Randolph-Macon College Basketball

The Number Has Arrived!

2012-01-16T17:38:00.003-05:00

Well, finally that elusive 500 number has been found! I have an awful lot of people to thank for reaching this number. To all of the outstanding student-athletes who have propelled me into the spotlight, I give you thanks. To all my Assistant Coaches who know they have to keep me on task to have accomplished what we have, I surely value your bright minds, devotion and loyalty, and ability to put up with me every day. To my family for their unending love--what could I have ever done without your love and support? To my church family who buoyed me when times were tough. To all my friends, other family, and fans--thanks for helping me keep things in perspective and always being there for me. To our financial supporters---there is no way this program would be where it is today without your belief in us and what we are doing at Randolph-Macon College. Thanks to the media for giving us a shout now and again and putting us out there for the public to see.

To my current team, I am glad the number has been found. It was tougher on you than you thought. Please relax, think silly string, and just have fun.

Sun and Experience

2012-01-06T09:06:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it has taken me so long to post something from our trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. While we were all excited about going to some place sunny and perhaps exotic, it was not at all what I had expected. It was not a quiet beach island at all, at least where we were in Isla Verde. The traffic was most intense and it seemed to not be logical in how one gets from one place to the next. At any rate, it was fun to be with the team and I was proud of their willingness to try Puerto Rican food. Our two games against Alvernia and Franklin and Marshall were also great experiences. We sure do get spoiled in the states with some of the luxury gyms we get to play in. The courts/gyms in San Juan were open. Since it was so warm, the morning breeze felt nice during our heated contests. Having the chance to see the El Junque Rain Forest and Old San Juan were highlights of our trip as well. The team had the opportunity to swim in the very cold waterfall in the rain forest. Swimming in the ocean wasn't as fun as the hotel pool, but everyone enjoyed the warmth. All in all, I am happy we had a chance to experience another culture and lifestyle.

Whole Week Off!

2011-12-09T19:03:00.002-05:00

Our last game was Tuesday, December 6. Everyone had a chance to play several minutes and we got back on track with some of our work. We don't play again until we go to Puerto Rico for our team trip during the semester break. We have two great opponents to play in the Puerto Rico Classic, Alvernia College and Franklin and Marshall College. Both teams are from Pennsylvania. This week we have just been maintaining. Classes have last minute work that needs to be done as well as you know most kids--they wait until the last minute to finish everything. Today was the last day of classes. Next week will be exams. It will be difficult to get much done next week as our players stress over their exams, probably stay up too late studying, and just worry about getting everything studied for each class. We'll try to get them some study breaks so we can keep a little fresh and be ready to play on Dec. 18. The only good thing is that most schools will be in exams as well--so the playing field may be a little more level. The team is very excited about going to Puerto Rico. It will be a wonderful place--about 83 degrees this time of the year--that sure sounds good to us all. We have some adventures planned and are looking forward to having a break from school.

Home Games

2011-11-29T18:10:00.002-05:00

We are already 4-games into the season and not off to the best start. What's going on? Everyone asks. The solution or solutions appear to be easy for the outsider looking in. Sometimes, something so simple as our game becomes complicated when we let it. As coaches, that is the fun part and the challenge each day to make the solution even more simple for all of us. We are on our way. When you have people who care, it is a whole lot better to work on anything that needs improvement. Fortunately, I am surrounded by people who care, people who do not want to be mediocre, people who remind themselves there are standards of excellence to be followed, and people that are not afraid to work to get a desired result. How blessed I am to be in the midst of them as they develop.

Ready or Not...

2011-11-14T11:30:00.003-05:00

We have one more practice before we open our 2011-12 season. This team has worked hard to be conditioned and ready to compete. Our scrimmages were good tests for us, but now comes the real test for this team who has been pre-seasoned picked to be #1 in the Conference. It is a long, tough competitive season and for our 4-seniors, they will set the stage for the rest of us. They know how to lead and they know what it takes each day to be successful on and off the court. I am excited for them and for their teammates. This week will give us a taste of what is to come in our own Conference. Teams that can play. Teams that know how to win. Teams that can compete. It will be challenging. It will be rewarding. It will be all that we want it to be. It will be truly why we do this day in and day out. So let the games begin.

GOTTA HAVE ONE!

2011-11-02T11:17:00.003-04:00

We have a great new item for sale. Check it out. You will want to be the first in line to get the limited edition t-shirt noting our 7-ODAC Championships. The shirt is a vintage, soft feel cotton/polyester/rayon in grey heather. The design is distressed and the shirt feels like you have had it since we won our first ODAC Championship in 1996. We have several sizes on hand and can even order to please, if you're not a t-shirt person. You can email us, call us, come by and see us and you can purchase as many as you want. clahaye@rmc.edu or ckcalhoun@rmc.edu or 804-752-7365, 804-752-4714. Don't get left out.

Practice

2011-10-28T10:26:00.002-04:00

Well we have completed almost 2-weeks of practice and we are already tired of playing against each other. Fortunately we have our first scrimmage on Sunday. We coaches are excited about all of the returning players who have worked hard to improve their games. We are just as excited about the three new players that have stepped in and moved us along. We have not had to take any strides backwards--they are super quick learners. We and their teammates surely do welcome them. They are a quiet bunch though. Our scrimmage will be a good test for where we are and how far we need to go. We are not there yet, but we are quite pleased with the work ethic, energy, and motivation of this team. It won't be long until we are totally engrossed in our game schedule. We hope you get a chance to come see us play.

Homecoming

2011-10-17T20:14:00.002-04:00

Homecoming was this past weekend and what a beautiful weekend we had with the weather, the Gala, the former players or students, and, of course, the parents. The Weekend started with recruits visiting on Friday. Then Friday night the Brock Center was alive with the annual Gala, which is a celebration of Randolph-Macon College and all we have accomplished through the past year. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the givers, the enthusiastic support of people who love Randolph-Macon College, the alumni who come back after being gone for years, the time of remembrances and just the joy and electricity in the building. Following that is the actual Homecoming Day on Saturday when a celebration of the various classes takes place during tailgating. The one tailgate that I enjoyed the most this year was the Riesbeck basketball one. To my delight, I had the chance to see and chat with former players' parents. What a time to reminisce! It was about friendships and relationships developed over the course of 4-years while their daughters played and they are still getting together to be a part of Randolph-Macon College women's basketball--a coach could not ask for more and they brought it back! It usually is understood that players will carry their college days past graduation, but to see all of these parents was pretty meaningful and easy to understand what their actual experience was with the basketball program. Powerful for me...thanks for sharing.

Wet Golf with Lots of Fun!

2011-09-30T11:03:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday we had our annual RMC Golf Open fund-raiser and season kick-off event at the Hollows Golf course. We had 63 golfers and 20 additional people for lunch. The course was extremely wet, but the rains held off while we golfed and came as most of us were coming off the course. We had a great day to mix and mingle prior to teeing off. We appreciate the support of all the hole sponsors and gift givers. This has become one of the special events our team enjoys doing each year. Thanks to all who helped make it a success for us.

Involvement with Fund-Raising and ReeseStrong

2011-09-19T17:04:00.005-04:00

The team is often asked to participate in fund-raising activities for our team as well as other organizations. This past weekend we had a few of our players, Lindsey, Kellie, Caroline, Paige, Sarah, and Jill participate in the ReeseStrong 5k run. As some may recall from reading through my blogs that Reese Klauer, our little girl assigned to us by the Friends of Jaclyn, has her own ReeseStrong organization, which helps other pediatric cancer patients. Congratulations to those players for running on Saturday and raising more dollars for them. Then we have our own fund-raising activities--our golf tourney on September 24 at the Hollows. We are also selling caramel corn and peanut brittle and it is some tasty stuff! You can purchase any of those items from a player, but thanks to Madison, we are on our way to becoming great sales people. You can always help us out in some way-play golf, buy something, or make the donation.

