Press Releases: 1998-1999


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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
March 29, 1999

News and Notes about SSU Athletics...

Four Ranked Teams Highlight Spring Start
A strong start for the spring sports teams finds four Sea Gull squads ranked nationally. The men's lacrosse team is in its usual spot at or near the top of the rankings. The Gulls are ranked second with an 8-0 record. The women's lacrosse team is ranked 13th in the country, and carries a 3-1 record into Tuesday's conference game at Catholic. The softball team is ninth in the coaches poll. The baseball team, 14-5 overall, is ranked 22nd in its coaches poll and fourth in the South Region.

Baseball Streak is Longest Ever
The recent 14-game winning streak enjoyed by the baseball team was the longest in school history and just the third of 10 games or better. The previous high of 12 straight wins spanned two seasons, having started in 1973 and ended in 1974. SSU's recent 14-game streak included six victories over teams that qualified for the 1998 NCAA Tournament, including back-to-back wins against defending national champion Eastern Connecticut State.

Off and Running
The men's and women's track teams are moving into the busy part of their schedule after a solid early showing. Both teams posted dual wins over UMES and Delaware State in a tri-meet in Salisbury on March 16. Senior sprinter Tony Hill followed up by winning the 100-meters at last week's 16-team Battleground Relays. Hill also combined with Dave Saylor, Dave Starno, and Myron Dent on the 4 x 100 relay team which placed second.

Women's Tennis Enjoys Southern Trip
The women's tennis team has pushed its overall record back above the .500 mark after winning three of four matches on its recent spring trip to Hilton Head, SC. The Gulls began the season 1-3, with two of those losses coming against Division I and II teams. SSU defeated Methodist (5-0), Wisconsin-Whitewater (6-3) and Southern Maine (9-0) last week to improve to 6-5.

Leading the League
Sophomore OF April Harned leads the Capital Athletic Conference with a .519 batting average. Sea Gulls Erin Gross and Stephanie Bennett are tied for the league lead in RBI with 18 apiece. SSU is 16-3 overall heading into Thursday's twinbill vs. Wesley. The Gulls host nationally-ranked College of New Jersey in another home doubleheader on Saturday.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Last month's snowed-out women's lacrosse game against St. Mary's has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 13...Greensboro (NC) College has joined the Atlantic Central Football Conference as its seventh member...The Sea Gulls and Pride will meet for the first-time ever in Greensboro on September 25...RHP Jason Baynard (4-0) and LHP Michael Bostian (4-1) have combined for eight of the baseball team's 14 wins...Reliever Dave Gordon has a CAC-best 0.84 ERA in 11 innings of work...The men's lacrosse team is 13-0 all-time against Western Maryland heading into Tuesday's game in Westminster, MD.

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GULLS WIN VWC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
March 14, 1999

Bennett Named Tournament MVP; SSU Remains Unbeaten
Virginia Beach, VA -- Salisbury State won the championship of the Virginia Wesleyan Tournament on Saturday, defeating Methodist 7-2 in the title game. SSU, ranked ninth in the nation, finished 6-0 in the two-day event and improved to 8-0 overall for the season.

Megan Hopper led the Sea Gulls with three hits and two runs scored in the championship game. Shannon Monroney added a two-run double and senior RHP Kelly Bradford went the distance to register her fifth win of the season.

Senior SS Stephanie Bennett was named tournament MVP. Bennett had two RBI in SSU's 3-2 semifinal round win over Moravian. Trailing 2-0 in the seventh inning with two-outs in their final at-bat, Hopper and Bennett delivered back-to-back RBI doubles to rally the Gulls into extra innings. Bennett then plated Diana Wallace with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for the game winner.

Bennett and Erin Gross each had two hits earlier as the Sea Gulls blanked Virginia Wesleyan 8-0 to start the day.

Salisbury swept into Saturday's championship bracket with three wins on Friday. A three-run rally in the final inning gave the Gulls a 6-5 win over Methodist in the tournament's first game. Bennett delivered a two-run HR in the sixth inning to tie that game, while Gross finished 3-4 with three RBI.

Sophomore April Harned finished 2-4 with two RBI in game two as the Gulls downed St. Thomas Aquinas, 14-1. SSU capped the first day with a 14-0 win over Emory & Henry as Bradford hurled a no-hitter and Bennett finished with three RBI.

Salisbury State returns to Virginia's Tidewater area on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader at Christopher Newport. The Sea Gulls then host their annual SSU Invitational, beginning Friday March 19 at the Wicomico County Athletic Complex.

Tournament Scores
Friday...Game One.....Salisbury 6, Methodist 5 (6 inn)
.......Game Two.....Salisbury 14, St. Thomas Aquinas 1 (4 inn)
.......Game Three....Salisbury 14, Emory & Henry 0 (4 inn)

Saturday..Game One...Salisbury 8, Va. Wesleyan 0
........Semifinal.....Salisbury 3, Moravian 2 (10 inn)
.........Final...........Salisbury 7, Methodist 2

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COOKE, LATOUR EARN FIRST TEAM ALL-CAC HONORS
March 8, 1999

Salisbury, MD -- Two members of the Salisbury State women's basketball team have been named to the all-Capital Athletic Conference first team, as selected by the conference's head coaches. Senior guard Amy Cooke was named to the first team for the second straight season, while junior guard Jessica Latour was selected to the first team for the second time in her three seasons.

Cooke, from East Windsor, NJ/Notre Dame HS, averaged 11.7 ppg for the Sea Gulls this year while starting all 26 games. In addition, she led the CAC and the nation in assists with 8.4 per game. Cooke finished with 218 assists this season, breaking Salisbury State's single-season record. The 5'6" senior also finished her career as the CAC's and SSU's alltime assists leader with 731 career assists. She became just the third player in NCAA Division III history to record at least 700 assists. Cooke also finished 11th on Salisbury's alltime scoring list with 1,138 career points. In addition, she placed fourth in the conference in steals with 2.8 per game and seventh in three-point field goal accuracy at 28.7%.

