Big weekend awaits Eagle sports

CSC’s football team kicks-off its season at 6:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time tonight as the Eagles take on the Miners of Missouri University of Science and Technology at Allgood-Bailey Stadium, Rolla.

Overall, Head Coach Jay Long said last week that the team’s focus is simply to go down to Missouri S&T and beat them.

He is expecting big things from his veterans and said he was “excited” for them, and “impressed” with their performances.

Defensively, coordinator Jeff Larson said last week that he is confident in his team this year, as long as his players maintain consistency on the front line.

He opens this game, and the next five, sans senior safety Trelan Taylor who led the team last year with eight interceptions.

The NCAA suspended Taylor for six games this season for a credit-hour infraction committed three years ago.

But missing Taylor does not worry Larson who said his entire secondary is dynamic and each defender has his individual qualities.

Offensive Coordinator Chris Stein said that, as practices continue, he sees progress in the offense’s performance this season. Stein noted that there has been a change of tempo this year, but things still seem to be going well.

“Yes! We are ready (to play Missouri S&T),” Larson said. “Our boys are ready to hit someone else.”

 

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country will be running Friday at South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City.

“I’m very impressed with the condition of our newcomers and the returning athletes,” Head Coach Ryan Baily said in mid-August. “It should be a good year.”

Along those same lines Coach Brian Medigovich made a few comments about the team’s upcoming season.

He said he and Baily hope the team moves up this season to the mid-pack of the RMAC, and added that the conference is among the toughest.

Baily also  said the men’s and women’s teams will face conference opponents packed with good talent.

 

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball’s season spikes into action Friday at a tournament at the  University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Coach Janel Baily and the CSC volleyball team return six players from last year’s roster and nine new recruits this year.

“Practices have been going great, the atmosphere in the gym is competitive and that has been leading to hard work which comes along with great energy,” Baily said in mid-August. “I am very excited at where we are at right now compared to this time last year.”

Of the nine newcomers, four are junior college transfers,  the remaining five are freshmen.

“With the nine newcomers and the six returners, the team looks pretty talented this year.” Baily said. “And right now, if I needed to put a starting line up together, it would be pretty tough because that is just how talented we are this year,”

The team  opens its season Friday at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Tournament.

In the first round the Eagles face the Jets of Newman University, Wichita, Kan., at 4 p.m. Friday. Later that day, the Eagles square off  against Nebraska–Kearney at 8 p.m. Game three they face South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Eagles close the tourney against William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., at 2 p.m. Saturday.

 

GOLF

Golf tees off its season on Saturday at the Colorado State University-Pueblo Invite, and a group of young players is leading the way for the Eagles.

“With these two (Emma Harris, sophomore of Wahoo, and Schuyler Wetzel, sophomore of Hot Springs, S.D.) leading the way,” Connealy said last week, “I hope to see the team do well this season.”

This season, the golf team plays nine tournaments – four in the fall, five in the spring, including the national tournament.