08/30/03
Soccer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ­ Ngum Suh netted her first career multi-goal game to rally behind a stagnant Maroon and White defense as Mississippi State (1-0) won its season opener for the fourth-straight season with a convincing 3-1 victory over Memphis (0-1) Friday evening at Echles Field.

Suh's tandem of scores that came within 11 minutes of each other in the opening half could not tell the whole story of a dominant first half for the Bulldogs that likely left the Tigers searching for answers at the break. Memphis mustered just three shots in the first period, none of which were taken within 20 yards of the Maroons' nets.

"I was very excited by tonight's performance," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "Memphis is a very good team and for us to perform like we did tonight speaks volumes about this program. The opportunity to play 21 players is also ideal preparation for Sunday's game against South Alabama."

State wasted very little time in taking their strikes at the Memphis nets, but freshman defender Sara Moore's shot from long range sailed just right of the Tiger nets just less than five minutes in. The first of Suh's goals came a short time later as the junior found space behind the opposition and hit a chip shot over goalkeeper Kari Rawe's head in the 12th minute (11:16) to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. State extended its lead out to 2-0 just less than 11 minutes later (22:09) when junior Kristin Peterson found Suh on a breakaway to which Suh finished with a 10-yard cannon shot near post.

Amidst a possession-style offense in the second half, freshman Heidi Ondra found her first collegiate goal in the 89th minute (88:12) on an assist from junior transfer Allison Mullen to give MSU an insurmountable 3-0 advantage. Memphis spoiled the shutout, however, with 56 ticks remaining (89:04) when Yuiko Konno's scorcher from 28 yards away found the upper left corner of the Mississippi State goal, inches away from the outstretched fingers of freshman goalkeeper Luisa Marzotto.

Mississippi State will return to action on Sunday afternoon when the Maroon and White opens their home season against South Alabama at the Mississippi State Soccer Field. Game time is set for 1 p.m. Admission to all 2003 Mississippi State Soccer home games is free of charge.

SCORING SUMMARY

At Memphis, Tenn. (Echles Field)
Mississippi State 2 1 - 3
Memphis 0 1 - 1
11:16 MSU Ngum Suh (Unassisted)
22:09 MSU Ngum Suh (Kristin Peterson)
88:12 MSU Heidi Ondra (Allison Mullen)
89:04 MEM Yuiko Konno (Unassisted)
Shots: MSU 14 (Suh 4), MEM 9 (McLeod 3). Corner Kicks: MSU 4, MEM 2. Saves: MSU 4 (Marzotto 3), MEM 4 (Rawe). Fouls: MSU 12, MEM 9. Att. ­ 188.

Source: MSU Media Relations

08/29/03
Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State raises the curtains on its 29th season of volleyball this weekend, traveling to Corvallis, Ore., Aug. 29-30 for season-opening competition in the Oregon State Volleyball Showcase. The Bulldogs open the 2003 campaign Friday at 9 p.m. (CDT) against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. MSU continues opening weekend competition Saturday, meeting the host Oregon State Beavers at Noon (CDT) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. (CDT).

"We're eager to get the new season started," said MSU head coach Brenda Bowlin. "We've had a good preseason practice session and the players are anxious to see how they measure up against some good competition."

The opening weekend will produce a number of firsts for the Bulldogs. MSU's Friday match against Northern Arizona will be State's first in the Pacific Time Zone, while Saturday's meetings with Oregon of the Pac-10 and Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference will also be program-firsts. State could also see the collegiate debuts of two players; freshman middle blocker Julie Hamilton of Amarillo, Texas, and sophomore outside hitter Jami Hester of Davenport, Iowa. The Bulldogs feature the largest senior class in the program's history, with six of MSU's 12 rostered players beginning their fourth seasons of collegiate play. Setter Jennifer Hadden of Marysville, Mich., middle blocker Jennifer Rousey of Champaign, Ill., and outside hitter/libero Tanika Taylor of Rowlett, Texas, will serve as team captains this season. MSU's other three seniors include libero Lauren Bounds of Arlington, Texas, middle blocker Nicole Broome of Orlando, Fla., and middle blocker Hilary Chambers of Highlands Ranch, Colo.