Storms and Rain

2011-09-07T10:55:00.002-04:00

We were very fortunate that there was limited damage and no power lost during Irene's quest of the east coast. Lots of cleanup around campus and throughout the area, but all in all very minor compared to some folks we know. Our Friends of Jaclyn girl, Reese, and her family had a huge tree destroy their house. A picture of their home was an Assoc. Press photo so it was seen in many newspapers around the country. They will be misplaced for about 8-weeks. That is never a good situation when school started this week and they are without familiar surroundings. They also have to drive a ways to get Rhett and Reese to school. Meanwhile our students arrived safely to begin their school year. So we are off and running this week. Now Lee and Katia are causing some serious rains and many thunderstorms. It doesn't help our Fall sports schedules when everything is soaking. Right now we are all safe and sound, afterall we do need the rain since the summer was so hot and dry. Besides the rain is good for all those Fall lawn reparation duties.

It's a Great Day to be a Yellow Jacket!

2011-08-19T11:24:00.004-04:00

I am embarrassed that I have not blogged as I should have this summer. I feel like I have travelled the countryside without access to computers, so maybe that is a good excuse. The opportunity to travel with USA Athletes to Aruba, a family reunion in Alaska, a family get together in Maine, trips to the mountains, hosting my church picnic around the pool and some day trips here or there have made up most of my summer along with a few recruiting events. Now it is time to get back to being a Yellow Jacket. We have had a few prospective students on campus and we are excited about the upcoming year with all of our events:

**R-MC Golf Open and Season Kick-off: September 24 at the Hollows, 11:30---until you finish

**October 16: first day of practice

**October 30: scrimmage vs Shenandoah

**November 15: first home game vs Marymount Univ.

**February 4: 23rd Annual Back to the Hive

There's lots more going on, but those things in particular need to be on your calendar and first up is the Golf event. This day is becoming more and more special, so please get your registration and information in as soon as possible. You can always contact me (clahaye@rmc.edu) or CK (ckcalhoun@rmc.edu) for more information. See you soon.

Missing Alaska

2011-07-19T15:30:00.003-04:00

Spending time in Alaska with family and friends is about as good as it gets. I had the opportunity to travel to Delta Junction to spend 20-days with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. She actually hosted the LaHaye and Carroll family reunion. It was a chance for us to enjoy time together in the Land of the Midnight sun, which simply means the sun doesn't set until midnight or after and at this time of the year it is 24-hour daylight. It is hard to think about going to bed when it is light out. We did enjoy some pretty late nights or mornings, I should say. In Alaska, there is 4-wheeling, horseback riding, fishing, skeet shooting, eating, playing washers, and more eating--too much fun. Certainly one of the highlights of the trip was the charter I went on to catch this 42 lb king salmon. I literally caught it on the last cast of the day. There were 4 of us on the boat. Matt, a friend of the family, caught his 30 lb salmon with a tremendous fight within 40 minutes of arriving. Kathryn caught her 38 lb salmon 45 minutes after Matt. They were done and had to sit for the rest of the day as you can only catch one per day. So my sister, Tracy, and I fished for 2-hours beyond that with a couple of hits, but no luck. The guide called 5-minutes about 4:25 pm. I casted, reeled in, and casted again and again as I knew time was ticking away. I was nervous. The last reel in, I said well here goes, if I didn't get one this time, it just wasn't meant to be and guess what? I caught the biggest fish of the day! He fought some, but I did a great job of getting him into shore. Unfortunately my sister was the only one that didn't get a fish that first day of king salmon fishing on the Klutina River in Copper Center, Alaska. When you catch one---you always want more. It seems like the same thing happens on the court...

Traveling with USA Athletes International

2011-06-09T16:21:00.003-04:00

I just completed my fourth trip with USA Athletes International. I was fortunate to have been able to coach a team that competed in Aruba. We were scheduled to play 5-games. Three of them were against women and they asked if we would be willing to give some competition to their 16-17 year old boys team that was preparing for the nationals, so we played the boys twice. The skill level was not all that great for either the women or the boys. Our college team, made up of players from various colleges throughout the USA, defeated the women handily and we lost both games to the boys because of their athleticism, speed, and length. It was a good experience for all. Aruba was nice. We had a lot of free time and also had various excursions and cultural opportunities. Aruba is very American, but, thankfully, our Aruban hosts took us off the beaten path for our meals and we ate Aruban food for dinner. I enjoyed the experience, once again and am looking forward to going to Ireland with USAAI next year.

Graduation 2011

2011-05-27T14:38:00.002-04:00

When a player arrives in the Fall of her first year of College enthusiasm and boundless energy usually accompany them. So it was that Fall of 2007 when Amanda, Jennifer, and Katie descended on the campus. Now 4-years later--short ones at that-- it is time for their enthusiasm and energy to leave us. They were energy givers for sure. Whenever they were around, good times were to be had by all with each of them leading the way in some manner. Oh, how 4-years passes by so quickly. Thanks to them we are better. We wish all of our seniors the best life has to offer. Your life is ahead of you and it will be what you make of it. Always remember the memories we have shared because we are a part of each of you, too. As we have learned from Reese and the Klauer family--"Celebrate Today"!
Congratulations and well done.

Away from the Gym

2011-04-27T09:35:00.003-04:00

This week was an off week for the team, but being the team that they are they wanted to do something together and a little different. So they suggested they come to my house to swim, tye-dye, and eat. Fortunately it was a very warm day, but nobody swam. They were too engrossed in their new project. Some had never done any tye-dying. I spread a couple of canvasses on the patio and they gathered to create. Taylor was clearly in charge. She had purchased the supplies, but everyone else had to bring the article they were going to tye-dye. The dogs, Mattie and Honey, were very interested in what was going on as all these people sat in a circle on their patio. Honey, the yellow lab, still has remnants of dye on her paws. Mattie, the black lab, is too black to see any color. It was quite a creative circle. I am excited to see the end products. I have already seen Taylor's. She used her ODAC Championship shirt and it came out really neat. Next blog may be a team tye-dye photo.

It's Spring!

2011-04-21T11:09:00.003-04:00

I do enjoy the spring. I love looking at grass, trees, plants, and flowers that have been dormant through the winter months begin to take on color and explode almost before your eyes. One can truly have an appreciation of God's beauty by paying attention to that new growth. And speaking of growth, Lindsey and Jillian are beginning to grow their hair out now after having almost 10-inches cut from each of them for Locks of Love. They, along with Mrs. Klauer, went this past Sunday to get their long, beautiful hair cut in order for them to give. Reese was present and they all still look great. We are proud of them for this worthwhile contribution. It won't be long before their hair will be grown out again.

Back from Indy

2011-04-07T18:23:00.003-04:00

The WBCA convention and Final Four was a little different this year. Indianapolis is a great city to host such an event and you can tell they are used to doing it up big in most areas. The convention center is enormous, probably big enough to hold several conventions at once. It was very cold, rainy, and windy the whole time we were there. Thankfully I was inside learning some new stuff and could use the skywalk to get to the center. The games were exciting and who would have thought anybody but Connecticut, Stanford, or Tennessee would be in it. Good for those teams that surely believed in themselves and fought through lots of adversity. Conseco Fieldhouse was rocking with Notre Dame in the Championship--green everywhere. And, of course, Saturday night the whole city was wild with Butler advancing to the men's championship.

I participated in the 4Kay run/walk on Saturday morning in 30-degree temps. It was at the Indianapolis Speedway. I was elated to get a chance to walk that monster track being the Nascar fan that I am. The 2.5 mile track was impressive.