Latour, from Bricktown, NJ/St. Rose HS, finished as SSU's leading scorer for the third straight season with an average of 16.4 ppg. She returns to the all-conference first team (which she also made in her freshman season) after earning second team honors last year. Like Cooke, Latour passed the 1,000 career points plateau this season and currently ranks 9th in SSU history with 1,188 points. The 5'7" guard also averaged 5.4 rebounds this season, third highest on the team. She led the conference in free throw percentage at 82.9%, and finished fifth in the CAC in scoring.

Salisbury State finished 18-8 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the CAC Tournament.

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
March 2, 1999

News and Notes about SSU Athletics...

Softball 9th in Preseason Poll
Coming off its most successful season ever, the softball Gulls enter the 1999 season ranked ninth in the nation in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason poll, released last week. SSU finished 36-10 last year while advancing to the Division III World Series for the first time in school history. The Gulls, who return nine letterwinners from last year's squad, begin the new season at home on Monday at 1:30 p.m. against St. Joseph's.

Prendeville is CAC's All-time Leader
Senior point guard Eric Prendeville capped his four-year career as the all-time assist leader in Capital Athletic Conference history. Prendeville finished with 641 career assists, passing Sammy Briggs of Catholic (1994-97) during last week's CAC Tournament. Prendeville's record-setting week included a 15-assist, zero turnover performance against Marymount in the tournament's opening round.

Lax Streak
The men's lacrosse team takes a 16-game conference winning streak into Wednesday's season-opener at St. Mary's. The Sea Gulls, the four-time defending Capital Athletic Conference champions, have never lost a CAC game since joining the league in 1995. SSU plays three straight home games in three days, beginning on Sunday against nationally-ranked Ohio Wesleyan. The Gulls then host Catholic and Goucher on Monday and Tuesday in back-to-back league games.

Swimmers Shut Out of Nationals
The season is officially over for all members of the men's and women's swim teams. Sophomores Alison Calcaterra and Rebecca Mitchell had posted "B" qualifying times for the NCAA Championship Meet during last month's conference championships. Unfortunately, neither received an invitation to the nationals. Calcaterra's "B" times missed qualifying in three events (50, 100 and 200 free), while Mitchell also fell short in the 200 freestyle.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Junior guard Jessica Latour closed the season with the highest point output by any member of the women's basketball team when she tallied 34 in the CAC semifinal loss to St. Mary's... Senior point guard Amy Cooke finished her career as the third player in NCAA Division III history to record more than 700 assists, finishing with 731...Seniors Courtney Ball and Erin Shipley, and junior Annie Sappington have been selected as captains for the women's lacrosse team.

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BASEBALL GULLS FEATURE NEW LOOK IN 1999
February 19, 1999

With just three returning starters among the position players and two pitchers who had three or more decisions last year, the Salisbury State University baseball team will feature a predominately new look from the squad that finished 21-15-1 last season and posted its fourth straight 20-win campaign. The good news is that second-year Head Coach Robb Disbennett is bolstered by a talented roster of newcomers who should combine with three returning all-conference players to form a solid nucleus in 1999. A closer look at the Sea Gulls, by position:

Infield
The Gulls have returning starters on the right side of the diamond this season and new players on the left side. Senior first baseman Brian Burden is coming off his best season in 1998 and will be the leader of the unit. Burden earned second team all-Capital Athletic Conference honors last spring after hitting .351 with two HRs and 19 RBIs. He also ranked among the national leaders as the toughest players to strike out, finishing with just five whiffs in 134 at-bats.

Junior 2B Tim Hilyard emerged as a solid contributor last season with a .366 average. He also finished third on the team in runs scored with 33 and fourth in steals with five. Hilyard may also offer more offensive pop this season after adding 20 pounds in the offseason.

Sophomore Bobby Hamel takes over at third base, replacing four-year starter and all-South Region selectee Dave Westervelt. Hamel, who hit .188 in 13 games as a freshman, returns to his natural position after seeing duty in a variety of roles last year, including pitcher and catcher.

Freshman BJ Jarrett will be the shortstop. The first year player sports excellent hands and a strong arm defensively, and good bat control and the ability to put the ball in play offensively.

"I feel very good about our defense," said Disbennett. "We're very sound in the infield. I think we've got an excellent combo in the middle."

Freshman Greg Florkowski is the top backup at both corner infield positions. Three other freshman -- CJ Tortella, Bob Kenney and Robbie Robeson -- could all see duty at the middle infield positions.

Three other newcomers will handle the chores behind the plate. Junior transfer Charles Walter, a lefthanded hitter with some power potential, appears to be the frontrunner to begin the season. Two other freshmen, Brad Spence and Brian Brown, also display plenty of ability and should see considerable action through the season.

"We can play any of these three guys at catcher and feel very solid defensively," said Disbennett. "One of our priorities is to be strong up the middle, and these guys can all block and throw."

Outfield
Junior Dane Schriver, who enjoyed a breakout season last year, is the top returnee in the outfield. Schriver earned first team all-conference and honorable mention all-region honors in 1998 while hitting .421 and finishing eighth in the nation in doubles with 19. Schriver also led the Sea Gulls in runs (53), hits (67) and steals (11).

"We knew he had that type of potential," said Disbennett. "He had a great year."

Three other newcomers will join Schriver as the most likely candidiates to see considerbale action as the season begins. Freshman Jason Ewing hails from the same high school (Easton) as Schriver and displays many of the same tools. Ewing is among the team's fastest players and showcases a strong arm. Junior transfer Kevin Lindsay displays great defensive instincts and could become the team's leadoff hitter. Sophomore transfer Larry Williams is another speedy player with excellent raw ability who should steadily improve with experieince.

"All four of these guys will play quite a bit," said Disbennett. "Schriver will definately get his at-bats, but we'll probably rotate these four in the outfield."

Three other returnees could also see time in the outfield. Junior John Harrison had a .360 on-base average in 20 games last year, while sophomore Jay Bilbrough finished with a .340 batting average and 11 RBI in 15 games last season. Sophomore Cory Huston adds further depth while converting from pitcher to outfield in 1999.

Pitchers
The Sea Gulls return four players with experience, including two veterans who combined to start 18 of the team's 37 games last year.

