Welcome back to BUFF Nation! We are three weeks in to the school year, but some of our sports teams are already undergoing their competitive seasons.
Our women’s volleyball team is starting this season off on a high, with a recent tri-match sweep at home last weekend. Always a standout, junior Kellee Geren served up 71 assists; while a new face on the scene, freshman Elise Gregory, produced 27 kills on 64 attempts.
Photo via milliganbuffs.com
One of the women’s team’s long-time statisticians, senior Natalie Maurer, says, “The team is looking great!”
Maurer says she is seeing the women’s team come out strong this season, and the new freshmen are “great additions” to the team dynamic: “They bring a fresh enthusiasm that has created a positive spirit on the team.”
Maurer was also enthusiastic about all of the new faces she has seen in the stands coming out to support the women’s team. Those who make up our Milligan fanbase, “The Herd,” are always great supporters, and Maurer says she has seen an “incredible section of new student support at the home games so far this season” which she and the girls say is “very much appreciated.”
Looking ahead to the season in front of them, the women’s volleyball team goal is to win conference which they are on the way to achieving with an undefeated conference record so far!
Moving on to women’s soccer, their team is also off to a great start. The lady soccer buffs are currently 1-3-1 overall and 0-1 in conference. They suffered a 2-1 loss last Saturday to Tennessee Wesleyan University but not without playing incredibly strong and making it to double overtime. A few standouts of the game were the “Amys”- seniors Amy Long and Amy Olvera. Long scored her first goal of the season against Tennessee Wesleyan off of a pass from Olvera.
This soccer season junior Bekah Cundiff, a familiar name to be heard on the field, is continuing to show out alongside a new face, freshman Ashlyn Burch. Burch has scored five times already so far this season.
The women’s soccer team’s next game is scheduled for this Saturday at Brenau University, but that is depending on the status of the hurricane headed their way.
Photo via milliganbuffs.com
Though the men’s and women’s swim teams have not had their first meet yet, they have been in the pool training for about two weeks now. With weight lifting and in-pool training sessions underway, they are preparing for their first invitational meet at Lindsey Wilson in two weeks’ time.
Milligan is holding the annual “Alumni Swim Meet” this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and is a great opportunity for new and old students alike to come out and watch a sport that they don’t get to see very often.
Men’s soccer is starting off strong as well though they are currently facing adversity. As President Greer announced early Tuesday morning, their former head coach, David Lilly, will not be able to coach the remainder of the season due to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office denying the college’s petition to hire a nonimmigrant worker.
However, the men’s team is maintaining a positive spirit as their former assistant coach, now head coach, Kyle Findlay is well equipped to take the reins.
Photo via milliganbuffs.com
Senior Luis de la Torre says the team has “gotten over some difficulties and are in the process of becoming a solid team.” He goes on to say that though “not everything is perfect, they are going in the right direction.”
Junior transfer student, Roberto Fernandez Garrido currently leads the buffs in goals, proving he came to Milligan to have a strong season. In the most recent game senior and goalkeeper, Luke Dove, recorded a career high seven saves in the loss. The Buffs play tomorrow against a new AAC competitor, Columbia International, at 7 p.m. and will continue to play at home for their next three games against Auburn University Montgomery (Sept. 15), Reinhardt (Sept. 19), and Montreat (Sept. 22). This is the perfect opportunity to come show your unconditional support for the men’s team; we hope to see you there!