The All State

Power has been restored to the APSU campus. According the to physical plant, a transformer blew near the construction site of the new chemical engineering building.

The term kill in volleyball means an attack that results in an immediate point or side out. It is important to note because the Lady Govs are stone cold killers.

Under the direction of new head coach Mike Johnson, the Lady Govs have been killing indiscriminately. The latest victims were the Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels.
Saturday, Oct. 31, at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky., the Lady Govs produced 58 kills and defeated the Lady Colonels 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-9, 25-18).

The match in Richmond was the second stop of an important five-match road trip the Lady Govs started in Morehead, Ky., Friday, Oct. 30.

The win was the Lady Govs’ sixth straight against a Lady Colonels team who had posted a 6-1 record at home.

According to APSU Sports Information, Johnson had positive things to say about his players after the match.

“We had great offensive balance today,” Johnson said. “It was great to see both Jessica Mollman and Taylor Skinner come alive. Eastern Kentucky played tremendous defense and it took a lot of tenacity to keep pressure on them. The score didn’t do this contest justice. The third and fourth sets were close until Kayla Grantham broke it open with her serve.”

Although Mollman led the way with 13 kills in the match, several of the Lady Govs were responsible for the carnage against the Lady Colonels. Five different Lady Govs produced 10 or more kills in the match.

The first set was a hard fought battle with 12 ties and eight lead changes. The last tie was 22-22 when Skinner made one of her 11 total kills of the match to give the Lady Govs a 23-22 lead and the serve.

Afterwards, the Lady Govs scored three straight points. The set winner was an ace served by junior setter Sarah Alisaleh.

Refusing to go down easy at home, the Lady Colonels responded strongly in the second set.

After establishing a 17-9 lead, the Lady Colonels did not relinquish it the rest of the set. The Lady Govs got within two points before being put away 25-20.

It was the Lady Govs turn to take control in the third set. They established dominance early with an opening 8-3 run.

Later, back-to-back service aces by Grantham made the score 20-8. Senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine put the Lady Colonels out of their misery with a kill that sealed the 25-9 win.

The Lady Colonels did not go away quietly in the fourth set.

They battled to a 14-14 tie, but Champine gave the Lady Govs the lead with another kill. Champine produced 11 total kills in the match. The Lady Colonels were within two points, 16-18, when the Lady Govs went on a 6-1 run that included two more aces by Grantham. Mollman finished the set and match with her 13th kill.The win at EKU improved the Lady Govs OVC record to 12-2. The Lady Colonels fell to 5-8.

As of press time, Monday, Nov. 2, the 12-2 record placed the Lady Govs second in the OVC overall behind Jacksonville State who have yet to be defeated in the OVC (14-0).

The Lady Govs’ road trip will come to an end Saturday, Nov. 7, in Cookeville, against Tennessee Tech. They defeated Tennessee Tech 3-0 at home earlier this season.

After the road trip, the Lady Govs will get a needed rest before finishing the season with two matches at home. First they will try to sweep Tennessee Martin this season, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Dunn Center.

Then they will finish the season against Murray State at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14. Murray State was the last team to defeat the Lady Govs on the road, Friday, Oct. 16.

With just two more victories, the Lady Govs will finish with a better regular season record than last year. They plan on killing their way to the 2009 OVC Championship Tournament Thursday, Nov. 19.

Dear Diary,

It is hard for me write this without shedding tears. But I will do my best. Currently, I am twenty points behind my opponent with one player left to play, New Orleans tight end Jeremy Shockey.
Normally, I would be rejoicing because I have already outscored both of my unworthy peers, Devon Robinson and Anthony Shingler. However, it’s a little hard to dance with an evil grin when I am ranked twelfth out of twelve teams.
I have won only one game this season.
I, the self-proclaimed ruler of my own fantasy world, have fallen low (way, way low). In these first seven weeks I have lost in every way possible. Blow outs, nail biters, miracles, it has been a constant stream of pain.
My lone victory came against Shingler in week five. It was supposed to start my turnaround. I am supposed to be 3-5, storming my way back to the top where I belong.
Instead I am stunned and bewildered at 1-6 praying for my second win.
What seemed like great running back depth has turned into a weekly hunt for a healthy runner. Darren McFadden, Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook, Willie Parker and Ricky Williams are the list of running backs I began the season with.
This week I had to use Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, the one and two runners for the Raiders. I repeat, I was forced to use two Raiders. Pardon me while I wipe away a tear.
It feels like my previously super powered ego is malnourished and hanging from a cliff by the fingertips of one hand.
Regardless if my win streak continues, the one thing I will not do is give up. One of the things I hate most is when fantasy owners give up midway through the season, not bothering to switch their roster from one week to another.
I refuse to be that type of owner. If the championship is out of my reach and the odds of even getting in the playoffs are beyond remote, I will play the best team I can put together every week, determined to take someone out.I’m that guy in horror movies who refuses to run away anymore. Instead he turns and faces the hideous, evil beast that has been chewing on all his unsuspecting friends. Sure, that guy dies screaming 75 percent of the time. But he gives that ugly beast indigestion. I take solace in giving my opponents indigestion.
Only seven weeks remain this season. This is a competitive league and every game is essential from this point. With that in mind, the rest of the league should be scared because to get to the playoffs, you have to get through me.
As the week’s progress and the point scores get tighter, they are going to wish I gave up and let my team be an automatic win for the rest of the season.
Instead, my next seven opponents are going to be up nights, sweating because I will be doing my best to eliminate each and every one of them. I am going to be the dreaded loss that kept them out of the playoffs. I am going to be that one game which will haunt them until next season.
They are going to be so close and I am going to slam the door on them with a resounding, ominous boom.

Donning a black cape and laughing maniacally,
Marlon Scott

APSU cross country alum Tim Hall took the first place medal Saturday, Oct. 31, in the annual Homecoming 5K Scholarship 5K Run.

Hall finished the run in 16m 39s.

Coming in a close second was MIke Henchen from Ft. Campbell. Henchen finished the race in 17m 5s.

The 2009 Homecoming Court, announced Tuesday night, Oct. 27:

Brad Averitt
sponsored by Sigma Chi
Hometown: Erin, Tenn.
Major: Communication
Minor: Sports broadcasting
Year: Senior

Taylor Clinard
sponsored by Chi Omega
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Major: Special education
Year: Junior

Raven Cooper
sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha and Every Nation Campus Ministry
Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Major: Social work
Minor: Dance
Year: Senior

Jody Dorris
sponsored by Alpha Tau Omega
Hometown: Greenbrier, Tenn.
Major: English
Minor: Education/leadership
Year: Junior

Chris Drew
sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Major: Business administration
Minor: Finance/accounting
Year: Senior

Kaley Drew
sponsored by Alpha Tau Omega
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Major: Marketing
Minor: Photography
Year: Junior

Casey Green
sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa
Hometown: Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.
Major: Mathematics education
Minor: Spanish
Year: Senior

Rachael Groves
sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi
Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.
Major: Business management
Year: Senior

Nimit Patel
sponsored by Alpha Lambda Delta
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Major: Biology/premedicine
Minor: Chemistry/history
Year: Senior

Caleb Roberts
sponsored by Sigma Phi Epsilon
Hometown: Greenbrier, Tenn.
Major: Corporate communication
Minor: Leadership studies
Year: Senior

The 2009 Homecoming king and queen will be announced Saturday, Oct. 31 during the halftime ceremonies of the Homecoming game, APSU vs. Jacksonville State. •

Marlon Scott,
News Editor