The top returnee is junior RHP Jason Baynard, a first team all-conference player who finished 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 1998. Baynard has excellent location and control, as evidenced by his walk/strikeout (17 BB/60 K) ratio from last year. He will serve as the team's number one starter.

Sophomore LHP Mike Bostian (1-4, 8.34 ERA) assumes the number two spot in the rotation. His hard work and conditioning in the offseason should yield better numbers this spring. LHP Jon Riker (0-1) and RHP Dan Warner (2-0) complete the rotation. Freshman RHP Nick Ferrara may also see spot duty as a starter.

The bullpen is comprised completely with newcomers, although they do have some experience. Junior transfer Matt Brohawn from Hagerstown JC and junior lefthander Bryan Siegart from Chesapeake JC have previous collegiate experience.

Freshman Sean Baird, a hard throwing righthander, begins the season as the designated closer. Freshman Joe Lindner and sophomore Dave Gordon are also available.

"We have three returning sophomores who will all be better after gaining a year of experience last season," said Disbennett. "The pitching as a whole is a question mark for us as we start the year, but we just want them to go out and stay within themselves. The key for the staff is to not walk people. Location, movement and velocity are the priorities we want them to concentrate on."

Overview
"We have a lot of very talented players who should get better and better as they gain collegiate playing experience. Fortunately, all these guys have great attitudes and are eager to learn and work hard," said Disbennett.

"We'll probably be a different type of team this season. Last year, we had a lot of power in the lineup. This year, we have a faster team, which will allow us to be more aggressive on the bases and utilize more hit-and-run.

"Defensively, we should be very good. We're very solid in the infield and everything in the outfield will get caught. We're in a very competitive region (South) and a very tough conference. There's a lot of baseball talent in the CAC so you better be ready to play everyday."

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SEA GULLS NIPPED IN DOUBLE-OVERTIME THRILLER
February 18, 1999

SSU Men Set Free Throw Records in 131-128 Loss

In one of the most thrilling and dramatic regular season games ever played at SSU's Maggs Center, Catholic defeated Salisbury 131-128 in a record-setting, double-overtime marathon.

In addition to 259 combined points, the game featured 75 fouls, five technicals, 108 free throws, 48 three-point attempts, 11 double-figure scorers and eight disqualifications. Salisbury State (10-13 overall, 5-8 CAC) set team records for free throws made (45) and attempted (61), while Catholic broke its team record for points in a game.

In the end, CUA's Pat Maloney, scored four points in the final :51 seconds of the second overtime to break a 127-127 tie and propel the visitors to their 18th win of the season. Maloney, the only Cardinal starter who did not foul out, finished with a game-high 30 points.

Trailing by two points at halftime (48-46) and by as much as 12 in the second half, Salisbury used a 30-13 run to assume an 80-73 lead with 7:45 remaining. True to the theme of the evening for both teams, Catholic battled back and tied the game on a Maloney trey with 4:00 left. SSU rebuilt its advantage and led 99-92 with 1:47 remaining. Back to back treys pulled Catholic to within one, 99-98, in the final minute.

Two free throws by Eric Prendeville (19 points) with :28 seconds left pushed SSU's margin to 101-98. A Maloney layup with :14 ticks showing pulled Catholic back to one at 101-100. George Robinson converted two free throws for Salisbury and Dan Harrington converted two for Catholic to make the score 103-102 with seven seconds left. Robinson went back to the line and converted two more with six seconds to give the Sea Gulls a 105-102 edge. Harrington then sent the game into overtime by draining a trey from the top of the key with less than one second remaining.

SSU's Danny Fisher, who replaced a fouled-out Prendeville at point guard, bid for hero status in the first overtime by scoring seven points. Catholic's Andy Rice had a three point play with :59 seconds left to move Catholic in front, 116-114. Two free throws each by Colin Exelby (15 points) and Bernie Dennison moved SSU ahead, 118-116. A Jim McNiff free throw with :16 seconds remaining made it 118-117. Robinson then missed two free throws, and Maloney converted one of two with one second left to send the game into the second extra session, tied at 118.

The next hero bid came from Catholic's Shawn Kane (19 points), who converted a four-point play with 1:25 remaining in the second OT to move CUA ahead 127-124. One free throw by Jason Campion (18 points) and a layup by Dennison pulled SSU even at 127 with 1:09 left. A Maloney field goal finally put Catholic ahead for good with :51 seconds showing. Dennison hit one of two free throws to make it 129-128, then Maloney sealed the win with another basket with :15 seconds left.

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SWIM RECORDS FALL AT CAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
February 13, 1999

Sea Gull Men, Women Both Finish Fourth

The Salisbury State men's and women's swim teams combined for 17 team records during the season-ending Capital Athletic Championship Meet in Fredericksburg, VA last weekend. For the second straight year, both Sea Gull squads finished fourth in the overall standings.

"We had the best CAC meet we've ever had," said fourth-year Head Coach Jill Stephenson. "Everybody dropped their times from earlier in the season. It was a great meet for us."

Sophomore Alison Calcaterra led the women's team with three NCAA provisional qualifying times and three individual school records. Calcaterra finished first in the 50-yard freestyle (24.89 seconds); second in the 100 free (53.90 secs); and third in the 200 free (1:57.15). Sophomore Rebecca Mitchell also posted an NCAA B' time in the 200 freestyle (1:56.55) while placing second in the event. Mitchell added a third place finish in the 500 freestyle with a school-record time of 5:19.68, and placed fourth in the 100 free.

"We're hoping that the NCAA times will hold up so that Alison and Rebecca both have a chance to swim at nationals," said Stephenson. "I think we're pretty solid, especially in the 200 times. The other CAC coaches thought we'd get in. We're optimistic."

Freshman Julie Wood added a pair of school records for the women with fourth place finishes in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes.

Mitchell, Calcaterra, Wood and Teresa Piekarski also combined on four SSU relay records. The team just missed the NCAA qualifying mark in the 200 free relay, but capped the meet by winning the 400 free relay.

"The relays were big points for us," said Stephenson. "They provide double points, so placing high as we did really helped our team scoring."

