2012 volleyball

GENERAL FACTS:Institution: Spring Hill CollegeCity/State/Zip: Mobile, AL 36608Founded: 1830Enrollment: 1,400Nickname: BadgersSchool Colors: Purple, whiteHome Facility: Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation CenterCapacity: 1,600Affiliation: NAIAConference: Southern States AthleticPresident: Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J.Athletic Director: Jim Hall Alma Mater: Grinnell College (1995)Faculty Athletic Representative: David Dean, Ph.D.Athletic Department Phone: 251-380-3485Athletic Department Fax: 251-460-2196Sports Information Director: Jim StennettAlma Mater: Mississippi State (1990)SID Phone: (251) 380-4468SID Email: jstennett@shc.eduAthletic Web Site: www.shcbadgers.comFacebook: SHCAthleticsTwitter: SHCBADGERS

COACHING STAFF:Head Coach: Dr. Peggy MartinAlma Mater: Indiana University (1972)Record at Spring Hill: 75-24 (4th season)Career record: 1,139-305-8 (37th season)Office Phone: (251) 380-3485Graduate Assistant: Caitlin Pankratz (1st season)Student Assistants: Abbey Roam; Yiting CaoAthletic Trainer: Brian Gronewold, ATC

Athletic Trainer’s Phone: 251-380-3493

TEAM INFORMATION:Overall Record Last Year: 40-3Conference/Finish: 14-0 (1st SSAC West)Last Postseason: 2011 NAIA Tournament Pool PlayLast Postseason Opponent: Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)Last Postseason Result: W; 3-12011 Final Ranking: 17Starters returning: 3+ LiberoStarters Lost: 3First season: 1977-80; 2001Overall Program Record: 216-145-3 (since 2001)

SPRING HILL COLLEGEMobile, Alabama

Spring Hill College is ranked once again in the top 20

Southern universities and colleges, according to the 2012

edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best

Colleges.”

Spring Hill is ranked 17th among the Southern colleges and

universities offering a full range of undergraduate majors and

master’s programs. The U.S. News rankings are based on several

quality measures including academic reputation, graduation

and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, peer

assessment and graduation rate performance. Colleges and

universities are listed in various categories depending on their

size, location and other factors.

The college is ranked 10th among only 15 schools listed

in the South’s “Great Schools, Great Prices” category, colleges

that offer quality academic programs, affordable tuition and

significant financial aid.

Spring Hill College is also listed in the region’s “A-Plus

Schools for B Students” category, campuses where B students

thrive in an engaged student body.

Forbes Magazine also ranks Spring Hill among its “America’s

Best Colleges” with SHC ranked No. 32 in the nation among

similar institutions.

Forbes also ranks Spring Hill among the “Best Colleges in

the South” and among the top 25 percent of the ‘Best Private

Colleges” nationwide according to Forbes.

PEGGY MARTINMobile Sports Hall of Fame

member Dr. Peggy Martin is in her fourth season as the head volleyball coach at Spring Hill College. In 2011, she directed SHC to a 40-3 record and the NAIA National Tournament’s Pool Play Round for the first time in program history. The Badgers also successfully defended their Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) West Division’s crown and were finalists at the SSAC Tournament in

Gulfport, Miss., for the second consecutive season. As she begins her 37th season as a collegiate head coach, Martin opens 2012 with a career record of 1,139-305-8 including a 75-24 record with the Badgers.

Martin holds the most wins in the history of NCAA Division II after 33 consecutive winning seasons at the University of Central Missouri where she compiled a 1,064-281-8 record. At the end of the 2008 season she retired as the Jennies’ coach and returned to her hometown of Mobile, but the opportunity to coach at SHC was too tempting to pass up.

Over 33 seasons at UCM, Martin never suffered a losing season, won 25 matches in 31 consecutive seasons and won or shared 19 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association titles. Her teams made a record 25 consecutive NCAA Div. II Tournament appearances, reached the “Elite Eight” six times and finished as the National Runner-up in 1987. She has won 22 Coach of the Year Awards including the 1987 NCAA Division II National Coach of Year Award.

Martin first served as softball and volleyball coach at UCM when she started her Division II career in 1975 and even stepped into an assistant women’s basketball coaching role for the 1976-77 season. Her first collegiate coaching experience came at Florida Southern College as a volleyball and basketball coach at the then club level program.