Coaches Convention

2011-03-30T16:42:00.002-04:00

Spring break has come and gone and we are headed into the month of April. One would think the days after the season are over move slowly, but in fact they move faster for me, too fast even. The days are longer and there is yard work to be done, recruits to be found, events to attend, letters to write, on and on, and next thing you know, the school year is over. At least we see the team coming and going as they miss the season now that they have had a break. They are thinking about next year and moving toward what they need to do. These next few days we have a chance to participate in our annual coaches convention, so we are off to Indianapolis and the Final Four. Looking forward to learning more and bringing it back to the team.

Season Over

2011-03-14T13:55:00.002-04:00

It's the middle of March already! Hard to believe that our 2010-11 season has ended. Certainly this season was as good as any season the Yellow Jackets have had. Nobody expected us to accomplish what we did after the graduation of our 3-time Player of the Year, Molly Ariail, and Renee Stein. We coaches believed from the beginning that we had the makings of a good team and that if we did certain things, we would accomplish our goals. Well those 11-players did those things and then some! As a result, we won the seventh ODAC Championship for the program and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the ninth time. It goes to show that championships can be won with the right mix of players, work ethic, and attitude. We are very proud of this 2010-11 team.

ODAC CHAMPS

2011-03-02T11:41:00.003-05:00

Three games in 4-days isn't as bad as it sounds when you end up victorious. Our championship run was incredible ending with a very dramatic finish. With 6.7 seconds remaining in the regulation game, we were down by 3. The coaching staff can't take total credit for this well-executed play by the team. We did run our press offense to perfection, however. As time was expiring, the screen set by Taylor was well done; and gave Jennifer the time she needed to "heave" (as the newspaper said) a bank shot and score 3-points. Epic is how one person described it. No matter the words used--we were able to gather ourselves after that shot and go on to win our 7th Conference championship. We are off to NCAA play this weekend.

Tournament Time

2011-02-23T15:17:00.003-05:00

PINK OUT

2011-02-18T10:21:00.002-05:00

I am looking forward to "pinking out" Crenshaw this weekend. This is our WBCA Pink Zone weekend. Tonight we host Roanoke at 7:00 pm and we will wear our pink uniforms and we have asked our fans to "pink out" the gym. We will be raffling off a pink ball and all proceeds will go to the Kay Yow Fund. Tomorrow we host Hollins at 5:00. We will also wear our pink uniforms and again ask our fans to "pink out" the gym. We will be conducting a 50/50 raffle with all proceeds going to the Friends of Jaclyn, which is the foundation that connected our team with a pediatric cancer patient, our beloved Reese Klauer. Sure do hope to see you in your pink outfit...

Back to the Hive

2011-02-02T14:10:00.003-05:00

This past weekend we celebrated our 22nd Annual Back to the Hive. We had 32 people return and be recognized at half-time. The whole weekend started out with breakfast on Friday morning to see a former player, Cindy Crabill Szadokierski `81, receive the Distinquished Alumna Award. On Saturday morning we had 20 former players suit up for an Alumnae contest, Odd Years vs Even Years with the Evens prevailing once again. We dedicated the new Wall of Honor and gave thanks to the donors. After a hard fought victory that day, we topped the afternoon off with our post-game social in Alumni Gym. It was a wonderful atmosphere and lots of opportunity to reminisce about previous playing days. Thanks to all who made the day special.

J-Term is in Full Swing

2011-01-17T17:58:00.002-05:00

January Term is always an interesting time on the Randolph-Macon College campus. It is a great time to do a travel course--a little more difficult for a basketball player, but our other sports athletes are able to do so. Basketball players usually do their travel courses in the summer, if they have the desire to do such a thing. J-term is also a very good time to do an internship and we have had several players through the years take advantage of this opportunity. Jennifer is currently working with a local firm in their accounting office and is thoroughly enjoying the experience. It is fun to see some of our athletes hustling and bustling to their internships. They have to work a full day of work and then come to their practice or team stuff. It is quite demanding for them, but it sure does prepare them for what's beyond their athletic career. We have only two more weeks of J-term before we start second semester. In talking with some of them, they will be ready to get back to being just a college student.

Cold, Cold, Cold

2011-01-06T17:20:00.002-05:00

Not only has our shooting been as cold as it ever has, it has been cold in Ashland. As a matter of fact, it was the 7th coldest December on record according to my oil company. Why even the snow we had before and after Christmas hasn't even melted in some places. That is unusual for Ashland. Hopefully 2011 will be warmer in all aspects. My New Year's wish was for the team/players to have a hot hand as we begin the remainder of our conference schedule. This weekend we'll see how work and wishes go together.

Need Some Warm Weather

2010-12-14T15:00:00.002-05:00

We are in exam week. It is very cold here and on Monday we had snow. The forecast calls for more snow and colder temps, but we are hoping we can miss all of that when we head to Daytona Beach on Saturday for the Daytona Beach Shootout. We will be in Florida from Dec. 18-22. The team will be very excited to be back out on the court and done with their finals. It will be a great time for team development and team camaraderie. We will have two very tough games as well, but they will test our fortitude early this season. Finally we hope to have some fun before the semester break.

Thanksgiving has Passed

2010-11-29T17:06:00.003-05:00

It is hard to believe we have just celebrated the Thanksgiving break. We were fortunate that our players had the opportunity to go home and be with their families. Thanksgiving is the best time to remind us that we are truly blessed and it is important to give thanks for what we have. Now we are back at school for the remaining two weeks of classes before exams. This will be a busy time for the players in keeping up with the amount of work that is expected of them for their classes as well as staying fresh as a basketball player. We have a couple of road games during that span and they are tough conference games, too. So we continue to plug away and grow together each day. For that we are truly thankful at all times.

You Want to See Awesome?

2010-11-20T13:54:00.005-05:00

This past Thursday and Friday, we had our Wall of Honor installed in the entrance to our locker room. This is a wall honoring the many accomplishments of the very fine players that have come through the Yellow Jacket program. With a generous donation, we were able to get the system honoring our accomplishments in full view of the team, their families, former players and their families and future players and their families. It turned out much better than we could imagine. It is definitely a centerpiece and something we are all proud of as it is the history of Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball. We hope you have a chance to come see it.

Scrimmages Done

2010-11-11T16:14:00.002-05:00

Now that we have our two scrimmages completed, we are on our way to the start of our season. It is almost here. We are going to open up with a single game at Marymount on Tuesday and then come back to Ashland for the weekend to host our R-MC Tip-Off Classic sponsored by Riesbeck Contracting. The field this year, Roanoke, Mary Washington, and Ferrum, is awesome with all the teams being pre-season ranked or receiving votes, but us. There will be some great basketball in Crenshaw that weekend of Nov. 19/20. Come on out and support the Yellow Jackets and get them tipped in the right direction for the new season. See you soon. And remember to Think Yellow Jackets!

Getting Closer

2010-11-05T16:30:00.002-04:00

Same `ole, same `ole. You often hear that and everyone knows what it means. These last two weeks have been just like that. But I love it! Get up-go to class--get work done-practice at the oddest hours of the day--go to bed late; then do it all over the next day almost the same way. Sounds boring, but believe me my life is not boring. I am so busy that I do not have time to be bored. I love seeing the team every day--they are not boring! Our scrimmage was a great test for our team. We coaches had the chance to see some combinations that we were not sure would work against an opponent. We also had the chance to see what we have to do when the shots are not falling. I was glad it was a scrimmage and those stats aren't seen by anyone. Thursday was the ODAC media day. I'd like to thank the coaches for picking us at #3. We were pleased with that spot considering all the strong teams in our Conference. It should be fun this season. There are a lot of very good players returning from each team, so it will be a tough schedule this season. We have one more test before we open on Nov. 16. More to come later.