Freshman Brendan Roddy led the men's team with one first, two seconds and three records. Roddy was conference champion in the 1650 freestyle with a team record time of 16:54.65. He also established new SSU marks in both the 500 freestyle (4:51.48) and 400 IM (4:22.47) while placing second in both events. Scott DeJesus was third in the 100 backstroke and Mike Nusbaum had a third place finish in the 1650 freestyle. DeJesus added a school record in the 50 freestyle, while senior Jeff Waltz bettered his own SSU record in the 100 freestyle (50.68 secs).

"Brendan had significant time drops in all three of his events," said Stephenson. "We actually thought he might pull out a second win in addition to the 1650, but he had a great meet. DeJesus and Nusbaum were great surprises for us. All the guys did nice jobs and pitched in to claim fourth place."

Final Team Scoring Totals
Men -- 1) Catholic (450 pts), 2)Mary Washington (432), 3)St. Mary's (319), 4)SSU (242), 5) Marymount (214), 6)York (211), 7) Goucher (36).

Women-- 1) Mary Washington (540), 2)Catholic (410), 3)St. Mary's (383), 4)SSU (261), 5)Marymount (175), 6)Goucher (101), 7)York (83), 8)Gallaudet (50).

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
February 9, 1999

News and Notes about SSU Athletics...

Coming on Strong
Sophomore forward Elisabeth Barfuss (Dale City, VA) has climbed to second on the women's basketball team in scoring at 14.4 ppg. Barfuss has tallied double-figures in scoring in six of the team's last seven games, including a combined 47 points in SSU's last two victories. Meanwhile, center Lisa Neylan (Trenton, NJ) registered her eighth and ninth double-double of the season in last week's two wins while also recording a career-high five blocks in the 103-83 victory over Goucher. For her efforts, Neylan is this week's Capital Athletic Conference Women's Player of the Week.

Robinson Joins 1,000-Point Club
The club is starting to get crowded. Senior guard George Robinson (Columbia, MD) is the latest Sea Gull to reach the 1,000-career point milestone. Robinson became the 22nd SSU men's player to reach the mark when he tallied 24 in Saturday's loss to Mary Washington. Robinson reached the milestone in just 66 career games, averaging 15.4 ppg through his career.

Lax Captains Selected
Seniors Josh Tidwell (Gambrills, MD) and Peter Troup (Yorktown Heights, NY) and junior Hirbod Azmi (Suffern, NY) have been selected as this year's men's lacrosse team captains. Tidwell, a midfielder, was also one of last year's captains. Troup, an attackman, and Azmi, a starter on defense, are serving their first seasons as official team leaders. In addition, Troup and Azmi have both been selected as preseason all-Americans by Face-Off Lacrosse Yearbook.

Swimmers Set for CAC
The men's and women's swim teams close the season at the three-day Capital Athletic Conference championship meet in Fredericksburg, VA, beginning on Friday. Head Coach Jill Stephenson likes the event's extended format. "Fortunately, with a three-day competition, if you have one bad day, you have two more chances to come back and do better."

Spring Schedules Available
Pocket-sized schedule cards for all of SSU's spring athletic teams are available, at no cost, by contacting the sports information office at 410-543-6016.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Junior guard Jessica Latour has scored exactly 16 points, her season average, in each of her past three games... The men's tennis team plays at the College of New Jersey Invitational Tournament this weekend...Last year's field included entries from Division I squads at Seton Hall, Villanova and Drexel...The men's and women's basketball teams will host alumni games at the Maggs Center on Saturday, February 20, prior to the varsity doubleheader against St. Mary's...Interested alums shoulds contact Ward Lambert or Bridget Benshetler.

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GULLS AMONG TOP LACROSSE CONTENDERS, AGAIN
February 5, 1999

"We have several players who can be as good as anybody in the country at their positions. If they play to their capabilities, and some new guys emerge as we expect, we can be a very good team."
--- Coach Jim Berkman

Salisbury Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll
The accomplishments are staggering. Start with the best record in NCAA Division III lacrosse over the past five years, 73-5, with just two regular season losses during that time. Add five consecutive seasons with a number one ranking. Add 10 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the longest active streak of any Division III team. Add 60 all-Americans in the 1990s. And of course, there are two national championships since 1994.

Justifiably, accomplishment is always accompanied by its first cousin, expectation. Given the overwhelming achievements of the Salisbury State men's lacrosse program and its consistency of excellence under Head Coach Jim Berkman, the Sea Gulls can begin no season without the weighty expectations of all who follow the sport.

Therefore, as the 1999 campaign begins, it comes as no surprise that Salisbury State is once again one of the nation's elite squads. The Sea Gulls, coming off a 14-2 finish last year, have been tabbed third in Face-Off Yearbook's national preseason poll.

The Gulls face the loss of four starters from last year's team, including two of the top three scorers, but Head Coach Jim Berkman thinks his squad can once again forge a union of expectation and accomplishment in 1999. A closer look at this year's team, by position:

ATTACK
Last year's leading scorer and offensive team MVP has graduated to the coaching staff, but two of three starters return to lead this unit in 1999. Senior Peter Troup, a second team all-American last year, returns for his third year as a starter. Troup, coming off a 41-goal, 16-assist season, has been tabbed as a 1999 preseason first team all-America by Face-Off Yearbook and could contend for national player of the year honors.

The other returning starter is senior Brian Smith (28g-15a in 98), tabbed as a second team preseason AA by Face-Off Yearbook. The third starter will emerge from among three candidiates. Senior Chris Fowler (4g-3a) and junior Kevin Fox (4g-3a) are the top contenders among the returning players, while Anthony Pisciotti, a sophomore transfer from Nassau (NY) JC, offers the most immediate help among the newcomers. The traditionally high-scoring Sea Gulls once again finished among the national scoring leaders last year, placing third in the nation in scoring offense at 17.2 goals per game.

"This is a veteran group with two senior, returning starters," said Berkman. "Fowler and Fox have both worked hard and improved in the offseason. Pisciotti was one of the best in JuCo last year. It's a pretty athletic group and they move the ball well. I think we can score some goals with this unit."

