General 8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM

Rollins Report: September 1-6

SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 4, 6:00 pm vs. No. 6 Wingate | Wingate, N.C.
Monday, September 6, 1:00 pm vs. Francis Marion | Florence, S.C.

SET UP
The Tars will travel to the Carolinas to kickoff the 2021 campaign. Rollins will face a pair of difficult opponents in No. 6 Wingate and Francis Marion, who received votes in the Preseason United Soccer Coaches National Poll.

TEAM PREVIEWS
Rollins (0-0, 0-0 SSC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Tars bring back 16 players from their last official competition in the fall of 2019. Goalkeeper Maximillian Obermeier earned Second Team All-SSC that season, the German's first in the Blue and Gold. His fellow countryman Max Muecke will captain the Tars from his position on the backline. Rollins' leading goal scorer from 2019, Georgios Koliniatis, is also back, and will look to build on a freshman campaign that saw him bury five goals, and tally two assists.

No. 6 Wingate (0-0, 0-0 SAC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The highly touted Bulldogs, winners of four of the last six SAC Tournament title, return a loaded roster. Wingate brings back Owen Marshall, Niclas Wittur, and Devin Scully on the defensive side of the ball; all three have been named First Team All-SAC in their careers. Mikkel Fahlen Bruun, a returning All-Region honoree will look to anchor a relatively inexperienced midfield. The Bulldogs will open their slate against fellow SSC institution Florida Tech on Thursday.

Francis Marion (0-0, 0-0 CC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Patriots make the move from the Peach Belt Conference to Conference Carolinas this season, and are expected to make an immediate impact, as they were chosen as the preseason favorite to win the title. Francis Marion returns nine starters from their Covid shorted 2020-21 season. Sam Pollard and Alvaro Zamora led the attack for the Patriots, with both coming off All-PBC performances last year. Francis Marion hosts No. 10 Lander on Thursday, before turning their attention to the Tars.

SCHEDULE
Friday, September 3, 2:30 pm vs. West Alabama | Columbus, Ga.
Sunday, September 5, 11:00 am vs. No. 2 Mississippi College | Columbus, Ga.

SET UP
The Tars will begin their 2021 season with a road trip north, to Columbus, Georgia, for a pair of neutral site contests. Rollins first matches up against the West Alabama Tigers before facing Mississippi College, who enter the year ranked No. 2 in the Preseason United Soccer Coaches National Poll.

TEAM PREVIEWS
Rollins (0-0, 0-0 SSC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Tars, reigning Sunshine State Conference Regular Season Champions, enter 2021 with lofty expectations. Rollins was predicted to finish second in the conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll, and returns talent all over the pitch. Meghan Mosley, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region honoree, and All-SSC performer Bailey Tran will look to lead the Rollins attack. Gianna Merigliano, also an All-Conference player in 2019, will lead the Tars defensive efforts. Elena Beasley, an All-SSC performer as a freshman, transfer Noel Miller, and returner Michelle Fickett are all capable of shutting down opponents, at a loaded goalkeeper position.

West Alabama (0-0, 0-0 GSC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Tigers have been selected to finish seventh in the 14 team Gulf South Conference. Anele Komani is looking to build on what has already been a storied career at West Alabama, as she returns for her senior campaign. The midfielder has been named First Team All-GSC every year of her career, while earning All-Region recognition in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Defender Amy Denholm and midfielder Dana Cruz both join the West Alabama roster with high expectations, as members of the GSC All-Newcomer Team.

No. 2 Mississippi College (0-0, 0-0 GSC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Few teams in the nation enter 2021 with higher expectations than the Choctaws. Mississippi College were picked as the preseason favorite in the GSC, collecting 11 of the 13 available first place votes. Forward Erin Hederman and midfielders Emily McNair and Avery Hederman were all placed on the Preseason All-Conference Team. Erin Hederman is coming off a season where she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the "GSC Spring Championship Series." The Choctaws return most of a roster that has not lost a regular season match since October 25, 2018. Mississippi College will open the year with a test against Queens on Friday, before focusing on the Tars.

SCHEDULE:
Friday September 3, 1:00 pm vs. Colorado State Pueblo | Pueblo, Colo.
Friday September 3, 5:00 pm vs. University of Mary | Pueblo, Colo.
Saturday September 4, 11:00 am vs. Minnesota Crookston | Pueblo, Colo.
Saturday September 4, 5:00 pm vs. Chadron State | Pueblo, Colo.

