Wednesday night the Upchurch Field House was host to the first ever all athlete event. The idea came to life when the athletic department decided that athletes should get to play with and learn with other athletes, not just their teammates. It was suggested that there be an event in the fall and an event in the spring. 

The Fall event was proposed and organized by the tennis coach Teresa Boylan and the field hockey coach Jess Lamina.  The idea came to life in October when the girls were talking about Corn Hole, and how much fun it is to play when tailgating at their favorite football games. Boylan and Lamina suggested that there be a corn hole cup tournament, and that with the supplies we could now have games for parents and spectators to play at half time or at tailgates after the games.  The department accepted the idea, and spread the word to their teams about the plans.  

The Corn Hole Cup started at 7:30 pm and concluded at 9:00pm.  “The girls got really into it designing their team names, outfits, and their attitudes. It was a lot of fun seeing different sports pair up and compete,” said Lamina. 

In all, there were 16 teams playing off for the honor of being Corn Hole Cup Champions in 2009. It was Team G-Money that beat Slide Tackle. Slide Tackle’s team was soccer players Emily Davies and Kelly Kincaid.  G-money’s team was volleyball player Cassidy Jones and field hockey player Alicia Modzelewski. “ It was really fun to see how competitive these girls can be even in such a benign “sport” of Corn Hole.  It was really a great time, a lot of fun; It is our hope that this will catch on as a new Sweet Briar tradition,” said Boylan.  

Stay tuned to find out when the spring event is, and what it will be. This event will be run by soccer coach Kevin Fabulich and lacrosse coach Hillary London. It is sure to be worth waiting for!

Sweet Briar College first-year swimmer Dani Humphrey (Vienna, Va.) has been named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) “Player of the Week”.

Humphrey’s outstanding performance of two first place finishes against Washington and Lee this past weekend (Nov. 13) brought her this honorable recognition.  The events that Humphrey swam were the 50-Freestyle with a time of 25.75 and the 100-Butterfly with a time of 1:04.11

The Vixen swim team continues their preparation for conference competition and will be host to conference rivals Hollins University and Emory and Henry College, 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Prothro Natatorium.

The Sweet Briar Swim team fell to the Generals on Friday night 148-111.  It was a good night for the Vixens who won two individual events, both events were won by freshmen Dani Humphrey (Vienna, Va).  Dani won the 50 freestyle in a time of 25.75 and the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:04.11.

Finishing second was junior Melissa Simpson (Madison Heights, Va) in the 50 freestyle in a time of 26.07.  Senior Tori Marshall (Horahsm, Pa) took second in the 100 butterfly and senior Hannah Hesser (Richmond, Va) placed 2nd in both of her events the 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle.

The Vixens are back in action at home on December 5th against Hollins, and Emory & Henry. Meet is set to start at 1:00 pm.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) recently released their women's All-Conference Soccer Team.

Kat Alexander, '11Junior center defender Kat Alexander (Asheville, N.C.) was placed on the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Honorable Mention squad. Kat started in 15 games this season and scored one goal. This is her second conference award in three seasons of competition for Sweet Briar College.  “Kat’s tenacity in the air, her ability to stand up attackers and her leadership in organizing our defense were essential to our season,” said head coach Kevin Fabulich. 

Please click here for the complete press release.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released its All-Conference volleyball team.

Ashley Winters, '11Junior volleyball player Ashley Winters ('11/Mechanicsville, Va.) received All-ODAC Volleyball Honorable Mention. Winters lead the team this season with 232 digs averaging 3.36 digs per game. She also had 2 blocked saves, 110 kills averaging 1.59 kills per game.

For full article please click here.

The Sweet Briar field hockey team was honored to have two players receiving Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC ) team nods. Sophomore Madeline Wilson (Orange, Va) was voted onto the 2^nd Team All-ODAC, while junior teammate Lindsay Eneguess (Peterborough, N.H.) received Honorable Mention.

Madeline Wilson, '12Wilson started 10 games this season, faced 338 shots and posted 166 saves for a .700 save percentage. She had 71 goals scored against her with an average of 5.89 per game.  Wilson is a leader on the defensive side of the field. “Madeline has learned so much about the game and what it takes to be a goalkeeper, I am excited to see where our goalkeepers can go from here,” said Coach  Lamina.

Lindsay Eneguess, '11Lindsay Eneguess was named to the Honorable Mention list of ODAC student-athletes. Lindsay started 16 games this season and scored seven goals. She led the team in goals, as well as shots with 33. “Lindsay filled a new role on the team this season; she played as our right mid as well as our striker on corners. She really stepped up, and led the team on the offensive side of the field” said coach Lamina. 