MIDFIELD
The return of nine veterans and the addition of at least five newcomers who should contribute right away provides Berkman with plenty of depth in the middle of the field. Junior Chris Turner emerged as one of the best players in the nation last year, earning second team all-America honors following a 26-goal, 17-assists season. Face-Off Yearbook has placed him on its preseason first team in 1999. Junior Joe High (18g-2a), who moved from attack to midfield last year, offers further scoring punch. Senior Josh Tidwell (7g-7a) is an experienced veteran who could improve on his scoring totals this season. Two other returnees who should contribute are senior Chris Mackert (4g-3a) and junior Ryan McKenzie (1g-1a).

Berkman is also counting on several newcomers who should add additional firepower to the unit. Three junior transfers with solid all-around games may offer the most immediate help: Tim Parks from Towson; Jimmy Barnes from Herkimer (NY) JC; and Jimmy Polucha from Anne Arundel (Md) JC. Freshman Josh Bergey will also contribute.

Three other veterans provide the Gulls with an experienced trio of short-stick defensive midfielders: seniors Chris Bray and Cory Smith and junior Paul Trentadue. Senior Glen Doss is the top returning long-pole middie, and also plays a wing on faceoffs. Junior Chris Martin, winner of last year's Most Improved Player award, the the number one faceoff specialist.

"We've got a lot of good athletes in the midfield," said Berkman. "We have excellent size and a strong physical presence along with guys who can get to the goal. There's lots of very good depth here."

DEFENSE
Last year, the Gulls entered the season with a number of questions regarding a rebuilt defensive unit. One year later, most of those questions have been fully and positively answered. The Gulls return two starters and three other veterans who were part of a unit that allowed just 8.2 goals per game in 98, among the best in the nation.

Junior Hirbod Azmi (6'4", 220) emerged as a standout defender last year and will serve as a leader on the backline. He has been selected as a 1999 preseason second team all-America by Face-Off Yearbook. Senior Darren Geraci also returns to the starting lineup. Geraci (5'9", 180) doesn't have Azmi's size, but is a tenacious and intelligent player who also ranks among the team's groundball leaders. The third starter will likely be sophomore Mark Breier (6'0", 195) who saw significant duty with steady improvement last year. Junior Jordan Austin (6'2", 190) and sophomore Bryan Shanahan (5'10, 200) are also among the key defensive returnees.

"We should have a very good defensive unit," said Berkman. "Having three experienced returnees in Azmi, Geraci and Breier, in addition to the experienced players at defensive midfield, makes us very solid. Azmi can be among the best in the country this year."

GOALIE
Last year's top two goalies return, with senior Jason Tarnow back as the starter and junior John Dodson as the number one backup. Tarnow was the Capital Athletic Conference's co-player of the year in 1998 and earned honorable mention AA honors while posting a .594 saves percentage. He is a 1999 preseason third team all-America pick by Face-Off Yearbook. Dodson saw action in eight games last year, finishing with a .536 saves percentage. Freshman Pat Tewes is highly regarded and offers Berkman excellent depth at the position.

"We have two very good, proven goalies and a freshman who is very talented," said Berkman. "Tarnow makes somes big saves and he's a good leader back there. Dodson is also tremendous and would be starting for a lot of other teams."

OVERVIEW
"We have lots of returning talent and experience at a lot of positions," said Berkman. " We do need a third guy to emerge on attack. We have lots of talented players, but to be great, we have to do everything well, including clearing the ball. We have several players who can be as good as anybody in the country at their positions. If they play to their capabilities, and some new guys emerge as we expect, we can be a very good team."

SSU Lacrosse in the 90s
1990 11-4 NCAA Semifinalists
1991 15-1 NCAA Finalists
1992 12-2 NCAA Quarterfinalists
1993 13-1 NCAA Quarterfinalists
1994 16-0 NCAA National Champions
1995 17-0 NCAA National Champions
1996 14-1 NCAA Semifinalists
1997 12-2 NCAA Quarterfinalists
1998 14-2 NCAA Semifinalists

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
February 2, 1999

News and Notes about SSU Athletics...

Men's Lacrosse Third in Preseason Poll
Salisbury State is ranked third in the nation in Faceoff Lacrosse Yearbook's preseason poll, released this week. The Gulls are coming off a 14-2 campaign in 1998 in which they advanced to the national semifinals while also making their 10th straight trip to the NCAA Championship Tournament. Seven Sea Gull players have also been cited by the magazine as preseason all-Americans. SSU opens its season at home on February 25 against Catholic.

Cooke Leads Nation in Assists
Senior point guard Amy Cooke (East Windsor, NJ) continues to lead the nation in assists with a per game average of 8.2. In addition, Cooke's season-best of 15 assists against Marymount on January 14 ranks as the second-highest single-game total in Division III women's basketball this season. With 661 assists through January 31, Cooke has also climbed into the top five alltime in NCAA Division III history.

Men's Basketball Time Change
This Saturday's men's basketball home game against Mary Washington will begin at 4 p.m., not 7:30 p.m. as previously listed on some schedules. The game will be played as part of a men's-women's doubleheader, with the SSU vs. Mary Washington women's game slated to tipoff at 2 p.m.

Tennis Teams Begin Spring Season
The men's and women's tennis teams will be the first spring squads to begin competition as they host UMBC in a doubleheader at the SSU Indoor Tennis Complex on Saturday. The women's match begins at 11 a.m., with the men scheduled to start at 1 p.m. "I'm extremely excited with what I've seen from our teams," said fourth-year head coach John Browning. "Both teams are ready to get going." Longtime local pro Ray Still, who served as the SSU women's head coach for a number of years, returns to the Sea Gulls this season as Browning's top assistant with both squads.

Sea Gull Nibbles
The women's basketball team ranks sixth in the nation in scoring at 82.6 ppg in the latest national statistics...Freshman forward Victor Jackson (Hebron, MD) ranks sixth in the CAC in scoring (13.8 ppg), fourth in field goal percentage (52.1%) and eighth in blocked shots (0.7/gm)...Guard Colin Exelby has scored in double-figures in six straight games, including last Saturday's team-high 20 points in the victory at York.