In college, she played at Indiana University and led the women’s basketball team to two consecutive national tournament berths while winning four letters in softball and three letters in field hockey. She completed her bachelor’s degree at IU in 1972 and earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in 1974. In 1980, she completed her doctorate in physical education at Indiana University.

CAITLIN PANkRATZOriginally from Buhler, kansas,

Pankratz played under Peggy Martin at the University of Central Missouri from 2005-09. She was selected 2nd team All-America at setter in her senior year and currently stands second in UCM history for assists with 5,502. She earned both her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Exercise Science from UCM. She is currently working toward her M.B.A. at Spring Hill College.

Head CoaCH

graduate assistant

The 2011 season proved to be one for the record books for Spring Hill College volleyball as Head Coach Peggy Martin directed the Badgers to the NAIA National Championship Tournament’s Pool Play Round for the first time in school history. The Badgers also captured their second consecutive Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) West Division crown and set a school-record 38-match winning streak to cap a 40-3 overall record. As a result, the Badgers enter 2012 ranked at No. 12 in the NAIA Preseason Ratings, but Martin approaches the season in a pragmatic manner, “Although we are pleased to be ranked so high by the conference and national polls, our players know that it’s a ranking based on last year and we need to make our own history with this team,” Martin says.

Losing NAIA All-America right side hitter Yiting Cao and outside hitters Abbey Roam and Sarah Stacey along with middle blockers Holly Shultis and Cassandra Marchand-Stewart to graduation will be a major challenge for this team to overcome, but Martin is confident that honorable mention All-America junior setter Taryn Nash of Independence, Mo., is the right player to step into the team’s leadership role. “We are blessed to have a terrific leader in the setter’s position,” she says. “Taryn is a smart player who is very competitive and controls the offense very well.”

Junior middle hitter Sha Sha Buchanan of Mobile’s McGill-Toolen Catholic High School and sophomore outside hitter Megan Haber of Lillian, Ala., are also returning to the Badger offense. “We will ask them to carry a lot of the load of our offense this year,” says Martin. “Sha Sha will be a three-year starter and Megan is our most versatile player who can play all three front row positions and could be a six-rotation player for us. She is our best all-around athlete and will contribute with both her hitting and her blocking.”

The early practices have seen the right side position vacated by Cao develop into a battle between sophomore Maddie LaForge of New Orleans, La., and freshman Savannah Becnel of Metairie, La. “Maddie is really a utility gem for us,” says Martin. “She can set and play outside as well as being one of our best servers.”

On defense, junior libero Meredith Donald of McGill-Toolen is also back. “Meredith is a good volleyball player and is the leader of our defense,” says Martin.

Martin knows that the majority of her team is very young and inexperienced. “I don’t believe I have ever had a team with no seniors before,” she says. “We definitely need our underclassmen to accept their roles quickly and support the leadership we have.” Sophomore outside hitter Sami Maurer and redshirt freshman middle hitter Sami Hantak both from St. Louis, Mo., are two young players that Martin sees playing big roles this year. “Maurer will start on the outside,” she says. “She is an extremely good ball handler and has a high volleyball IQ. Hantek also has been a very pleasant surprise with her improvement. Her hard work has paid off and she will start in the middle and play some on the right side.”

Freshmen defensive specialists Abby Allard of Belleville, Ill., and Mallory Raulerson will be key reserves as their back row play improves. “Another freshman, Taylor Lahasky of New Iberia, La., has shown promise on the back row while freshman outside hitter Ginny Hicks of Salt Lake City, Utah, will help as her game becomes more consistent,” says Martin. “Freshman defensive specialist Brianne Nelson of New Orleans is learning our system and is also very competitive.” Freshman Jalen Jones of Baton Rouge, La., has been learning a new position on the right side and will contribute in the middle.

“Obviously, we are young,” Martin says. “We’re trying to bond seven new players with seven returning players, but I have been very encouraged by the overall hard work this team has put in during the preseason both on and off the court. The lofty preseason ranking will challenge this young team even more with the proverbial ‘target on the back,’ but from what I have seen this is a gutsy team that will look forward to those challenges.”

