces (195) and fourth in career games played (487) and matches played (145).

Defending national champion Tampa placed five players on the 12-member all-region team - Erin Clark, Katelen Dixon, Alisha Green, Gabriela Saade and Margeaux Sinabaldi.  The Moccasins were the only other school with more than one player selected.  Completing the squad were Melissa DeLuca of Wingate, Vivian Lacy of Tusculum, Michelle Nogueras of Saint Leo, Camilla Pagnan of Barry and Daris Rodriguez of Lynn.  Kaitlin McKenna of Saint Leo was named the region's freshman of the year.

The Moccasins were 26-9 and finished second in the South Regional.  

MOCS' SEASON ENDS IN REGIONAL FINAL

Nov. 17 - The Moccasins' season came to an end Saturday night, as defending national champion Tampa downed FSC 30-27, 30-26, 30-19  in the NCAA South Regional championship match at Tampa.  The Spartans, now 31-2, return to the Division II Elite Eight.  The Moccasins finished with a 26-9 record.

"It just wasn't our night.  Tampa played really well," said Moccasin coach Jill Stephens.  "They got us out of our system.  We were not as disciplined as we needed to be.  They played really good defense."

In game one, the Spartans broke a 3-3 tie with three straight points and never trailed.  FSC rallied from a 21-13 deficit and had the game tied at 27-27 before Tampa scored the final three points.

After FSC came back from a 10-5 deficit in game two to tie it at 14-14, neither team led by more than two until Tampa had a 6-2 spurt to finish the game.

Tampa broke a 2-2 tie early in game three with three straight points and led by as many as 13 en route to the final game win.

Ashley Martin led FSC with 15 kills and hit .556 for the match.  She was the only Moccasin in double figures in kills.  Beverly Stasis, the FSC and SSC career kills leader, had just six kills in her final match for the Moccasins and finished with a career total of 2,001.  Katelen Dixon led Tampa with 15 kills, as the Spartans hit .350 for the match compared to FSC's .252.  The Moccasins had four representatives on the all-tournament team - Martin, Stasis, Danielle Durham and Danielle Higginbotham.

Daryl Baby had a team-high 13 digs for FSC, raising her final career total to 1,632, third-best in FSC history.  She tied for fifth in career matches played with 143 and ninth in career games played with 469.   In addition to her kills record, Stasis finished with 1,659 digs, second-best in FSC history.  She also is fourth in career games played with 487 and career matches played with 145 and fifth in career aces with 195.

 

MOCS ADVANCE TO REGIONAL TITLE MATCH

Nov. 16 - For the first time since 1999, the Moccasins will play in the championship match of the NCAA South Regional.  After dropping both regular-season matches to Nova Southeastern, the 14th-ranked Moccasins turned the tables on the Sharks Friday with a 30-19, 30-14, 26-30, 30-28 win in their semifinal match at Tampa.  The victory puts the Moccasins (26-8) into Saturday night's regional title match at 7 p.m. against Tampa.  The top-seeded and second-ranked Spartans got a scare from Lynn and had to rally from a two games to none deficit to win in five games in the other semifinal contest.  The Mocs and Spartans split their two regular-season matches, with each team winning on its home court.  The winner of Saturday's title match advances to the Division II Elite Eight Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at a site to be determined.

"Our intensity level was the difference," said coach Jill Stephens when asked the difference between this match and the two regular-season matches.  "We came in to the match very committed and wanted to show that we were the team with the experience to win.  Our defense played great."

After hitting .131 and a season-low .101 in their two losses, the Moccasins hit .304 in Friday's win.  Ashley Martin led FSC with 20 kills and hit .333.  Beverly Stasis picked up 19 kills and also hit .333.  Danielle Durham had 16 kills and hit .389, while Danielle Higginbotham added 12 kills and hit .455.  Stasis had a team-high 23 digs for her 19th double-double and 81st of her career.  Durham had 20 digs for her ninth double-double this season and 35th of her career.  Daryl Baby gave the Mocs a third 20-dig performer with 21.

The Moccasins were trailing 27-23 in game four, tied it at 28-28, then a Durham service ace and a Nova hitting error closed out the match.

 

STASIS LEADS MOCS RALLY THAT BEATS LIONS IN FIVE

Nov. 15 - Trailing two games to one and six points away from having their season ended, the Moccasins turned to senior Beverly Stasis, who led a remarkable rally that enabled the Mocs to top Saint Leo 25-30, 30-18, 19-30, 30-25, 15-4 in the first round of the NCAA South Regional at Tampa Thursday.

With Stasis producing a season-high 30 kills, the 14th-ranked Moccasins improved to 25-8 and advanced to the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. against Nova Southeastern.

With a two games to one lead, Saint Leo led 24-20 in game four, but the Moccasins scored five straight points to take a 25-24 lead.  After the Lions tied it at 25-25, the Moccasins scored the final five points to force the deciding fifth game.

It was all Stasis in game five, as she had five kills and three blocks in FSC's first 12 points of the game and the Mocs scored the final 10 points of the match.