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GIUFFRIDA NAMED NSCAA SCHOLAR ATHLETE
January 28, 1999

Senior Soccer Standout is One of Just Three Division III Players to Earn First Team Status

SALISBURY, MD -- Senior Mike Giuffrida of the men's soccer team has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar-Athlete all-America first team. The Scholar Athlete Award, which recognizes academic achievement and athletic accomplishment, was announced at last week's coaches convention in Philadelphia. Players must first be named to one of four regional teams to become eligible for the national award. Giuffrida had been selected to the East Region first team earlier this month.

Giuffrida (Fallston, MD/Fallston HS ) is one of just three NCAA Division III players named to the 13-player national first team. The senior biology major has a 3.91 cumulative grade-point average which included a perfect 4.0 for the Fall, 1998 semester.

Giuffrida tallied 10 goals and 10 assists for the Sea Gulls during a record-setting 15-4-1 season in 1998. He capped his four-year career as SSU's second-leading alltime scorer with 37 goals and finished third alltime in assists with 19.

The latest honor adds to a long list of awards for the midfielder. He was also named to the NSCAA's national all-America (non-academic) third team last month. He had also been named the Capital Athletic Conference's 1998 Player of the Year and a first-team all-South Region selectee.

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ROTELLINI ASSUMES NEW DUTIES
January 26, 1999

Joe Rotellini has accepted a newly-created position as assistant director of Athletics at Salisbury State University, effective immediately. Rotellini will have primary duties in the area of Athletics development, in addition to other administrative responsibilities within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

"One of my goals in life is to become an Athletics director, and this opportunity gives me a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience as an administrator," said Rotellini. "I am eager to do whatever I can to help the overall Athletics program at Salisbury State."

Rotellini, 44, will relinquish his duties as Salisbury State's head football coach. He has served in that position since 1990. Rotellini will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the football program until a new head coach is hired. He will also continue to serve as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education. SSU will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.

"We have a need for greater fund-raising within our Athletics program," said Dr. Michael Vienna, director of Athletics. "We are excited that Joe has accepted the challenge of this new opportunity. I look forward to working with him in his new capacity."

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
January 19, 1999

News and Notes about SSU Athletics

More Honors For Giuffrida
The postseason honors continue to roll in for men's soccer standout Mike Giuffrida (Fallston, MD). The latest award for the senior is a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar-Athlete first team for the East Region. Giuffrida, who earlier earned all-America and all-region honors, is now eligible for the national scholar-athlete team, to be announced later this week.

Breakout Week for Neylan
Sophomore forward Lisa Neylan (Trenton, NJ) set new personal bests for scoring and rebounding in back-to-back Sea Gull wins last week. Neylan tallied a career-high of 29 points in SSU's 98-71 win over Marymount last Thursday, then tied her single-game rebounding high of 18 two days later in SSU's win at Mary Washington. Neylan has been the team's leading rebounder in eight games this season, including each of the past four games. She is fifth in the conference in rebounds with 8.6 per game, and is third on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg.

Swim Records Falling
A six-week layoff did little to stop the men's and women's swim teams from continuing their season-long attack on the SSU recordbook. Freshman Brendan Roddy (Rockville, MD) won three events in Saturday's 82-37 win at Goucher, including a new record of 2:08.32 in the 200-yard individual medley. In the women's meet, SSU swept first place in all 11 events, including new records in the 1000-yard freestyle by Jessie Hobson (Herndon, VA) 12:02.65, and the 100-butterfly by Rebecca Mitchell (Allen, MD), 1:02.80.

Season of Milestones for Cooke
Senior point guard Amy Cooke (East Windsor, NJ) reached a second career milestone in Monday's victory over Wesley by becoming the 10th player in SSU women's history to score 1,000 points. Earlier this season, Cooke also became SSU's alltime assists leader. She is the only player in school history to have at least 1,000 points, 400 assists and 200 steals.

Seeking Elite Company
Now that senior point guard Eric Prendeville (Bricktown, NJ) has become SSU's alltime men's assists leader, he has a chance to join some elite company in the history of NCAA Division III basketball. With 543 career assists, Prendeville could become just the 22nd Division III player to record 600 in a career. He also has an outside shot at the CAC assist record of 621by Catholic's Sammy Briggs.

Sea Gull Nibbles
The women's basketball team carries a five-game winning streak into Wednesday's game at Catholic, its second five-game streak of the season...Wednesday's men's basketball game at Catholic is a showdown for first place... The Sea Gulls (3-0) and Cardinals (4-0) are the CAC's only remaining unbeaten teams...The SSU men host Goucher on Monday at 7:30 p.m...That game was originally scheduled for December but changed just before the season started...Saturday's women's home swim meet is the first at the Maggs Pool since November 21...SSU hosts Notre Dame (Md) at 1 p.m.

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GIUFFRIDA EARNS SOCCER ALL-AMERICA HONORS
December 14, 1998

Senior Mike Giuffrida (Fallston, MD/Fallston HS) of the men's soccer team has been selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-America third team. The national honor is the third of the year for the midfielder, who had also been named the Capital Athletic Conference's Player of the Year and a first-team all-South Region selectee earlier.

Giuffrida tallied 10 goals and 10 assists for the Sea Gulls during a record-setting 15-4-1 season in 1998. He capped his four-year career as SSU's second-leading alltime scorer with 37 goals and finished third alltime in assists with 19.

Giuffrida was one of 14 players named to the national third team and one of just 37 in the country recognized by the NSCAA. Eleven players were selected to the first team and 12 others received second team honors.

"This is a tremendous honor for Mike," said SSU Head Coach Gerry DiBartolo. "This is one of the most difficult all-America teams to make, in any sport, because of all the players and teams that play the game across the country. It's a real accomplishment.

"Mike's selection is also a validation of what hard work gets you. He has improved each year and he's also been willing to make any sacrifices needed for the good of the team. He earned all-region honors at forward last year, but moved to midfield for us this season as a senior because we needed him there. That's the type of individual that Mike is and he is very deserving of this award."