SET UP:
Rollins will open their season in the mountain time zone with a four-game weekend at the Steel City Showcase, hosted by Colorado State Pueblo. The Tars will play twice on Friday and twice on Saturday.

TEAM PREVIEWS:
ROLLINS (0-0, 0-0 SSC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Tars look to improve on their 2019 finish with a loaded underclass and five seniors. The 2020 freshman class earned valuable collegiate experience in an abbreivated season last spring, while the incoming 2021 freshmen, all of whom stand 5'11 or taller, boast untapped potential. In addition, the Tars bring back their leading scorer from 2019 (Riley Spurlin) as well as their leading blocker and two-time SSC Defensive Player of the Week, Alexis Yeager. Of the four teams on the slate, the Tars have only ever played Minnesota-Crookston. Rollins won that matchup in 2002, 3-2.

Colorado State Pueblo (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Thunderwolves have been picked to finish fifth in the preseason RMAC coaches poll. The hosts of the Steel City Showcase are coming off an 11-4 effort during the abbreviated 2021 spring season. The top two scorers from last year, senior Maddy Wisniewski and junior Jazzy Espinoza, will both return to lead the attack. On the defensive end, Payton Stack will once again anchor the front line. She posted 57 total blocks in 15 matches last year, averaging 1.10 per set.

University of Mary (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Abby Pollart enters her first season as the head coach of the University of Mary Marauders. She will look to turn around a program that only managed a 1-28 record in 2019. UMary was selected by NSIC to finish last in the conference this season. Natalia Cruz was identified as a player to watch in the same conference poll. The senior captain was the team leader in both digs and service aces in 2019. Similar to Rollins, a number of underclassmen were able to see the court during the abbreviated 2021 spring season in which the Marauders went 2-2.

University of Minnesota Crookston (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
Sarah Morgan enters her fifth year at the helm of the Golden Eagles volleyball program. The NSIC coaches have predicted Crookston to finish 14th in the conference following their 4-24 record in 2019. The roster is extremely young, featuring only five upperclassmen. One of those is senior Lauren Wallace, who was tabbed as a player to watch in the preseason poll. Wallace was third on the team in kills in 2019, and also added 41 blocks on the defensive end. Rollins has played Minnesota Crookston once before, way back in 2002, with the Tars earning a 3-2 win.

Chadron State (0-0, 0-0 RMAC) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
The Eagles will travel from Chadron, Nebraska to partake in the season opening tournament. Chadron State was picked to finish 12th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They managed a 4-10 record last spring, and 14-12 record in their last full season in 2019. Lexi Hurtado was the top attacker last spring, and will return to lead the Eagles offense alongside Olivia Moten-Schell. After losing both of their top blockers from the previous year, Chadron State will be looking for someone to step up on the defensive side of the net.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Elena Beasley: GK; 5' 11"; Junior

#22 Gianna Merigliano: M; 5' 2"; Graduate Student

#0 Noel Miller: GK; 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Meghan Mosley: M; 5' 7"; Senior

#18 Bailey Tran: F; 5' 7"; Junior

#11 Riley Spurlin: RS; 6' 1"; Junior

#12 Alexis Yeager: MB; 6' 1"; Junior

#9 Georgios Koliniatis: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#10 Max Muecke: M; 6' 0"; Senior

#35 Maximillian Obermeier: GK; 6' 2"; Junior

#30 Michelle Fickett: GK; 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#1 Elena Beasley
: 5' 11"; Junior
: GK

#22 Gianna Merigliano
: 5' 2"; Graduate Student
: M

#0 Noel Miller
: 5' 7"; Junior
: GK

#10 Meghan Mosley
: 5' 7"; Senior
: M

#18 Bailey Tran
: 5' 7"; Junior
: F

#11 Riley Spurlin
: 6' 1"; Junior
: RS

#12 Alexis Yeager
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MB

#9 Georgios Koliniatis
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#10 Max Muecke
: 6' 0"; Senior
: M

#35 Maximillian Obermeier
: 6' 2"; Junior
: GK

#30 Michelle Fickett
: 5' 3"; Junior
: GK