By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team defeated the Ball State Cardinals by a score of 3-1, on Senior Night.
The Mountaineers (8-6, 5-1 MAC) came into the Oct. 18 matchup after previously falling to North Carolina, and with the win against Ball State (3-9, 2-3 MAC), the Mountaineers clinched a spot in the 2024 MAC Field Hockey Tournament.
Henriette Stegen, Kassie Paul and Bridget Donovan all found the back of the cage, helping improve the home record to 5-2.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The game began tight for both teams, but a Stegen goal from a Boekaar pass gave the Mountaineers an early lead in the contest. Neither team forced a corner in the period, both having ample possession in the midfield. Nearing the end of the period, Paul found the back of the cage for her second goal of the season, giving the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead going into the second quarter.
2nd Quarter: It was more offensive pressure from the Mountaineers, forcing two saves by Ball State goalkeeper Hannah Johnston in the period. Ball State scored their lone goal of the game at the tail end of the second period, capitalizing off the team’s only penalty corner of the period. The Mountaineers led the Cardinals 2-1 going into the halftime break.
3rd Quarter: It was all App State in the third, dominating a bulk of the possession in the period. The Mountaineers forced another three saves from Johnston, along with forcing three corners in the period. Both teams were held scoreless in the third, with the Mountaineers maintaining their one goal lead going into the final period.
4th Quarter: The fourth period was more of the same for App State, forcing two corners in the period and testing the Ball State goalkeeper twice. Bridget Donovan found the back of the cage for the third time this season, giving the Mountaineers a two-goal cushion. App State eventually defeated Ball State, 3-1.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — The App State volleyball team clinched a five-set victory (16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11) over Georgia Southern in Boone on Oct. 18. The Mountaineers rise to 10-6 on the season and 4-1 in SBC action. The victory for App State marked Georgia Southern’s first conference loss this season and first loss since Aug. 30.
“I am so proud. We fought and battled and would not be denied,” said head coach Sarah Rumely Noble. “We executed our game plan at a really high level. Senior Lulu Ambrose was incredible with 21 kills. I’m excited to get back at it again tomorrow.”
App State 3, Georgia Southern 2
Ambrose led the Mountaineers with 21 kills, matching her career high, which was set during the 2022 season against Georgia Southern. Sophomore Ava Leahy slammed down 13 kills, while junior Maya Winterhoff made 12 kills on the night. Leahy and Winterhoff both totaled three blocks apiece. Registering her fifth double-double of the season with 49 assists and 11 digs was redshirt junior Addison Heidemann. Heidemann also served up five of the Mountaineers’ 10 aces. Freshman Elise Marchal made a team-high 19 digs, followed by junior Kenady Roper, who made 18 digs.
App State edged past Georgia Southern in kills (64-61) and assists (54-51). The Mountaineers and Eagles matched with 10 aces apiece. Prior to Friday’s contest, Georgia Southern had won 42 of their 48 sets played this season.
In the first set, Georgia Southern established an early 7-1 lead. The Mountaineers chipped away at the lead and closed the deficit to five with 4-0 run late in the set, which included a pair of kills from Leahy, an Ambrose ace, and a kill from freshman Bella Hutchens. It wasn’t enough, as the Eagles answered with a 4-0 run of their own to take the set, 25-16.
App State bounced back and commanded the second set, taking a 2-0 lead after an Eagle error and Roper ace. The Mountaineers extended the deficit to 10-1 with an electric eight-point run that featured four of Heidemann’s aces as well as a pair of kills from Ambrose. Marchal served up an ace to push the lead to 15-6. Georgia Southern chipped away at the deficit with a 4-0 run, coming within five of App State’s lead, but kills from Hutchens and Leahy, as well as a block from the duo of Ambrose and Leahy kept the Mountaineers ahead, 18-10. With assists from Heidemann, Ambrose and Winterhoff made kills to extend the lead to 21-14. A kill and ace from Ambrose brought App State to a 23-16 lead. After a 4-0 run from Georgia Southern to cut App State’s lead to 23-20, Heidemann set Marchal up for a kill that would bring the Mountaineers to set point (24-20). The Eagles held the Mountaineers to three set points before a kill from Hutchens clinched the set for App State, 25-23.