"Without a doubt this is the biggest senior class and the most experienced team Išve ever coached," said Bowlin, beginning her seventh season as MSU head coach.. "These six seniors have grown up in our program. They know about the challenges of competition in the Southeastern Conference. And they know that as seniors they have an opportunity to put their mark on the Mississippi State volleyball program."

Mississippi State returns 10 letterwinners and all but one starter from last year's 10-20 edition.

Following this weekend's competition, Mississippi State launches its home schedule with the fourth annual MSU/Ramada Inn Classic Sept. 5-6 at the Newell-Grissom Building. Austin Peay, Southern Miss and Tennessee-Martin will join the Bulldogs in the round-robin competition.

Source: MSU Media Relations

Friday's season opening game is set for a 7 p.m. start time under the lights of Echles Field, while Sunday's home opener has been slated for a 1 p.m. start time at the Mississippi State Soccer Field. Admission to all 2003 MSU Soccer home games is free of charge.

"The team is as well prepared as we have been since I got here," said Mississippi State head coach Neil McGuire. "We had an excellent preseason as a result of the players dedication to their summer fitness plan. They were fit when they came in, thus allowing us to work more on the tactical aspects of the game."

Mississippi State and Memphis will engage in the ninth game of a series that has been split right down the middle, 3-3-2. Memphis won a barnburner at home last season just 31 seconds into overtime after the Bulldogs battled back from a 2-0 deficit early in the second half to tie the score on Ngum Suh's goal with 6:18 remaining in regulation. Memphis holds a 2-1-1 series lead at home.

"Memphis is a team with a lot of talent," McGuire said. "They have a large foreign contingent who play with great passion and have a good sense for the game. Last year they played very well against us and deserved to be victors. All we are hoping for is to play to our potential and let the rest take care of itself."

South Alabama has won two of three meetings with Mississippi State, including a 2-1 overtime decision in Mobile during the Bulldogs' SEC West championship season in 2001. The Jaguars currently hold a two-game winning streak in the series as well, defeating the Bulldogs, 3-0, in their last trip to Starkville in 2000.

State's only victory in the series with South Alabama was a 6-1 victory in Starkville during the 1996 season.

Source: MSU Media Relations

08/27/03
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. ­ Mississippi State track and field head coach Al Schmidt announced Tuesday that Mike Cunningham has been named an assistant coach for sprints and hurdles for the MSU track and field program.

"I'm very excited to be working with such a quality coaching staff here at Mississippi State University," said Cunningham. "Coach Schmidt is a great coach to work for, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to work in the No. 1 track and field conference in the nation."

Cunningham joins State from Ball State University, where he served as the women's assistant track coach since the fall of 2001. There he coached the school's first indoor two-time All-American and 15 All-Conference athletes.

In addition, he also coached six Ball State athletes to national indoor qualifying marks and seven individual and two relay regionals marks. He guided Ball State standout Patricia Soman to a place in Mid-American Conference history as the first athlete, male or female, to win four events in one championship (100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump). She also owns the indoor and outdoor long and triple jump national records for the Ivory Coast.

"He is a great addition to the staff," said Schmidt. "He is a young coach with great experience and knowledge that he can bring to the team."

During his stint as head track and field coach at Neosho County Community College from May 2000 to fall 2001, his men's cross country team and indoor track team finished the season ranked in the top 20 nationally and the men's outdoor team was ranked in the top 30.

In his first collegiate coaching position, Cunningham helped coach the Troy State men's team to two conference championships and the women's team to a conference championship during his three seasons with the Trojans.

Cunningham gains additional experience each year as a camp coach at the National Junior Elite High Hurdle Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. There he selects and coaches the top five junior high hurdlers in the nation in a four-day high-level camp.

Source: MSU Media Relations