"Beverly just refused to lose," said head coach Jill Stephens after the contest.  "Our kids played with a lot of heart, but I have a few gray hairs.  I think  a key for us was staying calm in game four.  To be honest, it was a pessimistic calm, but we didn't panic."

The win was the 59th straight without a loss for the Moccasins over the Lions, who finished 24-14.

In addition to her 30 kills, Stasis collected 10 digs to post her 18th double-double of the season and the 80th of her career.  The Moccasins also received 18 kills from Ashley Martin and 14 kills from Danielle Durham, who recorded a match-high 24 digs for her 34th career double-double.

Nova Southeastern downed Wingate in four games and will try to defeat the Moccasins for the third time this season in Friday's semifinal match.  In the regular season the Sharks topped the Mocs in four games at Nova Southeastern and in five games at FSC.

Earlier Thursday the All-Sunshine State Conference team was announced and the Moccasins had three players selected.  Martin and Stasis were second-team selections, while Elise Burke made the all-freshman team.  It's the first time since the 1997 season that FSC did not have a first-team All-SSC selection.

Named to the first team were Erin Clark, Katelen Dixon, Alisha Green and Margeaux Sinibaldi of league champion Tampa, Lydee Benoit of Eckerd, Michelle Nogueras of Saint Leo and Camilla Pagnan of Barry.  Clark was named SSC Player of the Year.  Saint Leo's Kaitlin McKenna was the Freshman of the Year and Nova Southeastern's Steve Wilcosky was voted Coach of the Year.

 

MARTIN, STASIS ON DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION TEAM

Ashley Martin and Beverly Stasis have been selected to the Daktronics All-South Region Team chosen by the region's sports information directors.  Martin, who leads the Moccasins in kills with 386, was a first-team selection for the second straight year.  Stasis, the FSC and Sunshine State Conference career leader in kills, received all-region recognition for the fourth straight year.  She was a second-team choice for the second straight year, after earning first-team recognition as a freshman and a sophomore.  She is second on the team in kills this season with 379.

As a first-team selection, Martin will appear on the ballot for the Daktronics Division II All-America Team.  She was joined on the first team by Barry's Camilla Pagnan and five players from Tampa - region player of the year Erin Clark, Alisha Green, Gabriela Saade, Katelen Dixon and Margeaux Sinibaldi. 

 

HIGGINBOTHAM, STASIS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT

The Moccasins' Danielle Higginbotham and Beverly Stasis have been named to the Academic All-District Volleyball Team selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Higginbotham, a junior, was a second-team selection and Stasis, a senior, was a third-team choice.  Higginbotham has a 3.77 grade point average and is majoring in business.  Stasis has a 3.56 GPA and also is majoring in business.

Ranked 14th in this week's AVCA Division II Coaches Poll, the Moccasins play their final regular season match Friday at 7 p.m. at Jenkins Field House against Rollins.

Despite losing a pair of matches last weekend, the Moccasins still are ranked second in the South Region behind top-ranked Tampa.  In order behind the Moccasins are Nova Southeastern, Eckerd, Saint Leo, Wingate, Lynn, Rollins, South Carolina-Aiken and Tusculum.  The NCAA will announce its Division II regional selections Monday at 9 a.m. (ET).  The selection announcement will be available at www.NCAAsports.com

 

STASIS GETS SSC KILLS MARK, BUT NOVA WINS IN FIVE

Nov. 4 - The Moccasins' Beverly Stasis became the career kills leader in the Sunshine State Conference Sunday, but that wasn't enough to give the 11th-ranked Moccasins a win, as Nova Southeastern downed FSC, 26-30, 30-25, 26-30, 30-27, 15-6, at Jenkins Field House. The win boosted the Sharks into second place in the SSC with a 10-4 league mark. They are 24-8 overall. The Moccasins, who lost two of three matches over the weekend, slipped to 23-8, 10-5 in the SSC.

Stasis, a senior from Clearwater who has started every match in her four-year career, delivered her record-setting kill on FSC's 21st point in game two. She surpassed the mark of 1, 925 set by Tampa's Ania Ruiz (2000-03). She went on add seven more kills to her total, finishing the match with a team-high 15 and 1,933 in her career.

Leadiing two games to one, the Moccasins trailed for most of game four, but battled back to pull even at 27-27 on back-to-back service aces by Daryl Baby, only to have the Sharks score the final three points to win the game. Nova took charge early in game five, overcoming a 3-1 deficit with four straight points, then going on an 8-0 run to build the margin to 13-4 and the Mocs could get no closer.

In addition to the 15 kills from Stasis, Ashley Martin had 14, Danielle Higginbotham had 11 and Jennifer King added 10. Emily Carle, with a match-high 18 kills and a .457 hitting percentage, led the Sharks. Melinda Gorman had 14 kills, while Aley Tallman and Valia Petrova each had 10.

The Moccasins finish the regular season Friday at 7 p.m. at Jenkins Field House against Rollins.