Despite knotting the score six times over the course of the third set, Georgia Southern took a 12-7 lead after a 6-0 run. App State cut the deficit to two at 17-15 after kills from Winterhoff and Leahy, in addition to an ace from Marchal. Despite a trio of kills from Ambrose late in the set, the Eagles took the third set, 25-20.
In the fourth set, the Mountaineers held the Eagles to eight kills. App State and Georgia Southern knotted the score once, at six all, but the Mountaineers commanded the lead over the duration of the set. The Mountaineers broke the six-all tie with a 6-0 run that included a trio of kills from Hutchens. Leahy made a kill followed by a solo block to extend App State’s lead to 15-8. The Black and Gold reached a 20-12 lead after kills from Winterhoff and Ambrose and an ace from Heidemann. Heidemann set Hutchens up for a kill and the duo of Hutchens and Leahy went up for a block to extend the Mountaineers’ lead to 23-14. Back-to-back kills from Leahy sealed the set, 25-15, for the Mountaineers.
The Black and Gold once again held Georgia Southern to eight kills in the fifth and final set. App State took control of the set early with a 3-0 lead after an Eagle error and kills from Ambrose and Winterhoff. Kills from Winterhoff, Ambrose and Marchal brought App State to an 8-4 lead. The Eagles cut the deficit to one at 11-10, but an Eagle service error and back-to-back kills from Ambrose brought App State to set and match point (14-10). Despite one last Georgia Southern kill, Winterhoff clinched the set (15-11) and match (3-2) for the Mountaineers with a strong kill.
Looking Ahead
The Mountaineers return to the court at 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 for their “Pink Day” match against the Eagles. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and “I fight for” signs will be available to fill out. There will also be a pink wagon race between the second and third sets. Sophomore Caroline Farthing’s mother, Angie Farthing, will make the honorary first serve of the match.
By Matt Present. HARRISONBURG, Va. — In a battle of the two remaining unbeaten teams in the Sun Belt East Division, App State fell on the road to James Madison 3-0 at Sentara Park on Thursday.
The loss is the Mountaineers’ (5-4-5, 2-1-3) first setback since Sept. 8, snapping a six-game unbeaten streak, the program’s longest since 2012. It also marks the first time the Mountaineers have been shut out since Sept. 1 at No. 13 Auburn.
App State goalkeeper Sarah Wommack clear the ball at James Madison on Oct. 17. Photo by Matt Present, courtesy of App State Athletics
Amanda Attanasi scored a pair of first half goals for the Dukes (8-3-3, 6-0-1), who took a 2-0 lead into halftime. Sun Belt scoring leader Ginny Lackey delivered the final blow with a goal in the 82nd minute of play.
App State was held to just one shot in the contest. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sarah Wommack registered a career-high nine saves, facing a career-high 27 shots in the contest.
Freshman forward Ellie Garrison pushes the ball upfield for App State at JMU on Oct. 17. Photo by Matt Present, courtesy of App State Athletics
App State returns to Boone on Sunday for a matchup with Arkansas State. Kickoff is set for noon and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+. The contest is a makeup game from Sept. 29, which was postponed due to Hurricane Helene.
At Sunday’s match the Mountaineers will be collecting new cold weather clothing on behalf of the Hunger and Health Coalition in support of community members impacted by Hurricane Helene.
By Joey Jones and Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — App State will host Georgia State for its Oct. 26 football game, as scheduled, with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game, which sold out of tickets in August, will be streamed live on ESPN+.
This will be the Mountaineers’ first home football game since the High Country community and western North Carolina region were impacted by the effects of Hurricane Helene nearly three weeks ago.
After Hurricane Helene, the university reopened on Oct. 11 and resumed classes on Oct. 16. In the interim, the App State Disaster Relief Fund was created, and more than $2 million has been distributed to members of the university community who are facing hardships because of Helene.
Each of App State’s final three home football games of the season will be played at Kidd Brewer Stadium on their originally scheduled dates of Oct. 26, Nov. 2 and Nov. 23.