The newest building on campus is officially open! The Fitness and Athletics Center opened its doors to the campus on Friday November 6^th at 7am. The FAC, as it has been dubbed by members of the Physical Education and Athletics Department, will now be open Monday through Thursday 7am-11pm, Friday 7am-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sundays 1pm-8pm.

The FAC offers a brand new lobby featuring the Sweet Briar Hall of Fame, the “Celebration of 100 years of Tennis” display, the many awards and honors from the ODAC as well as the NCAA, and of course the Individual Awards of past and present Sweet Briar student-athletes and coaches.

The new lounge for students offers couches, chairs, a fireplace, as well as a big screen TV for students viewing and relaxing pleasures.  Around the corner from the lounge is the new game room that contains a pool table, table tennis, as well as a card table.

If you continue into the Upchurch Field House you will see the three-lane elevated track that overlooks the field house. The field house is lined for lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and batting cages are on the way!  Next door to the field house is the new aerobics/spinning room with 12 spinning bikes.  This area is paneled with mirrors which allow students to work on cardio as well as form.

The last addition to the FAC is the new racquetball and squash courts. The two courts are lined and ready for action. The racquetball court will also serve as a host for Wallyball, which is an “off-the-wall” volleyball-like fun stress buster!

For more pictures and information about the Grand opening please click here.

The Sweet Briar Swim team beat Frostburg State on Sunday 137-59.  After winning 2 and losing 1 at the Chatham Invitational the Vixens traveled to Frostburg State making it a 3 win weekend.  They were also able to break the school record in the 400 medley relay in a time of 4:52:09. Swimming in the relay was junior Melissa Simpson (Madison Heights, Va.) who swam the backstroke, senior Hayley Hill (Southampton, Bermuda) who swam the breaststroke, senior Hannah Hesser (Richmond, Va.) who swam the butterfly and sophomore Charlotte Greenwood (Wyndmoor, Pa.) who swam freestyle.

Individual winners from the meet include senior Tori Marshall (Horsham, Pa.) who won the 200 and 400 Freestyle races. First year Dani Humphrey (Sienna,Va.) who won the 50 and 100 Freestyle meter races. Melissa Simpson who won the 200 Individual Medley and 100 meter Backstroke, and Hannah Hesser who won the 100 Butterfly.

The Vixens other first place finish was in the 400 Freestyle Relay with the team of Tori Marshall, sophomore Brittany Fox (Charlottesville, Va.), Hannah Hesser and Dani Humphrey.

Head Coach Jason Gallaher  had this to say of his team, "This was a good weekend for Vixen Swimming.  We swam some great races both days, and it's exciting to see another school record broken this early in our season."

The Sweet Briar Swim team won 2 and lost 1 at the Chatham Invitational this weekend.  The meet was scored as 3 dual meets.  The Vixens beat Penn State Altoona by a score 212-55, as well as Juniata 201-55.  They fell to Chatham 176-112. "This was a fun meet for our team. There were some great races, and this was a good opportunity for our program" said coach Gallaher.

Swimming well for the Vixens was senior Hannah Hesser (Richmond, Va.) who placed first in the 100 and 200 Butterfly as well as a 2nd place finish in the 200 freestyle.  Hannah also received the runner up  high point award. The other overall first place finisher for the Vixens was first year Dani Humphrey (Vienna, Va.) who placed first in the 50 freestyle.

The Vixens are back in action today as they take on Frostburg State at 2:00 pm

The Vixens beat Guilford College by a score of 151-42. It was a record night as the Sweet Briar 400-meter freestyle relay team, made up of senior Tori Marshall (Horsham, Pa.), sophomore Charlotte Greenwood (Wyndmoore, Pa.), senior Hannah Hesser (Richmond, Va.) and first year Dani Humphrey (Vienna, Va.), broke a 26-year-old school record and a 1-year-old pool record. The new record is 4:15.42.

The Vixens finished first in every event of the night, turning out great performances in all races. Marshall placed first in the 200 and 400 freestyle races. Hesser placed first in the 100 butterfly. Junior Melissa Simpson (Madison Heights, Va.) placed first in the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke. Sophomore Felicia McGuire (Pelham, Ala.) placed first in the 800 freestyle. Greenwood placed first in the 100 freestyle. Humphrey placed first in the 50 freestyle. Senior Hayley Hill (Southampton, Bermuda) placed first in the 100 breaststroke. The 200-meter relay team of Hesser, Hill, Humphrey and Simpson also placed first.

“The girls raced very well this evening,” coach Jason Gallaher said. “I was very excited to see our four hundred freestyle relay team break a twenty-six-year-old school record, and to set a new pool record.”

For first-half meet results, click here.

For second-half meet results, click here.