ON THE COvER:

Meredith Donald (left), Sha Sha Buchanan (center) and Taryn Nash (right)

PHOTOS BY:

Seth Laubinger

PrevieW 2012

1Abby Allard

DSFreshman • 5-3

2Ginny Hicks

OHFreshman • 5-10

3Savannah Becnel

MH/RSFreshman • 5-11

4Brianne Nelson

RS/DSFreshman • 5-3

5Meredith Donald

L/DSJunior • 5-4

6Sami Maurer

OHSophmore • 5-10

Team SSAC Overall

* Spring Hill 14-0 40-3

Loyola 10-4 23-11

Mobile 7-7 24-14

Faulkner 2-12 18-19

Belhaven 6-8 23-13

Team SSAC Overall

~ Lee 14-1 34-3

Shorter 11-4 29-8

Southern Wesleyan 8-7 24-12

Brewton-Parker 3-12 12-17

Brenau 3-12 12-18

Emmanuel 2-13 18-16

2012rosterNO. PLAYER CLASS POS. HT. HOMETOWN / PREvIOUS SCHOOL

1 ABBY ALLARD FR. DS 5-3 BELLEvILLE, ILL./ALTHOFF CATHOLIC

2 GINNY HICkS FR. OH 5-10 SALT LAkE CITY, UTAH/JUDGE MEMORIAL HIGH

3 SAvANNAH BECNEL FR. MH/RS 5-11 METAIRIE, LA./METAIRIE PARk COUNTRY DAY

4 BRIANNE NELSON FR. RS/DS 5-3 NEW ORLEANS, LA./DE LA SALLE HIGH

5 MEREDITH DONALD JR. L/DS 5-4 MOBILE, ALA./MCGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC

6 SAMI MAURER SO. OH 5-10 ST. LOUIS, MO./COR JESU

7 TAYLOR LAHASkY FR. OH 5-7 NEW IBERIA, LA./CATHOLIC HIGH (NEW IBERIA)

8 MALLORY RAULERSON FR. S/DS 5-8 MOBILE, ALA./MCGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC

10 SHA SHA BUCHANAN JR. MH 5-10 MOBILE, ALA./MCGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC

12 MADDIE LAFORGE SO. S/RS 5-11 NEW ORLEANS, LA./SACRED HEART

13 TARYN NASH JR. S 5-9 INDEPENDENCE, MO./TRUMAN HIGH

17 SAMI HANTAk R-FR. MH 6-2 ST. LOUIS, MO./ROSATI kAIN

18 JALEN JONES FR. MH/RS 6-2 BATON ROUGE, LA./EPISCOPAL HIGH

19 MEGAN HABER SO. OH/MH 6-0 LILLIAN, ALA./FOLEY HIGH

Head Coach: Dr. Peggy Martin Assistant Coach: Caitlin Pankratz - 1st seasonStudent Assistants: Yiting Cao, Abbey Roam Student Manager: Rachel McMullenAthletic Trainer: Brian Gronewold, ATC