“We’re working to thoughtfully, responsibly and respectfully bring university events back to Boone that are supported by students, faculty and staff, as well as a passionate base of alumni and others who love Appalachian State University and Western North Carolina,” Interim Chancellor Heather Norris said. “We’re committed to ensuring that the university continues to support and sustain our community in meaningful and lasting ways.
“We worked together with the Town and County to respond to the immediate needs of our community during and after Hurricane Helene, and we are committed to sustaining this partnership as we continue to move forward with recovery efforts and build a sense of hope for the future to our broader community.”
“App State Football is an important part of the culture and economy of our university community, the High Country, and the western North Carolina region,” Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “We are thankful to university, town and county leadership, and are committed to provide a safe and responsible return to home competition. We hope this event will further rally our community and help support all those who are recovering.”
Please see the important information below regarding the Saturday, Oct. 26 game vs. Georgia State.
Yosef Club parking lots open at 8 a.m. and close one hour after the game ends.
Gates open at 11 a.m. Student Yosef Club early entry is at 10:45 a.m.
Kickoff at 1 p.m., televised by ESPN+
App State Homecoming events have been postponed to Nov. 23. Look for more information about Homecoming events coming soon.
Ways to support the High Country community:
Support local businesses by visiting their High Country locations or purchasing gift cards and gift certificates.
Fans who do not plan to use their tickets for the Oct. 26 game can return them back to the App State Ticket Office. The ticket office will reissue tickets to those who have assisted with recovery efforts in the community. Per policy, tickets cannot be refunded.
Additional considerations to support recovery efforts in the High Country:
Fans should consider carpooling to the game to reduce road traffic.
Take advantage of AppalCart or rideshare if you are able to do so.
Be mindful that the Town and County curfew may still be in place on Oct. 26.
Consider purchasing your tailgate supplies from local businesses.
Please throw away trash in the proper receptacles before you leave.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. NEW ORLEANS, La. — App State senior Emily Carver has earned Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference First Team honors, the league announced on Monday.
Carver, who was a 2023-24 Preseason Third Team All-SBC selection, averaged 13.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game last season. At the close of the 2023-24 season, the Asheville, N.C., native ranked fourth in the league and 66th in the NCAA in 3-pointers per game (2.29), ranked ninth in the SBC in 3-point percentage (32.7) and rounded out the conference’s top-10 in steals per game (1.79). At the guard position, Carver recorded double figures in 18 games, including seven consecutive games from Jan. 27 to Feb. 22. Carver was the Mountaineers’ top scorer in seven games and top rebounder in three games last year. She also collected Sun Belt Player of the Week accolades for her efforts on the court against the College of Charleston (Dec. 5), where she recorded a career-high 28 points, and Richmond (Dec. 10), where she drained a career-high seven treys.
Carver is one of ten Mountaineers to have earned spots on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference team since the Mountaineers joined the conference in 2014. She is also the fourth Mountaineer to earn a spot on an SBC preseason team multiple times, following Pre Stanley and Bailey Plummer, who earned preseason All-SBC honors twice in their careers, and Madi Story, who was a three-time preseason selection.
The Mountaineers will start the 2024-25 campaign in Oxford, Ohio, as they take on Miami (Ohio) for the first game of this season’s MAC-SBC Challenge.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Peyton McDaniel, James Madison
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Emily Carver, App State
Aislynn Hayes, Marshall
Crystal Henderson, Georgia State
Jakayla Johnson, ULM
Peyton McDaniel, James Madison
Mikyla Tolivert, Georgia State
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
En’Dya Buford, Old Dominion
Melyia Grayson, Southern Miss
Jaylyn James, Louisiana
Kseniia Kozlova, James Madison
Katlyn Manuel, ULM
Shaulana Wagner, Troy
*Ties were not broken
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Ramsey Alancia, Coastal Carolina
Zay Dyer, Troy
Anna Griffin, Arkansas State
Kelsey Thompson, Old Dominion
Ro Scott, James Madison
2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (12) – 191
2. Troy (2) – 169
3. Old Dominion – 167
4. ULM – 150
5. Louisiana – 122
6. Marshall – 118
7. Southern Miss – 113
8. Georgia State – 107
9. Coastal Carolina – 77
10. Texas State – 67
11. App State – 61
12. Georgia Southern – 53
13. Arkansas State – 50
14. South Alabama – 25
Previous App State SBC Preseason All-Conference Team Honorees
By Jacob Plecker. NEW ORLEANS – The App State duo of CJ Huntley and Myles Tate were both named to the 15-man Preseason All-Sun Belt team, the league announced Monday. Huntley was named to the second team while Tate was a third-team selection.