Giuffrida becomes just the third men's soccer national all-America in the 62-year history of the sport at Salisbury State. Giuffrida joins Sandor Fodor (1981) and Matt Tirshman (1995) as the only Sea Gull players to receive the national honor.

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
December 8, 1998

Athlete of the Week
Freshman Brendan Roddy (Rockville, MD) is this week's Capital Athletic Conference Swimming Athlete of the Week. He placed second in four events at last week's Kutztown Invitational while also setting three new SSU individual records. Roddy set team records in the 400 IM, the 500 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle to earn the weekly award.

Jackson Near the Top
The first Capital Athletic Conference weekly rankings have been released and freshman Victor Jackson (Hebron, MD) is among the league leaders in two categories. Jackson, who leads the Sea Gulls in scoring at 15.4 ppg, ranks sixth among the CAC's top scorers. In addition, he ranks second in the conference in field goal accuracy at 64.8%.

Assist-Turnover Ratio
Senior point guard Eric Prendeville (Bricktown, NJ/St. Rose HS) ranks second in the CAC in assists with 7.1 per game. More impressively, Prendeville's assist to turnover ratio is almost three to one. He has 50 assists and just 17 turnovers through seven games. With 513 career assists, Prendeville is also closing on SSU's alltime assist record of 538, held by Scott Smith (1981-85.) He moved into second alltime in Monday's game, passing Tom Torillo (1969-74.)

Latour Third in Scoring
Guard Jessica Latour (Bricktown, NJ) ranks third in the conference in scoring through six games with a 19.5 ppg average. The junior is also converting 84.6% (44 of 52) of her free throws, second best in the CAC. Latour has been Salisbury's leading scorer in each of her first two seasons.

The Winners Are
Among the award winners at the volleyball team's year-end banquet last week were Jen O'Neill as MVP; Mandy Heagy, Coaches Award; Katie Korreck and Lisa Headd, co-winners of the Most Improved Award. In women's soccer, goalie Amy Forbes was named MVP; Amy Gallagher was winner of the Coaches Award; Tina Ensor was named Most Improved; and Katie Rowles won the Unsung Hero Award.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Senior point guard Amy Cooke (East Windor, NJ), who became SSU's alltime women's assist leader last week, is also on pace to become the first Sea Gull woman to record 1,000 career points and 500 assists. Having already passed the assist milestone, she needs 84 more points to reach the scoring standard...The men's and women's swim teams have begun a long dry spell. They don't return to the water until facing Goucher on January 16.

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VOLLEYBALL HITS NEW HEIGHTS IN 1998
December 2, 1998

The Salisbury State volleyball team recorded a number of firsts during an outstanding 1998 championship season that saw the program achieve unparalled success. The Sea Gulls captured their first Capital Athletic Conference championship and earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, finishing as the sixth-seeded team in the Mid-Atlantic Region. SSU posted its seventh winning season in the last eight years and registered its fourth straight 20-win campaign en route to a 25-14 overall mark.

SSU has won 136 matches over the past six seasons, ranking among the most consistent teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Sea Gulls have also appeared in the CAC championship game in each of the past three seasons.

Adding to its list of first-time achievements, senior hitter Jen O'Neill became the first Sea Gull to win CAC Player of the Year honors. She was selected to the 1998 all-conference first team while sophomore setter Katie Korreck and freshman hitter Kara Kowalski were both named to the all-CAC second team.

O'Neill, who also earned all-Mid-Atlantic Region honors, enjoyed a stellar senior campaign. In addition to leading the Sea Gulls in kills (469) and hitting percentage (.301), she finished second in blocks (109), third in digs (615), and third in service aces (58). She also ranked among the conference leaders in three of those categories. Meanwhile, Korreck broke the team's career assist record in just her second season, finishing with 2,265.

The Sea Gulls placed first during the conference's round-robin regular season with a 6-1 record. SSU then defeated Catholic, Gallaudet, and York in the CAC Tournament to win its first conference title. SSU won nine of 10 games in the conference tournament.

SSU Makes First NCAA Tournament Appearance
Despite falling 3-0 to Gettysburg in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Mid-Atlantic Regional, the Sea Gulls had a strong showing in their first postseason appearance. The Gulls had leads in each of the three games against Gettysburg before losing 16-14, 15-9, 15-10. As she did all season, Jen O'Neill paced the Gulls with 18 kills while adding 20 digs. Donna Hudson tallied nine kills and 17 digs, and Kara Kowalski added eight kills and 21 digs. Katie Korreck finished with 40 assists.

"I thought our kids gave 200% throughout the match," said Knight. "We never quit. We played a strong match and played with lots of confidence. We represented our school and ourselves very well."

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MEN'S SOCCER ENJOYS RECORD-SETTING SEASON
December 1, 1998

Salisbury State completed the most successful season in the 62-year history of Sea Gull soccer with a record-setting 1998 campaign. The Gulls broke several team and individual marks during a 15-4-1 season that ended with a fifth consecutive appearance in the Capital Athletic Conference championship game.

SSU's 15 victories established a new single season record for wins, eclipsing the mark of 13 set in 1992. The Gulls also set a new record for consecutive wins with an eight-game winning streak over the second half of the season. That winning streak, coupled with a tie against Johns Hopkins, ranked fourth in the nation, and one other victory, also tied the team record for longest unbeaten streak, 10 games.

Included in that 10-game stretch were three consecutive overtime wins which put the Gulls in contention for one of the South Region's four NCAA Tournament berths. SSU would eventually fall shy in its quest for the NCAA postseason, but the Gulls did post significant wins over regionally ranked teams like Dickinson, Eastern Mennonite, Shenandoah, Christopher Newport and Washington & Lee. In addition, one of SSU's four losses was a 2-1 overtime defeat against Greensboro, which finished as the national runnerup in 1998.

SSU's success was reflected at both ends of the field. The Gulls set a new season scoring record with 63 goals, including a new single-game record of 13 in a conference victory over Gallaudet. Senior Mike Giuffrida capped his career as SSU's second alltime goal scorer with 37 goals and third alltime scorer with 93 points. Giuffrida, who has previously won all-region and academic all-America honors, added to his award chest by earning CAC Player of the Year honors in 1998.