Finally writing again...

2010-10-25T13:39:00.002-04:00

It has been awhile since I lasted posted some news. No excuses except the start of the season, a quick flight to Maine for my induction in to the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame, and then Homecoming. We are off to a good start for the 2010-11 season. The players are working very hard and the team is coming together. Our new players are learning quickly the difference between high school and college ball. We will have our first scrimmage on the 31st. Homecoming was this past weekend and it was fabulous to see former players back for their 5th, 10th, 15th, and 25th reunions. Seeing other teams' former athletes back to celebrate the day was just as special. As a matter of fact a former players' dad told me I needed to keep this spot up to date so I promise I will do better. What lovely weather we had to stand around and reminisce about various times through out the different seasons. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with some of my players about their experiences and listening to the older (before 1981) players share their moments. All in all just a super day.

Another Great RMC Open

2010-10-05T15:03:00.004-04:00

Our annual Golf Open was a huge success this past Saturday. We had the best event we have had to date. We had more golfers, more sponsors, more friends who joined us for lunch, and more good weather. Our day started with lunch, a silent auction, give-aways, and an introduction of our 2010-11 team as well as comments from me. Katie Williams also spoke on behalf of the team and talked a little about the team's pre-season activities. Then it was tee-off at 1:00. Congrats to Carson and his teammates from UVA for shooting 12 under. They brought some livelihood to the course. Our RMC Open has become as special as our Back to the Hive. We hope you will plan on joining us next season.

ReeseStrong 5k

2010-09-21T15:53:00.006-04:00

We are very proud of the team members, Molly Brown and her parents, Taylor Wieczorek, Jill Asay and former baseball player, Adam Carpenter, Jordan Cantrell, Madison Dulaney, Lindsey Sharman, Paige Mills and Christina Phelps who participated in the ReeseStrong 5k this past Saturday. Our new players had the opportunity to meet Reese and her family and there was an immediate bond between them all. Reese certainly has that ability to draw people into her circle with ease.

Congratulations to Jordan for finishing first in her age group and Jill who finished 2nd in her age group. Some of the group posed for pictures with Reese after the event.

They're Back!

2010-09-08T09:22:00.004-04:00

The summer has passed and the 2010-11 school year is 2-days old. We welcomed our new Assistant Coach, CK Calhoun, this week as well as our three new players. Already, things are moving quickly and taking shape for our upcoming season. We are trying to generate more interest in our RMC Open golf fund-raiser on Oct. 2, so sign up and come enjoy the day with the team. Also, heard from Molly Ariail--she is safe and sound in Germany and has her first game on Sept. 22. We are working on keeping a connection with her and her pro season over there. I believe she will have her own blog as well. I will keep you updated.

2010-08-26T16:18:00.002-04:00

Last week was a sad and celebratory one at the same time. Coach Richter and I did a lot of fun things together to make sure everything for the program was in order before she left. It was hard to believe she had been with the program for four years. We are sad to see her leave, but very excited about her future as a Head Coach. One of the things we did was teaching me how to be a blogger. I am not sure I can top her abilities, but for the time being I am going all out to get into the scene. Fortunately, the blogs are shorter than the newsletters so it will be quicker to get information posted from me--of course Coach Richter already had to remind me to get something up since it had been a few weeks with nothing. So here's to the first blog and hopefully to many more. Thanks Coach Richter!

Why R-MC?

2010-07-14T10:44:00.002-04:00

Camp Week

2010-06-24T18:00:00.003-04:00

We wrapped up a successful week of our Skill Development Day Camp this afternoon. Our campers worked hard all week, improving their ball handling, shooting, and passing while learning some team concepts and having a blast. To learn more about the basketball camps we offer, check out www.justsportscamps.com/RMC

Coach LaHaye imparts some wisdom to our campers

Buzz the Yellow Jacket makes a surprise appearance!

Graduation Snapshots

2010-06-11T16:13:00.004-04:00

On May 29th, R-MC's class of 2010 walked across their names on the Janet Harvey Trivette Alumni Walkway for the first time. Each graduate had their name newly added to the walkway which will in time have the name of every graduate since the early 1900s. Below are a few snapshots from the ceremony. A great article is online detailing Commencement 2010. It also includes some great pictures. (way better than mine :) ) Check it out: http://www.rmc.edu/current-students/commencement.aspx
Congratulations to our newest Women's Basketball alums: Renee Stein & Molly Ariail!

Molly Ariail walks across the stage to receive her diploma from President Lindgren.

Renee Stein on her way across the stage.

Molly & Renee's bricks in the Alumni Walkway

The fountain shoots up at the end of the commencement ceremony.

Quote of the Day

2010-05-25T16:56:00.002-04:00

I was just going through a folder of articles and ideas and came across a great Vince Lombardi quote:

Success is not a sometimes thing. In other words, you don't do what is right once in a while, but all the time. Success is a habit. Winning is a habit.

Champions Dinner

2010-05-19T14:27:00.005-04:00

The R-MC Yellow Jacket Club (YJC) hosted the Champions Dinner this past Saturday evening. All award winners and championship teams were honored. In addition, all senior athletes were recognized. The Class of 2010 is one of the most successful classes in the history of R-MC athletics. Our two seniors, Renee Stein and Molly Ariail, certainly were big contributors to our team and the entire department.

Toward the end of the evening, Molly Ariail was presented The Susan Locke de Nagy Award. The de Nagy Award is presented to a senior female student-athlete in recognition for her outstanding athletic accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership, and sportsmanship. Molly is certainly a very deserving recipient. It was a great night celebrating our R-MC student-athletes and their many accomplishments.

Renee Stein and Molly Ariail

Research Day

2010-05-17T11:28:00.002-04:00

This past Friday was Research Day on R-MC's campus. Many students presented their research with a variety of presentations. Several women's basketball players completed some interesting research this year. Madison Dulaney '13, displayed her research from her FYEC class, The Minding Class. Her First Year Experience class completed work related to Overcoming Disabilities. Jordan Cantrell '13 also had research displayed from her First Year Experience Class, Measuring Athletic Performance: Biological and Statistical Views. Jordan and her research partner focused on Michael Phelps. And finally, Renee Stein, '10 was very busy with two research projects on diplay. Her first, "Money and Politics," was the culmination of her political science research methods course. And her political science senior capstone project was entitled: " Judicial Appointment and the Administration of Justice in the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, and Chile." All of the research projects were very well done; I enjoyed learning some new information as I walked around the library to check out each project.

The afternoon was capped off with our Honors Convocation. During the program, Stephanie Grune '11 was presented with a German Department award for her academic excellence. Congratulations Stephanie!

End of Year Cookout

2010-05-05T12:17:00.003-04:00

Last night our team got together at Coach LaHaye's house for an end of the year cookout. It was perfect weather, a great evening to jump in the pool. During the year we split our team into three groups, each was responsible for cooking a team meal throughout the year. The final group got it's turn last night and did not disappoint. We feasted on burgers and hot dogs, cooked up on the grill by Renee Stein '10. Renee made some great burgers marinated in A1 sauce and her own secret combination of herbs and spices. They were delicious. Molly Brown '12, Katie Williams '11, and Jordan Cantrell '13 prepared the side dishes, some mac and cheese as well as a green bean casserole.

We had a wonderful time together, with good food and lots of laughs.