For Huntley, it is the second consecutive season he has been named to the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference team, earning third-team recognition in 2023-24. Tate’s honor is his first career preseason award.
“This is great recognition for CJ and Myles,” head coach Dustin Kerns said. “We are excited that their hard work and dedication has shown. CJ has great habits and continues to make great progress in elevating his game. Myles has a strong work ethic and has really improved his body and strength. They both come from wonderful families, and we are thrilled for this acknowledgment for them both individually and for their families.”
FILE PHOTO With a big App State fan contingent behind him, Myles Tate lines up a 3-pointer at Queens University on Dec. 13. Photographic image by David Rogers
Huntley, who returns for his fifth year at App State in 2024-25, comes into the season needing just 163 points to become the 37th member of App State’s 1,000-point club after averaging 7.5 points a game a year ago. He appeared in all 34 games last year and posted 10 games with at least 10 points, which included a career-high 22 points against Queens, a 10-point game against Auburn and All-American Johni Broome and a 16-point outing against Wake Forest in the NIT, which led the team.
Additionally, the Huntersville, N.C., native was a force on the defensive end for the Mountaineers, swatting away the 16th-most shots in the Sun Belt. He was also efficient with his offense, shooting a career-best 54 percent from the field.
Tate was dynamic in his first year with the Mountaineers, leading the team in both steals and assists in 2023-24. His 120 assists marked the fifth-most in the Sun Belt last season while his ability to protect the basketball helped him to the fourth-best assist/turnover ratio (1.9) in the conference. Tate was one of just five Sun Belt players with 120 assists a season ago.
On top of his passing prowess, the Spartanburg, S.C., native stepped up in clutch time on multiple occasions last season. His 18 points off the bench against Auburn in front of a sold-out, nationally televised Holmes Center led the team, with his deep three with 27 seconds left to play sealing the deal. He also scored a career-best 25 points at Marshall last February in another nationally televised contest.
App State’s two Preseason All-Sun Belt selections mark the second consecutive year that the Mountaineers have seen two players garner preseason recognition. It’s the third time under Kerns that two players have received preseason honors, with the other time coming prior to the 2019-20 season.
The Mountaineers will make their season and home debut on Monday, Nov. 4 against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 home schedule are on sale now and can be purchased here. Single-game tickets are set to go on sale later in the fall.
2024 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Kobe Julien, Arkansas State
By David Rogers. LAFAYETTE, La. — In spite of committing five turnovers — four pass interceptions and a lost fumble — Appalachian State kept its Sun Belt Conference football hopes alive at Louisiana until the closing minutes. Ultimately, though, the drive killers were too much to overcome, the Ragin’ Cajuns coming out on top, 34-24.
There was a lot to like about the Mountaineers’ offensive performance but the turnovers overwhelmed any positive momentum. Senior quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 20-of-42 passes for 236 yards and three TDs, but all of that was nullified by the four pass interceptions crafted by Louisiana.
Mountaineer QB Joey Aguilar passed for 236 yards and 3 TDs, but also had four INTs in the 34-24 loss to Louisiana on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Once again the Mountaineers held the advantage in time of possession, 30:40 to Louisiana’s 29:20, and ran 77 total plays to the Cajuns’ 59 plays. Much of the credit for those opportunities should go to a ground attack headed by running back Kanye Roberts, who carried the ball 26 times for 148 yards. Ironically, the redshirt sophomore’s only success in finding the end zone came on the receiving end of a 15-yard pass from Aguilar with just 27 seconds left in the first half, closing the Mountaineer deficit to just three points, 17-14, as the teams packed up for intermission.
Also notable on the offensive side for the Mountaineers was the connection between Aguilar and the redshirt senior who has become his favorite receiver, Kaedin Robinson. The Asheville native — who played prep ball at The Christ School and junior college football for ASA Brooklyn (NY) and transferred to the University of Central Florida in 2021 before finding a home at App State in 2022 — was on the receiving end of critical, 3rd- and 4th-and long receptions to extend drives. He ended the night with seven catches for 96 yards.