A number of other Sea Gulls also figured prominently in SSU's landmark season. Freshman Paul Kelly won the conference's rookie of the year award after leading the Gulls and the CAC in scoring with 14 goals, seven assists and 35 points. He recorded the second highest single-season point total in team history. At the other end of the field, sophomore goalie Mike Svehla became SSU's new shutout king. He tied the single-season record with nine whitewashes in 1998, and upped his career shuout total to 17, breaking Dan Coleman's 13-year old career record.

Giuffrida and Kelly were joined on the all-conference team by two other members of the defense. Sophomore back Darren LaRocque was the third Sea Gull named to the CAC first team, while senior back Kevin Rhodes received second team honors.

Not to be overlooked, Head Coach Gerry DiBartolo also achieved some significant milestones. The 17-year coaching veteran recorded his 150th win during the season, and also finished the year as the winningest coach in SSU soccer history. He finished the year with 160 career wins, passing longtime Sea Gull mentor Benn Maggs.

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SEA GULL SPORTS NOTEBOOK
December 1, 1998

News and Notes about SSU Athletics

Gallagher Earns NSCAA Honor
The postseason awards continue to trickle in for members of SSU's fall sports teams. Junior Amy Gallagher (Mercerville, NJ/Steinert HS) of the women's soccer team is the latest honoree. Gallagher has been named to the National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) All-Mid Atlantic Region third team. She is one of just 33 players recognized on the all-region teams from among 44 schools that comprise the region. Gallagher, a back, was one of the key defenders on the Sea Gull defense that allowed just 12 goals in 20 games this season.

Assist Man Helping Himself
Senior point guard Eric Prendeville (Bricktown, NJ/St. Rose HS) finished second in the Capital Athletic Conference in assists last year with 6.7 per game. Therefore, it's no surprise that he is averaging 6.3 assists per game through three contests this season. The surprise is that Prendeville, who averaged 5.8 ppg last year, is also the leading scorer on this year's team at 14.3 ppg. He was the team's top scorer in both games of the season-opening Alvernia Tournament, and was the second leading scorer in last week's 100-94 win over Washington with 14 points.

Making the Grade
Three members of this year's field hockey team have been named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-Academic team. Senior Mindy Fennemore (Wyoming, DE/Caesar Rodney HS), junior Gina Dean (Pocomoke, MD/Pocomoke HS) and junior Sarah Hudson (Georgetown, DE/Sussex Central HS) were each cited for maintaining cumulative grade point averages of 3.3 or higher. Each also contributed to SSU's success on the field, helping the Gulls finish 13-6 overall and capture their fourth straight Capital Athletic Conference championship.

Barfuss' Big Night
Forward Elisabeth Barfuss (Dale City, VA/Hylton HS) enjoyed a career night on several fronts in last week's 99-91 win at Christopher Newport. Barfuss registered career-highs in both points (30) and rebounds (14), helping the Gulls rally from a one-point halftime deficit. Barfuss also added three assists to her all-around evening while connecting on a perfect five of five from the free throw line.

Freshman Record-Setter
It hasn't taken Brendan Roddy (Rockville, MD) very long to make a big splash for the men's swim team. The freshman has already broken two team records, eclipsing the marks for the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.50) and the 1000-yard freestyle (10:33.91). Roddy also has at least one first place finish in each of the team's five dual meets this season.

Sea Gull Nibbles
Senior point guard Amy Cooke (East Windor, NJ/Notre Dame) is closing quickly on the SSU women's basketball assist record...With 23 assists through three games, Cooke has raised her career total to 536, trailing alltime leader Diana DeJesus (1982-86) by just 18 assists...The men's home basketball game against Goucher, originally scheduled for December 9, has been moved to January 25...Game time remains at 7:30 p.m.

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GULLS SET FOR SALISBURY OPTIMIST BASKETBALL CLASSIC
December 1, 1998

Event Features Alternating Men's and Women's Game Format
SALISBURY -- The Salisbury State men's and women's basketball teams host their annual Salisbury Optimist Classic this week with two days of nearly non-stop basketball action at the Maggs Center on campus. The dual tournament, which features four games on consecutive days, begins Friday afternoon and continues through Saturday evening. Men's and women's games are played alternately throughout the two days.

The four-team women's field features Newport News Apprentice, Cabrini and North Carolina Wesleyan in addition to the Sea Gulls. Salisbury is joined by Wilmington, Lincoln and Greensboro in the men's tournament. The complete tournament schedule is:

Friday.....1 p.m.....Newport News Apprentice vs. Cabrini (Women)
................3 p.m....Wilmington vs. Lincoln (Men)
................6 p.m.....Salisbury State vs. North Carolina Wesleyan (Women)
................8 p.m.....Salisbury State vs. Greensboro (Men)

Saturday...1 p.m....Women's Consolation Game
..................3 p.m....Men's Consolation Game
..................6 p.m....Women's Championship Game
..................8 p.m....Men's Championship Game

The Sea Gull men have won the annual event in three of the past four years. SSU beat Lincoln 117-101 in last year's final. SSU and Lincoln have met in the tournament final in each of the past three seasons, with the Gulls prevailing in 1995 and 1997. The Sea Gulls are 32-13 alltime in the tournament. The event, originated in 1977, was known formerly as the Gull Classic before the Salisbury Optimist Club became the title sponsor in 1993.

This year's women's event returns to a four-team draw after competing as a three team round-robin last year. Baldwin-Wallace won last year's championship. SSU had won the title in each of the previous three years. North Carolina Wesleyan, tournament champion in 1993, is returning to the field for the fourth time in six years.

General admission prices are $4 for adults, $2 for non-SSU students and $1 for children 12 and under. Only one ticket per day is needed.

This weekend's games will be the last at home for the Sea Gull men until January. SSU has road games at Virginia Wesleyan and Christopher Newport next week before taking three weeks off for final exams and the semester break. The women's team plays a final pre-Christmas home game on December 12, hosting Goucher at 2 p.m.

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