Big Smiles

2010-04-27T14:30:00.003-04:00

If someone would have asked me last week, what would put a huge smile on the face of your players at 7:30am on a dreary, rainy, Saturday morning, I don’t think I would have had a good answer. But after our team’s participation in the ASK 5K this past weekend, I know that the answer is Reese! We adopted Reese through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation which matches children with pediatric brain tumors with sports teams. Reese’s family has started a foundation of their own, ReeseStrong, which has already made a big difference in the local community. This all brings us to the ASK 5K. ASK is a local Richmond charity with the mission to Make Life Better for Kids with Cancer. ReeseStrong put together a huge team to participate in the 5K, and our team was excited to be a part of it. There were lots of smiles when our players saw Reese, who eagerly gave them all a hug. It was an inspiring morning, with many ASK Kids participating in the run/walk with their families and groups of supporters. Following the race, there was a victory lap for all the ASK Kids, both current patients and survivors. It was very touching to see all of them get a very deserved ovation for all they have been through.

For more information:
Friends of Jaclyn: www.friendsofjaclyn.org
ReeseStrong: www.reesestrong.org
ASK: askweb.org

Final Four in San Antonio

2010-04-09T10:35:00.007-04:00

Coach LaHaye and I just returned from San Antonio where we were attending our national women's basketball coaches convention. While we were there, we attended the DI Final Four. It was fun to watch Baylor and Stanford give UConn a little run for their money, but the end result was never really in doubt. Next year, it will be fun to watch UConn at the start of the season to see if they can surpass John Wooden's UCLA teams record of 88 consecutive wins. Below are some pictures from San Antonio, enjoy!

The Obligatory Shot of the Alamo

Not bad seats!

Outside the Alamodome

National Anthem before the Championship Game

Back of Vice President Joe Biden's head (I really tried to get a better shot, but it seemed the whole place was trying to take a picture!)

UCONN Wins!

78 Straight Wins -- Incredible!

DIII News National Player of the Year!

2010-03-24T13:06:00.004-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Molly Ariail for being named the DIII News National Player of the Year. Molly had a tremendous career at R-MC, including two ODAC Championships and two trips to the NCAA tournament. Read the full press release on the R-MC site: http://athletics.rmc.edu/sports/wbkb/2009-10/releases/WBKB-10-Ariail_D3_POTY

Final Four Bound!

2010-03-16T13:19:00.003-04:00

The R-MC Men's Basketball team is heading to the Final Four in Salem, VA this weekend. They will take on UW-Stevens Point in the second semi-final game on Friday evening. The first semi-final game has Guilford taking on Williams. Both should be great games and we hope that many Yellow Jacket fans will be in the Salem Civic Center to cheer them on. Best of luck to the men's team this weekend!

13 Leadership Goals for All Team Members

2010-03-10T11:40:00.003-05:00

On Sunday night, Keith Kenyon from the American Athletic Institute presented the organization's research on athletic performance to a group of R-MC student-athletes. It was fascinating and he provided a number of statistics about the effects of drugs and alcohol on athletic performance including: drinking to intoxication can negate as much as 14 days of training effect and players who drink are twice as likely to become injured. Both drive home the notion that drinking alcohol decreases an athletes performance.

Mr. Kenyon also talked about the leadership that is needed on teams to be successful and how all team members contribute to team leadership, not just the coaches and/or captains. He provided a handout with the 13 Leadership Goals for All Team Members. I think it captures what it means to be a good teammate.

1. Always follow team rules.
2. Try to be the hardest worker on the team.
3. Try to be the most enthusiastic player on the team.
4. Try to be the best conditioned player on the team.
5. Observe and reflect on the leadership traits of the team captain(s) and coaches.
6. Master the plays and team strategy.
7. Care about your teammates; this includes being supportive and never backstabbing.
8. Maintain your sense of composure and balance when adversity strikes.
9. Always put team goals ahead of personal goals.
10. Inspire confidence by demonstrating self-control.
11. Try to be the most coachable player on the team.
12. Reach out to those team members with whom you have little in common.
13. Try to energize your teammates by your positive attitude.

Congratulations to our Seniors!

2010-03-01T15:21:00.003-05:00

Our 2009-2010 season ended sooner than we had expected and had hoped, but that does not take anything away from the careers of our seniors Molly Ariail and Renee Stein. Both made lasting contributions to our program. They are always quick with a smile and enjoy having a good time with their teammates. Their fun loving personalities will take them far. We will miss them both.

WBCA Pink Zone

2010-02-23T14:23:00.004-05:00

Our WBCA Pink Zone game on Friday was a big success. Our team donned pink uniforms and there was a sea of pink in the stands. We raised money for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund by selling pink R-MC basketball t-shirts (they were a hit, we sold out) and raffling off two autographed pink & white basketballs. Thanks to everyone who helped us make the evening a success.

Wear Pink Friday!

2010-02-17T13:01:00.003-05:00

Join us in wearing pink on Friday as we take on the Guilford Quakers in our annual WBCA Pink Zone game. We will be wearing pink in an effort to raise awareness and fight breast cancer. Pink t-shirts will be on sale at the door for $12.

Back to the Hive

2010-02-08T17:22:00.001-05:00

Last weekend was the 21st Annual Back to the Hive. A few pictures from the special day.

SNOW!

2010-02-01T13:35:00.003-05:00

We got 16 inches of snow here in Ashland this weekend. The second big storm of the winter. A few snapshots from around campus . . .

Ballet!

2010-01-11T13:01:00.002-05:00

On New Year's Day our team rang in 2010 with a ballet lesson! It was quite a workout and our players used some muscles that they don't use while playing basketball. It was a lot of fun to watch some of them try something new. For others, it was fun to remember the ballet they learned when they were little kids!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T16:21:00.002-05:00

Our Women's Basketball Team wishes you and yours all the best in 2010!

Princess Tea Party

2009-12-08T15:19:00.004-05:00

Our Princess Tea Party on Sunday was a big hit. Our guest of honor, Reese, seemed to have a lot of fun throughout the afternoon. Reese brought along several friends to enjoy the activities with her. Our team did a phenomenal job putting it all together (and I think they had a lot of fun too ;) We started off with some snacks, then belated birthday gifts for Reese. After gifts, we all got a chance to decorate some cookies. We wrapped up the afternoon by going down to the gym and giving everyone a chance to run around. It was great to see our team interact with the kids. All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon.

Helicopters Hovering Over Campus

2009-11-17T12:05:00.004-05:00

After last week's non-stop rain, our football field here at R-MC resembled more of a pond, than a playing surface. In preparation for "The Game," the newly created pond had to be transformed into a football field. "The Game" is the long standing rivalry between R-MC and Hampden-Sydney. This year was the 115th edition of "The Game" and was played here in Ashland in front of over 5,000 fans.

Thanks to some very generous R-MC supporters, 2 helicopters hovered over the field to spray the water to the periphery. Mr. John Irby got a great shot of the whole scene.

Photo by John Irby

Congrats R-MC Volleyball!

2009-11-10T10:11:00.003-05:00

Our Yellow Jacket Volleyball team won it's first ODAC Championship over the weekend and now stands at 28-6. They are heading to Texas this week to take on Trinity in the first round of the NCAA touranment. Go Jackets!

The Newest Yellow Jacket

2009-10-27T16:02:00.003-04:00

We finally were able to meet Reese, the adorable soon to be 7 year old we adopted through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, on Friday afternoon. Our team was very excited to meet Reese afer hearing so much about her and posting on her Caring Bridge site. There was an instant connection between Reese and our team. She had a sparkle in her eyes when we talked about what number she would like to be. Reese chose 16 for her birthday. The team baked brownies (Reese's favorite) and made a sign welcoming Reese to the women's basketball family.

Friends of Jaclyn was created to improve the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors and their families. You can learn more by checking out their website: www.friendsofjaclyn.org.

Welcome Reese!

The '09-'10 Yellow Jackets

Homecoming Queen

2009-10-22T15:19:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was R-MC's 2009 Homecoming Weekend. Despite the cold, rainy weather, many alums, family and friends were on campus to celebrate everything Randolph-Macon. You can read more about it on R-MC's website: www.rmc.edu/Alumni/Gala.aspx.