App State converted more than 57 percent of its 3rd down conversion opportunities (8-of-14) and was successful on its only 4th down attempt. The Mountaineers rolled up 391 yards of total offense compared to 364 for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but Louisiana committed only one turnover, an interception by safety Jordan Favors. The redshirt junior poached a deep pass from Louisiana QB Ben Wooldridge intended for wide receiver Robert Williams, on the Mountaineers’ 16 yard line.
Favors’ INT came at a critical time. Aquilar had just brought the Mountaineers back to within a field goal, 27-24, with a 26-yard TD pass to senior tight end Eli Wilson, so giving the ball back to App State with 5:38 left in the game meant the visitors could somehow come away with an unlikely win with a TD or potentially tie the game with a field goal.
Kanye Roberts (14) scores a TD on a 15-yard pass from Joey Aguilar at Louisiana on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
With Roberts ripping off rushes of 6, 7, and 6 yards on the ensuing possession, the comeback looked possible. Unfortunately, a pass intended for 6-4 redshirt junior wide receiver Dalton Stroman became a 50/50 ball, and the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defensive back Tyrone Lewis came down with it just before falling to the ground — and short-circuiting App State’s comeback hopes.
Big plays again the Mountaineers’ Achilles Heel
As has happened vs. opponents in earlier games this season, Louisiana capitalized on several big plays, especially in the first half. Those included a 28-yard pass in the first quarter from Wooldridge to Lance Legendre that took the ball from midfield to the App State 16-yard line, the drive ending with the game’s first score, a 32-yard field goal by Louisiana’s placekicker, Kenneth Almendares. While the redshirt senior from Clute, Texas barely missed on a 60-yard field goal try in the first half, his 53-yarder toward the end of the third quarter gave Louisiana a late lead, 20-17.
Arguably the biggest play of the game for the Ragin’ Cajuns came just a couple of minutes into the second quarter, after App State took a 7-3 lead on the visitors’ most impressive possession of the game. It was dominated by 10 rushes by Roberts out of 12 plays run by the Mountaineers that moved the ball from their own 23-yard line to a 3rd-and-goal opportunity at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ one-yard line. With everyone looking to Roberts for a punch-in score to finish the drive off, Aguilar faked the handoff to his running back and found redshirt junior tight end David Larkins alone in the right corner of the end zone.
Undaunted, Louisiana was quick to respond. After the kickoff return put the ball at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 26-yard line, on the first play of the series Wooldridge dropped back and hurled a pass that was caught by tight end Terrance Carter just over the midfield line, surrounded by three Mountaineer defenders. Somehow, the redshirt sophomore from Killeen, Texas wrestled free from the defenders, spinning away, then sprinting down the sideline for a 74-yard TD.
App State linebacker Kyle Arnholt (56) applies pressure against Louisiana QB Ben Wooldridge on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Altogether, Louisiana picked up 133 yards on four chunk plays passing and another 67 yards on four rushing carries each gaining more than 10 yards, three of them in the first quarter.
While App State’s defensive unit gave up too many big plays, they also helped keep the game close by rallying at critical times to deprive the Ragin’ Cajuns of converting on third down. Louisiana was successful on just six of 13 third down opportunities (37.5 percent). In the end, though, it is rare for an FBS-level college football team to survive five turnovers when the opponent only commits one.
With the loss, App State falls to 2-4 on the season, 0-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. With conference championship aspirations all but dashed, the Mountaineers will need to win at least four of their remaining six games to become bowl eligible. They have a bye next week, but return to action on Saturday, Oct. 26, for a Homecoming matchup vs. Georgia State. The game is tentatively scheduled to be played at Kidd Brewer Stadium but, given the widespread regional damage from Hurricane Helene, the final decision has not yet been made as to the location, as of this writing.
Now 5-1 overall and undefeated (2-0) in Sun Belt play, Louisiana travels to Coastal Carolina on Oct. 19, for a 12 noon (Eastern time) clash.