2011 ssaC West Final standings 2011 ssaC east Final standings

* - Division Champion ~ - Division / SSAC Tournament Champion

8 Mallory Raulerson

S/DSFreshman • 5-8

Team SSAC Overall

~ Lee 14-1 34-3

Shorter 11-4 29-8

Southern Wesleyan 8-7 24-12

Brewton-Parker 3-12 12-17

Brenau 3-12 12-18

Emmanuel 2-13 18-16

18Jalen Jones

MH/RSFreshman • 6-2

19Megan Haber

OH/MHSophmore • 6-0

7Taylor Lahasky

OHFreshman • 5-7

10Sha Sha Buchanan

MHJunior • 5-10

13Taryn Nash

SJunior • 5-9

12Maddie Laforge

S/RSSophmore • 5-11

17Sami Hantak

MHFreshman • 6-2

2011resultsDATE OPPONENT SITE RESULTAug. 26 Southeastern University (Fla.) Home W; 3-0 [25-18, 25-9, 25-13]Aug. 31 Concordia College-Selma Home W; 3-0 [25-8, 25-7, 25-5] Millsaps College Invitational, Jackson, Miss. - Sept. 2-3Sept. 2 vs. Mississippi College Jackson, Miss. W; 3-0 [25-14; 25-10; 25-17] vs. University of New Orleans Jackson, Miss. W; 3-0 [25-18, 25-10, 25-19]Sept. 3 at Millsaps College Jackson, Miss. W; 3-1 [25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 30-28] vs. Martin Methodist Jackson, Miss. W; 3-0 [25-13, 25-22, 25-16]Sept. 6 Xavier University (La.) Home W; 3-0 [25-10, 25-20, 25-12]Baker University Invitational, Baldwin, Kan. - Sept. 9-10 Sept. 9 vs. Ottawa University Baldwin, Kan. W; 3-0 [25-19, 25-21, 25-21] vs. Sterling College Baldwin, Kan. W; 3-0 [25-23, 25-13, 25-14]Sept. 10 at Baker University [RV] Baldwin, Kan. W; 3-0 [25-22, 25-15, 26-24] vs. Benedictine College Baldwin, Kan. W; 3-0 [25-12, 25-20, 25-14]Sept. 13 Dillard University Home W; 3-0 [25-10, 25-6, 25-13]SSAC Divisional Crossover Tournament, Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center - Sept. 16-17Sept. 16 *Brewton-Parker College Home W; 3-0 [25-10, 25-7, 25-14]Sept. 17 *Lee University [3] Home W; 3-2 [23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 20-25, 15-11] *Shorter University [RV] Home W; 3-1 [25-21, 25-20, 25-27, 25-20]Sept. 20 *Loyola University (La.) Home W; 3-0 [25-11, 25-18, 25-17]Sept. 22 *University of Mobile Home W; 3-0 [25-17, 25-9, 25-13]Sept. 24 *at Belhaven University Jackson, Miss. W; 3-0 [25-7, 25-20, 25-21]Sept. 27 *at Faulkner University Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-1 [23-25, 25-8, 25-11, 25-19]SSAC Crossover Tournament, Gainesville, Ga. - Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Sept. 30 *vs. Southern Wesleyan University Gainesville, Ga. W; 3-0 [25-15, 25-19, 25-16]Oct. 1 *at Brenau University Gainesville, Ga. W; 3-0 [25-17, 25-18, 25-10] *vs. Emmanuel College Gainesville, Ga. W; 3-0 [25-17, 25-18, 25-15]Oct. 6 at Huntingdon College Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-14, 25-11, 25-3]Faulkner University Invitational, Montgomery, Ala. Oct. 7-8 Oct. 7 vs. Webber International Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-1 [25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 25-23] vs. Saint Thomas University (Fla.) Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-12, 25-13, 25-16]Oct. 8 vs. Freed-Hardeman University [21] Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-18, 25-20, 25-17] vs. Martin Methodist College Montgomery, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-15, 25-13, 25-15]Oct. 18 *Faulkner University Home W; 3-0 [25-8, 25-17, 25-16]Oct. 20 *at Loyola University (La.) New Orleans, La. W; 3-1 [20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20]Oct. 25 Southern Univ. New Orleans Home W; 3-0 [25-14, 25-18, 25-18]Birmingham-Southern College Tournament, Birmingham, Ala. - Oct. 28-29 Oct. 28 vs. Susquehanna University Birmingham, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-20, 25-17, 25-18] vs. Fisk University Birmingham, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-5, 25-17, 25-12]Oct. 29 vs. Berry University Birmingham, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-17, 25-20, 25-11] at Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham, Ala. W; 3-0 [25-18, 25-10, 25-12]Nov. 1 *Belhaven University Home W; 3-0 [25-9, 25-13, 25-14]Nov. 3 *at University of Mobile Univ. of Mobile W; 3-0 [25-22, 25-23, 25-20]Nov. 11** vs. Brewton-Parker College Biloxi, Miss. W; 3-0 [25-12, 25-4, 25-14]Nov. 12** vs. Shorter University Biloxi, Miss. W; 3-2 [25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 28-26, 15-7]Nov. 12** vs. Lee University Biloxi, Miss. L; 1-3 [22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 21-25]Nov. 19^ vs. Xavier University (La.) Home W; 3-0 [25-13, 25-11, 25-21]Nov. 29~ vs. Biola University Sioux City, Iowa L; 0-3 [17-25, 18-25, 13-25]Nov. 30~ vs. Embry-Riddle University Sioux City, Iowa L; 1-3 [25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 16-25]Dec. 1~ vs. Freed-Hardeman University Sioux City, Iowa W; 3-1 [22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21]