Our very own Molly Ariail '10 was named 2009 Homecoming Queen. Molly is very deserving of the honor as she is a good friend to many on campus and represents the College well in many capacities. Congratulations Molly!

Photo by John Irby

And We're Off!

2009-10-20T11:57:00.001-04:00

We are in our first full week of practice now; it's exciting to see the progress we are making! Our returning players are back on the court with another year of collegiate basketball experience under their belts and our newcomers are catching on quickly. I really enjoy watching our team come together each year with players stepping into new, bigger roles. Just one month from today is our first game, can't wait :)

Friends of Jaclyn

2009-09-28T15:51:00.003-04:00

Our team has adopted a little girl through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ). Friends of Jaclyn is a wonderful organization that matches pediatric brain tumor patients with sports teams. The FOJ website explains that the mission of the foundation is to improve the quality of life for pediatric brain tumor patients by forming a deep bond with a sports team. The team becomes a strong, loving, supportive network for the child and her family. You can find out more about Friends of Jaclyn by checking out their website: www.friendsofjaclyn.org.

Our team began corresponding with the newest member of the Yellow Jacket family last week. We are very eager to meet her. Right now she can't be around a lot of people until her immune system gets stronger. So until then, we will keep cheering her on in her battle and hope that she is soon well enough to come to campus :)

FORE!

2009-09-23T11:09:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was our annual Women's Basketball R-MC Golf Open & Season Kickoff. We had a great turnout. I enjoyed seeing some folks who I haven't seen since the end of last season. Over 70 people joined us for lunch and the drawing of door prizes. Coach LaHaye spoke a bit about the upcoming season. We are very excited to get started. Only 22 days until the first day of practice! After lunch, 56 golfers took to the course. It was a great day for golf and everyone seemed to have a great time. Thanks to everyone who participated! I'll post some pictures soon.

Busy Weekend

2009-09-07T13:02:00.002-04:00

It was a busy Saturday here at Randolph-Macon with men's and women's soccer, field hockey and football all playing home games. Many of our players were out and about on campus cheering on their fellow Yellow Jackets. Some even made the rounds; heading over to the field hockey and soccer games after the conclusion of the football game. It was a great day to be outside.

Welcome Class of 2013

2009-08-28T16:22:00.002-04:00

The school year is upon us! We are very excited to begin the 2009-2010 school year as that means the season is not too far behind. The Class of 2013 moved in yesterday with an army of Macon Movers doing all the heavy lifting for them. Returning students will move in this weekend. I am excited for our team to come together and see everyone in the same place again! Only 48 days until our first practice!

Summer Snapshots

2009-08-04T11:28:00.003-04:00

Campus has been quiet the past few days as most of the summer camps have concluded and we are all eagerly awaiting the return of students in less than a month. I went for a stroll around campus yesterday afternoon and took a few pictures.

The Class of 2009 walked across their bricks as they processed into graduation in May.

A Look at the Fountain Plaza

The sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits await the students' return.

Center Court in Crenshaw

Top Pictures from '08-'09

2009-07-09T15:56:00.006-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming season and in doing so have been reflecting about the past season as well. We had a lot of fun times this past year. Below are some of our favorite pictures from this past season.

Camp Week

2009-06-26T19:25:00.002-04:00

Last week Crenshaw was full of energized campers! We had a great camp week. Our campers showed a lot of improvement throughout the week, especially in shooting and ball handling. Each camper set some goals at the beginning of the week for camp, for the summer, and for the whole year. We hope our campers keep working hard throughout the year and have a great summer!

Class of 2009

2009-06-10T16:47:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to R-MC's Class of 2009! On Saturday, May 30, the members of the Class of 2009 participated in their commencement exercises on a beautiful day. The flowers were in full bloom on campus and the weather was perfect. While it is sad to say goodbye to our our women's basketball seniors, Amanda Hiltunen, Lindsay Riesbeck, and Rachel Parker, we know they will still be around supporting our team and R-MC.

Congratuations to all the graduates!

Lindsay walks off the stage after receiving her diploma

Rachel walks across the stage

Amanda gets her diploma!

Champions Dinner

2009-05-20T17:19:00.004-04:00

This past Saturday was the Yellow Jacket Club's Annual Champions Dinner. Our team was honored as ODAC Champions as well as our football team. The sixty senior athletes were recognized as well. Amanda Hiltunen was named the Susan Locke deNagy Award winner. The deNagy Award goes to a senior female student-athlete in recognition for her outstanding athletic accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership, and sportsmanship. Amanda certainly fits the bill as she excelled throughout her four years on the court and in the classroom. She was a two year captain for our team and worked hard to be the best leader possible for our team.

Congratulations to Amanda and all of our Yellow Jacket senior athletes!

Our team at the Champions Dinner

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner

2009-05-11T15:32:00.004-04:00

Last week it was announced that Amanda Hiltunen '09 was awarded a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The NCAA selected 58 scholarship winners from all winter sports across all three NCAA divisions. Amanda was one of only 4 DIII winter athletes to receive the prestigious award.

Throughout her career here, Amanda has excelled equally in the classroom and on the court. She will graduate this month with a major in political science and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Amanda will continue her education at VCU studying Sports Marketing.

“Randolph-Macon has prepared me for any career I pursue,” says Hiltunen. “Every student here is not only given a great education opportunity, but a chance to be a well-rounded young adult after graduation. As I head to graduate school to study sports marketing, I know the skills that I developed here will not only help me succeed at VCU but also in anything else that I work hard for. That's the beauty about a Randolph-Macon education. You learn how to think, analyze and solve any problem put before you.”

Amanda is the second Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball Player to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Jenn Kohler DelRossi '96 was honored with the scholarship before she moved on to study Physical Therapy at Shenandoah University.

To read more about Amanda's latest award and all her accomplishments, check out the story on the R-MC website: http://www.rmc.edu/News/09-05-08%20Amanda%20Hiltunen.aspx

Busy Weekend

2009-05-05T15:01:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, campus was busy with a number of activities going on. On Saturday, many walkers braved the rain to participate in Relay for Life. As part of the event, a number of people got their hair cut to donate to Locks of Love. Women's Basketball alum Michelle Orton '06 was one of them. Also on Saturday, the Campus Activities Board sponsored Spring Fest with a number of activities going on. On Sunday, some of our players took part in the 4th Annual Nick Bramble 5K. Enjoy some pictures from the weekend.

Michelle Orton'06 donates her hair for Locks for Love

The After Shot

Maggie Roy '12 and Taylor Wieczorek '12 are out and about on Saturday

GMA in Ashland!

2009-05-01T11:20:00.007-04:00

Good Morning America was in Ashland this past Tuesday as part of their At Your House series. Many students and community members were up bright and early to welcome GMA and show their support.

Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion do the weather

Katie Williams '11 and Molly Ariail '10 peer out from the crowd

Anchors Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion get ready

Top Ten Reasons to be a Yellow Jacket

2009-04-20T16:20:00.005-04:00

Throughout the off season, I'm planning on including some thoughts from our players. Below are the top ten reasons to be a Yellow Jacket according to our Class of 2012.

10. We usually get to go on a trip to play in a tournament over Christmas break (i.e. St. Thomas was our trip this year.)

9. We are a close-knit team and you are guaranteed to have a ton of laughs!

8. The coaching staff is incomparable to other professionals.

7. ODAC Champs!!!

6. "Team before me" kind of play.