THE WEEK’S SUN BELT CONFERENCE SCORES
@Louisiana 34, App State 24
Old Dominion 21, @Georgia State 14
@ULM 38, Southern Miss 21
@Texas State 41, Arkansas State 9
@Georgia Southern 24, Marshall 23
SUN BELT STANDINGS
East Division
1 – Georgia Southern (SBC 2-0, overall 4-2)
T2 – James Madison (1-1, 5-1)
T2 – Coastal Carolina (1-1, 4-2)
T2 – Marshall (1-1, 3-3)
T2 – Old Dominion (1-1, 2-4)
6 – Georgia State (0-2, 2-3)
7 – App State (0-3, 2-4)
West Division
1 – ULM (3-0, 5-1)
T2 – Louisiana (2-0, 5-1)
T2 – Texas State (2-0, 4-2)
T4 – Arkansas State (1-1, 3-3)
T4 – South Alabama (1-1, 2-4)
T6 – Southern Miss (0-2, 1-5)
T6 – Troy (0-2, 1-5)
GAME STATS
Game Stats courtesy of Louisiana and StatBroadcast
By Katherine Jamtgaard. NORFOLK, Va. — The App State volleyball team fell short vs. Old Dominion on Oct. 12, 3-0, (13-25, 16-25, 21-25). After splitting the weekend in Norfolk, App State stands 9-6 on the season and 3-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.
“ODU is a good volleyball team and we are happy we were able to win night one. While we are not happy with the result today, we will take the split on the road,” said head coach Sarah Rumely Noble. “We will get better this week in practice and stay driven to get better every day.”
Old Dominion 3, App State 0
Freshman Elise Marchal led the Mountaineers with a team high 10 kills and 10 digs for her third consecutive double-double and sixth double-double on the season. Fellow freshman Bella Hutchens matched her career high nine kills, which she originally recorded on Sept. 21 against Davidson and first matched on Sept. 27 against James Madison. Redshirt junior Addison Heidemann registered 27 of the Mountaineers’ 34 assists and made seven digs. Heidemann and senior Lulu Ambrose served up the Black and Gold’s sole pair of aces.
Old Dominion commanded the first two sets. The Mountaineers chipped away at ODU’s early 6-0 lead with kills from junior Maya Winterhoff and Marchal and an ODU error. Winterhoff and Marchal combined for six of the App State’s 10 kills in the first set. Despite the Mountaineers’ efforts to close the deficit, ODU took the first set, 25-13.
In the second set, ODU once again pulled ahead early. The Mountaineers cut the deficit to four (14-10), building off kills from Marchal and Winterhoff. Winterhoff, Marchal, and Hutchens combined for nine of the Black and Gold’s 11 kills over the course of the set. App State came back within four (20-16) after a Hutchens kill and pair of ODU errors, but despite the Mountaineers’ efforts, ODU took the set, 25-16.
App State and ODU knotted the score six times and swapped the lead twice early in the third and final set. The Mountaineers built off kills from Winterhoff, Marchal, Ambrose, and sophomore Ava Leahy to knot the score at 4-4. Ambrose served up an ace to give the Mountaineers a 5-4 edge. A kill from Hutchens tied the score at 7-7 , but the Monarchs found momentum. App State found a spark late in the set, chipping away at the deficit with a kill from Hutchens, an ace from Heidemann, and kills from Marchal and Ambrose. It wasn’t enough as the Monarchs took the set 25-21, and the match, 3-0.
By Layne McNary. OXFORD, Ohio – The App State field hockey team was defeated by the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, 1-0, on Oct. 11. It’s the first league loss for the Mountaineers (7-5, 4-1 MAC) this season following four victories.
The Mountaineer defense held firm in Friday’s matchup against Miami (7-6, 4-1 MAC), holding a Redhawk offense that averages eight shots on goal a game to just five.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The game began tight on both sides. The Mountaineers held their own defensively, with goalkeeper Claire Grenis getting an early save. Miami earned its only corner of the half in the first qyarter, setting up freshman Henriette Schlueter to score the lone goal of the game.