* - SSAC match ** - SSAC Tournament ^ - NAIA National Championship Opening Round ~ - NAIA National Tournament

2011 ssaC east Final standings

* - Division Champion ~ - Division / SSAC Tournament Champion

Student AssistantYiting Cao

Student ManagerRachel McMullen

2012 sPring Hill College volleyball

2012sCHeduleDATE OPPONENT SITE TIMEUnIveRSITy OF MOBIle/SHC TOURnAMenT, MOBIle, AlA. - AUG. 24-25FRI. AUG. 24 MILLIGAN COLLEGE HOME 4 P.M. SOUTHEASTERN UNIvERSITY (FLA.) HOME 7 P.M.UnIveRSITy OF ST. THOMAS lABOR DAy TOURnAMenT, HOUSTOn, TexAS. - AUG. 31-SepT. 1FRI. AUG. 31 vS. ST. CATHARINE COLLEGE (kY.) HOUSTON, TExAS 2 P.M. AT UNIvERSITY OF ST. THOMAS HOUSTON, TExAS 6 P.M.SAT. SEPT. 1 vS. TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIvERSITY HOUSTON, TExAS 9 A.M. vS. CALUMET COLLEGE OF ST. JOSEPH HOUSTON, TExAS 3 P.M.TUES. SEPT. 4 TOUGALOO COLLEGE HOME 6 P.M.FAUlKneR UnIveRSITy InvITATIOnAl, MOnTGOMeRy, AlA. - SepT. 7-8FRI. SEPT. 7 vS. FREED-HARDEMAN UNIvERSITY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 3 P.M. vS. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 7 P.M.SAT. SEPT. 8 vS. WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIvERSITY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 1 P.M. vS. MARTIN METHODIST COLLEGE MONTGOMERY, ALA. 5 P.M.TUES. SEPT. 11 AT xAvIER UNIvERSITY (LA.) NEW ORLEANS, LA. 7 P.M.FRI. SEPT. 14 *AT FAULkNER UNIvERSITY MONTGOMERY, ALA. 6 P.M.SAT. SEPT. 15 *AT LEE UNIvERSITY CLEvELAND, TENN. 1 P.M. ESTTUES. SEPT. 18 *AT LOYOLA UNIvERSITY (LA.) NEW ORLEANS, LA. 7 P.M.FRI. SEPT. 21 *BELHAvEN UNIvERSITY HOME 7 P.M.TUES. SEPT. 25 DILLARD UNIvERSITY HOME 6 P.M.FRI. SEPT. 28 *EMMANUEL COLLEGE HOME 7 P.M.SAT. SEPT. 29 *SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIvERSITY HOME 11 A.M.TUES. OCT. 2 *AT UNIvERSITY OF MOBILE UNIv. OF MOBILE 7:30 P.M.FRI. OCT. 5 *BRENAU UNIvERSITY HOME 7 P.M.SAT. OCT. 6 *TRUETT-MCCONNELL COLLEGE HOME 11 A.M.MON. OCT. 8 AT SOUTHERN UNIvERSITY-NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS, LA. 5 P.M.FRI. OCT. 12 *AT COLLEGE OF COASTAL GEORGIA BRUNSWICk, GA. 5 P.M.SAT. OCT. 13 *AT BREWTON-PARkER COLLEGE MT. vERNON, GA. 12 P.M.TUES. OCT. 16 *LOYOLA UNIvERSITY (LA.) HOME 7 P.M.THURS. OCT. 18 SOUTHERN UNIvERSITY-NEW ORLEANS HOME 6 P.M.FRI. OCT. 19 AT TOUGALOO COLLEGE TOUGALOO, MISS. 5:30 P.M.SAT. OCT. 20 *AT BELHAvEN UNIvERSITY JACkSON, MISS. 1 P.M.TUES. OCT. 23 AT DILLARD UNIvERSITY NEW ORLEANS, LA. 6 P.M.SAT. OCT. 27 SHORTER UNIvERSITY HOME 2 P.M.THURS. NOv. 1 *UNIvERSITY OF MOBILE HOME 7 P.M.nOv. 9-10 SSAC CHAMpIOnSHIp TOURnAMenT, MOnTGOMeRy, AlA.

*- SSAC MATCH