5. Coach does our laundry after practice and games! (how nice is that?!)

4. Students and teachers on campus respect you as a player, student, and individual.

3. You learn lessons on and off the court that you can use everyday.

2. Our coaches genuinely care about each person on the team! They love us!

1. The program is very successful and has an incredible track record.

Class of 2012 -- Molly Brown, Jillian Asay, Taylor Wieczorek, Maggie Roy
Photo by Beth Wieczorek

St. Louis and the Final Four

2009-04-09T13:57:00.006-04:00

Coach LaHaye and I just returned from St. Louis where we attended the WBCA Convention and the Final Four. We had a great time! Bright and early Saturday morning, we participated in the 4Kay Run/Walk which raises money for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. It was a beautiful morning with the sun rising over the Mississippi River and the St. Louis Gateway Arch. We attended a number of sessions throughout the convention: on-court clinics, recruiting sessions, and awards presentations. It's always interesting to talk with other coaches and to learn from colleagues. I always enjoy watching the Final Four in person as well. There is a special energy during the games as so much is at stake. Enjoy the pictures below :)

The Gateway Arch early Saturday morning

The start of the 4Kay Race

Coach Richter & Coach LaHaye in St. Louis

UConn during a timeout

Louisville huddle during championship game

The ESPN booth

UConn celebrates on the sideline as the final seconds run off the clock

UConn players run on the floor as time expires

National Champions!

ODAC-USA South Senior All-Star Game

2009-03-30T12:28:00.003-04:00

Last weekend the ODAC Senior All-Stars took on the USA South Senior All-Stars at Hampden-Sydney. The ODAC played a strong second half to come away with the win, 79-76. Lindsay Riesbeck represented R-MC in the game. Coach LaHaye and I were there to cheer on the ODAC team; it was a lot of fun watching Lindsay play with players who she battled throughout her four years as a Yellow Jacket. Here's the link to the game story: http://www.odaconline.com/03.24.09_bball_odacusasouthrecap.htm.

All-Americans!

2009-03-23T12:55:00.004-04:00

Senior Amanda Hiltunen and Junior Molly Ariail were named WBCA All-America Honorable Mentions. Both had wonderful seasons capped off with the 2009 ODAC Championship. Amanda was the 2009 ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Molly was the 2009 ODAC Player of the Year. Both were repeat winners. Read more about their accomplishments on the R-MC website: http://www.rmc.edu/News/WBBALL09-HiltunenAriailAll-Americans-news.aspx.

Congratulations Amanda and Molly!

Amanda Hiltunen '09 during our Pink Zone Game

Molly Ariail '10 tips off our Pink Zone Game

NCAA Tournament

2009-03-17T13:10:00.003-04:00

The NCAA DIII Final Four is this weekend. On the women's side, George Fox (30-0) plays TCNJ (27-4) and Wash U (25-4) play Amherst (29-2). Both should be great matchups. Two of our fellow ODAC teams played George Fox at a holiday tournament earlier this season. Virginia Wesleyan played them tight with George Fox coming away with their slimest margin of victory all season, 56-53. Bridgewater played them the following day to a 64-52 final score.

Brackets came out last night for the DI tournament. It will be interesting to see if anyone can take down UConn. The New York Times has an interesting article today comparing this year's team to previous UConn undefeated teams.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/sports/ncaabasketball/17uconn.html

Crazy Weather

2009-03-04T13:26:00.002-05:00

When we returned from Salem on Sunday night after winning the ODAC Championship, campus looked like a winter wonderland. The snow was beautiful. Now as we prepare to head north for our first round NCAA game at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, the snow is starting to melt and by the time we return it will be 70 degrees. Some crazy weather, but the snow made for a very picturesque campus :)

ODAC Champions!

2009-03-02T16:31:00.008-05:00

Over the weekend we captured the 2009 ODAC Championship with wins over Eastern Mennonite, Virginia Wesleyan, and Bridgewater. It was a great team effort for which Lindsay Riesbeck and Amanda Hiltunen were named to the All-Tournament team and Molly Ariail was named the Most Outstanding Player. Enjoy a few pictures from the weekend.

Coach LaHaye cutting down the net!

2009 ODAC Champions!

The Yellow Jackets at the ODAC Awards Banquet

More Pink Zone Pictures

2009-02-20T13:20:00.003-05:00

We got some additional photos from our Pink Zone event. Take a look!

Photos by John Irby

Senior Day and Pink Zone

2009-02-16T11:35:00.005-05:00

This past Saturday we had a good win over a tough Washington & Lee team 79-70. Prior to the game, we surprised our team with pink uniforms to wear for our WBCA Pink Zone event. It was fun to see and hear their reactions when they walked into the locker room and saw pink jerseys hanging on their lockers. Many of our fans wore pink as well; it was neat to look into the stands and see all the pink. We also raffled off a pink baskeetball autographed by our team to raise some money for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. Thanks to all our fans who participated, we raised nearly $400 for the fund. Saturday was also our Senior Day when we honored seniors Amanda Hiltunen, Lindsay Riesbeck, and Rachel Parker prior to the start of the game.

All in all, we had a wonderful Valentine's Day in Crenshaw :)

Our pink uniforms waiting to be discovered by our team

Seniors Lindsay Riesbeck, Amanda Hiltunen, and Rachel Parker

Wear Pink this Saturday

2009-02-11T15:45:00.004-05:00

This Saturday, the 14th, we are participating in the WBCA's Pink Zone. It is an effort by teams nationwide to increase breast cancer awareness. Saturday is also senior day as it is the last home game of the regular season for our seniors, Amanda Hiltunen, Lindsay Riesbeck, and Rachel Parker. We will also recognize the parents of our players for all they do. We hope you can join us on Saturday, and remember to WEAR PINK!

More information about the WBCA's Pink Zone can be found on the WBCA site: http://www.wbca.org/pinkzone.asp.

Three 1000 Point Scorers

2009-02-04T12:49:00.007-05:00

This season we have had the pleasure of honoring three 1000 point scorers. Amanda Hiltunen scored her 1000th career point on December 1 against Lynchburg. When we returned from winter break on January 4, Molly Ariail was next to score her 1000th career point in Lexington, VA against W&L. Lindsay Riesbeck scored her 1000th career point in the very next game on January 6, against Randolph College. Congratulations to the newest 1000 point scorers in the Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball program.

Amanda Hiltunen, Molly Ariail, and Lindsay Riesbeck

Buzz Clubbers!

2009-01-23T14:55:00.004-05:00

Last weekend after our win against Emory & Henry we spent some time with the children in our Buzz Club, taking pictures with Buzz, eating pizza, and having a good time. It was a lot of fun having some of our youngest fans with us for the afternoon as we always appreciate their support.

President Lindgren's Column

2009-01-12T13:36:00.002-05:00

Our leader at Randolph-Macon, President Lindgren, wrote a column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, published Sunday, January 11. He comments on the affordability and the value of a private, liberal arts education. There are some interesting statistics included. A study by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) shows that nationally, 79 percent of all graduates from private institutions earn their bachelor's degrees in four years or fewer compared with 49 percent of those from similar public institutions. See what other interesting facts are included.

The column is currently on R-MC's website: http://www.rmc.edu/News/09-01-11%20-%20Private%20Colleges%20Affordable.aspx.

Check it out!

St. Thomas

2009-01-05T11:51:00.006-05:00

We are back! The Yellow Jackets enjoyed some time at home for the holidays and returned to campus on December 26 for a couple practices before heading to a tournament in St. Thomas. While in St. Thomas, we were able to spend some time on the beach, check out the shopping downtown and take a ferry over to St. John's for a day. Enjoy some of the pictures from our trip!

End of Fall Semester

2008-12-08T12:16:00.003-05:00

Well the fall semester is coming to an end. Exams are this week, and then students will be heading home for the holidays. We completed the first part of the season 4-1, with conference wins over Lynchburg (97-87) and Bridgewater (90-74). Once we get back from winter break, we will head down to St. Thomas to take on Mary Washington and Cabrini. Both teams were in the NCAA tournament last year and off to good starts this year; Mary Washington is 7-0 and Cabrini is 4-1. In the new year we will be in the thick of our conference schedule, with only one more non-conference game when we travel up to Carlisle, PA to take on Dickinson.