2nd Quarter: It was a defensive period for both teams, with the Mountaineers tallying one shot to Miami’s zero. The Redhawks earned four cards in the period, two green and two yellow, giving the Mountaineers player advantages in the period. App State held a bulk of the possession but found it difficult to find clean chances on which to capitalize.
3rd Quarter: It was another defensive period coming out of halftime, with Grenis earning three saves in the period. The Redhawk defense held the Mountaineers shotless in the period, while forcing four corners as a result.
4th Quarter: The final period was close, with the Mountaineers holding Miami shotless. The Redhawks also made it tough for App State in the fourth, holding the Mountaineers to two shots, none on goal. App forced one corner in the fourth but could not find the back of the cage off the set piece.
App State returns to Boone on Sunday, Oct. 13, to face No. 1-ranked North Carolina (9-0 overall, 4-0 ACC) on the Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Adcock Field Hockey Complex. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 nationally by the NCAA and Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, last tested the Mountaineers in 2023, winning 6-1.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. NORFOLK, Va. — The App State volleyball team defeated Old Dominion, 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11), on the road Oct. 11. With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 9-5 on the season and 3-0 in Sun Belt play.
The Mountaineers return to the court at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, for a second match against the Monarchs.
App State 3, Old Dominion 1
Senior Lulu Ambrose led App State with 12 kills on the night. Junior Maya Winterhoff served up a team-high four aces in addition to making nine kills and five blocks. Sophomore Ava Leahy led the team with seven blocks while redshirt junior Addison Heidemann recorded a team high 34 assists. In the digs category, junior Kenady Roper tallied a team high 11 digs. Freshman Elise Marchal registered her fifth career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.
App State served up 13 aces compared to ODU’s four and tallied 12 blocks to ODU’s eight.
Ambrose put the Mountaineers on the board in the first set with a kill. Though ODU matched the score at 1-1, it was the sole tie of the set, as the Mountaineers took control of the lead with a 3-0 run that included a Marchal kill and Winterhoff ace. App State extended the lead to 11-5, building off kills from Winterhoff and Marchal and an ace from Heidemann. Back-to-back kills from Ambrose and a kill from Leahy pulled the Mountaineers ahead, 16-9. Building off a block from the duo of freshman Bella Hutchens and Leahy, as well as a kill from Hutchens, App State reached a 20-12 lead. A pair of kills from Winterhoff and a pair of ODU errors brought the Black and Gold to set point (24-16). The Monarchs managed to hold the Mountaineers to two set points, but App State took the set, 25-18, after an ODU attack error.
The Mountaineers and Monarchs tied thrice and exchanged the lead twice early in the second set. Taking an early 5-3 edge, ODU maintained their lead through the set, despite the Mountaineers’ efforts to close the deficit. The Mountaineers came within two of the Monarchs’ lead on three occasions, but it wasn’t enough as ODU edged ahead to take the set, 25-21.
In the third set, App State took an early 6-3 lead with a 4-0 scoring run that included kills from Ambrose and Leahy. ODU edged ahead, 9-7, with a 4-0 run of its own. Back-to-back kills from Hutchens knotted the score at 10 all. With a kill from Marchal, an ace from sophomore Taylor McNear, and a block from Winterhoff and Marchal, App State pulled ahead, 13-11. With a 4-0 run that included a kill from Leahy, a block from Ambrose and Leahy, and back-to-back aces from Marchal, App State extended the deficit to 18-13. Leahy, Winterhoff, Marchal, and Ambrose contributed kills to bring the Mountaineers to set point. ODU managed to hold App State to two set points, but Heidemann set Ambrose up for the kill to seal the set, 25-22, for the Mountaineers.
App State commanded the fourth and final set, taking an early 7-1 lead that featured three consecutive aces from Winterhoff. Seven of the Black and Gold’s 13 aces were served up in the final set. The Mountaineers went on a 6-0 run to rise to a 17-6 lead as Winterhoff and Hutchens made kills, Heidemann served up back-to-back aces, and the duos of Winterhoff and Hutchens and Winterhoff and Marchal went up for blocks. Ambrose slammed down back-to-back kills to extend the deficit to 22-9. Kills from Marchal and Ambrose brought the Mountaineers to set and match point, 24-11. App State took the set, 25-11, and the match, 3-0, after an ODU error.