We have a lot to be looking forward to; until then, enjoy the holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T18:41:00.003-05:00

We had a disappointing loss last night at Virginia Wesleyan; it was a tough way for us all to part and go our separate ways for Thanksgiving break. Today I was in the car for a good chunk of the day and I was replaying parts of the game over and over in my head. All that reflection got me more bummed, but as soon as I got home I had the chance to go to an elementary school for a third grade Thanksgiving party. I helped the kids put together turkey headbands. We had cupcakes and colored cornacopias. They were so happy and thankful for the cupcakes and to get some extra attention from the visitors in the classroom. Their school is in a very poor section of the city and these kids do not have very much. After they left for the day, I learned that two of the kids are homeless. Yet they were so thankful to be in school. A little perspective can go a long way. We are so fortunate to be able to represent R-MC and come together as a team each day working to achieve something special. So from all of us Yellow Jackets, Happy Thanksgiving!

Off to a Good Start

2008-11-17T14:55:00.003-05:00

Our team got off to a good start this weekend. We beat Elizabethtown on Saturday 71-48 and Alvernia on Sunday 99-86. All of our players saw action in both games with all 12 making contributions. On Saturday, Molly Ariail led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Amanda Hiltunen also contributed 19 points. Lindsay Riesbeck and Molly Brown both had a nice impact with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 8 points, 3 rebounds respectively. Freshman Maggie Roy got her collegiate career started with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

On Sunday, Alvernia had a strong showing with 5 players in double figures. We spread out our scoring with Amanda Hiltunen leading the way. Amanda had 30 points on 7-11 shooting along with 14-14 from the free throw line. Molly Brown contributed 13 points and Renee Stein 12 points. Jennifer O'Briant did a great job directing our team contributing 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Our well rounded effort included Molly Ariail (9 pts, 5 rebs), Lindsay Riesbeck (8 pts, 5 rebs), Taylor Wieczorek (8 pts, 6 rebs), and Maggie Roy (7 pts, 4 Assists).

We capped off the night with our annual reception at President Lindgren's house. It was wonderful to spend some time with all of our players and their families and a great way to conclude our opening weekend of play.

We have 8 days to prepare for our first conference game. We head to Virginia Wesleyan College next Tuesday in what will be a challenging start to ODAC play.

Tip-Off Time

2008-11-14T16:42:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the start of our season. Our team has been working very hard and is ready to go. We open up against Elizabethtown tomorrow and Alvernia on Sunday. Both are from Pennsylvania. We finished practice this afternoon and are going to have a team dinner this evening. The excitement and a little nervousness has been building throughout the week. We are ready to go!

PreSeason #1

2008-11-06T17:43:00.003-05:00

The ODAC's preseason rankings were released this morning during the women's basketball media day and we are at the top of the poll. It is an honor that our coaching colleagues ranked us first in the preseason poll, but it's who is at the top at the end of the season that truly counts. The conference will be competitive as ever this year. Three teams are returning their starting lineups from last season and many of last year's conference standouts are returning with more experience this season.

We will continue to work hard to prepare ourselves for our tough ODAC schedule. Only 8 days until tip-off!

Pictures & Practice

2008-10-29T15:52:00.002-04:00

Last night we had our '08-'09 team pictures taken. There is always a little more excitement in the air when our players are in uniform and ready to go! Practices have been going well and our tip-off tournament is rapidly approaching. We have two scrimmages between now and then. Both will be a good test to see where we are and a good indication of things that need fine tuning.

We will keep you posted!

Ashland's 150th Birthday

2008-10-20T16:36:00.007-04:00

Yellow Jackets enjoying the celebration

On Saturday, the town of Ashland celebrated it's 150th birthday on R-MC's campus. It was a special event with a little something for everyone. There were 150 birthday cakes around the fountain, exhibits depicting Ashland's history, a grand opening ceremony and a kids zone. Our team enjoyed the afternoon supervising the basketball playground area. It was fun to see the next generation of basketball players!

Hanging out in the Kids Zone

And We're Off!

2008-10-16T10:29:00.002-04:00

Yesterday marked the start of the 2008-2009 season and we got off to a great start. Everyone was well rested from fall break and excited to get going. There was a lot of positive energy, enthusiasm and excitement as practice began. Our newcomers are blending in well with our returning players and the potential for this team is limitless. We'll see where the season takes us.

Season Kickoff Event and Golf Open

2008-10-06T15:15:00.009-04:00

Lindsay Riesbeck and Amanda Hiltunen speak at our Season Kickoff
____

On Saturday, Yellow Jacket Women's Basketball family, friends, and supporters gathered together for our season kickoff and golf open. After a wonderful lunch and some social time, Coach LaHaye kicked off the event with some opening remarks and then introduced our 2008-2009 team. Seniors Amanda Hiltunen and Lindsay Riesbeck spoke about their excitement and high expectations for the upcoming season. Following our kickoff event, the golfers got their parting instructions and took to the course. It was a spectacular day with fun, friends, and some gorgeous weather!

Family Weekend

2008-09-29T17:10:00.005-04:00

This past weekend we welcomed our extended women's basketball Yellow Jacket family to campus for Family Weekend. Our players, along with their parents and siblings got together for some fun and great food before the football game. It was fun to catch up with some parents we haven't seen since the end of last season. Our social also gave the new parents a chance to get to know our returners' families.

Seeing everyone just ratcheted up the excitement level for the upcoming season! Fifteen days to the start of practice!

Summer Internships

2008-09-25T11:08:00.003-04:00

Last week seniors Amanda Hiltunen and Lindsay Riesbeck attended a dinner for all of R-MC's summer interns and their supervisors. It was a time to reflect on their summer work and recognize their efforts. Amanda Hiltunen, last season's ODAC Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year and ODAC Second Team All-Conference, worked for Goodwill Industries of Central VA this summer. Her focus was in Marketing and Development. Lindsay Riesbeck, '07-'08 ODAC First Team All-Conference, worked for the American Diabetes Association, Central VA office. Lindsay's focus was event planning. Much of her time was dedicated toward organizing the Step Out to Fight Diabetes walk this Saturday beginning in Richmond's Monroe Park. We'll be sure to update you on how the walk goes this weekend. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

National Hazing Prevention Week

2008-09-16T12:05:00.003-04:00

In conjunction with National Hazing Prevention Week, all 15 R-MC athletic teams got together last night along with coaches, administrators, and other students for a presentation from Dr. Joel Fish. Dr. Fish is a sports psychologist and the Director of The Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia. He has worked with many professional and elite athletes as well as countless collegiate athletes across the country.

Dr. Fish explained that while rituals and traditions are a big part of the sports world, we all must ensure that they are carried out in a positive manner and never cross the line. He pointed out that one team in the ODAC will come together more than any other team; that team will have a special chemistry carrying it through the ups and downs of a season. That team will make positive teambuilding a priority and provide constant support for one another. He challenged us to be that team.

We will do our best; only time will tell.

Busy Weekend

2008-09-15T10:52:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, campus was bustling with all of our fall sports playing in home contests. Volleyball, field hockey, men's and women's soccer, and football were all in action on Saturday. Our women's basketball players were spotted all over campus supporting our teams. Many of our players chipped in to help with the volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday. When their shifts were over on Saturday, many went out to watch the football game. The football team went to triple overtime but fell to Johns Hopkins. I was in the gym for the volleyball tournament, and students were going back and forth between the volleyball game and football game. It was fun to get the score updates from the football game.

One more month until the start of basketball practice!