basketball’09-’10

Hunter JoHnson#42 Kristin stewart#44

eriKa ramos#10 Kayelyn rocHester#12 molly mitcHell#13 suzanne Gasperini#21

Brittany cornelius#22 wHitley turner#24 meGan raHn#30 mary woessner#31

courtney KreBer#32 Kaela Bellefeuil#33 Kourtney Barnes#40 Bryana Holmes#41

Players

2009-10 basketball roster

* Captains

Head Coach: Melinda Campbell Assistant Coaches: Robert Luckadoo, Kevin Walker

Volunteer Assistant Coach: Judy Peel Manager: Suzann FloryAthletics Director: Jackie Myers

Assistant Athletics Director/ Sports Information Director: Greg Jarvis Athletics Trainer/SWA: Sharon Malley

WeathersPoon GymnasiumThe home to Meredith’s basketball and volleyball teams. The facil-

ity provides up-close seating for more than 500 spectators. The

complex also includes locker rooms, athletics offices, a training

room, a fitness center, a 5,000 square-foot dance studio and a six-

lane, indoor swimming pool.

meredith athletic Field and track comPlexThe home to Meredith’s soccer and cross country teams. Opened in

2009, the complex includes a lighted competition level track, a Field-

Turf artificial playing surface capable of supporting soccer and lacrosse

games and a storage facility. Future phases of the project will include

a grandstand, hospitality areas, support facilities, restrooms, brick

arcade and locker rooms. The cross country team uses the complex as

well as the College’s 225-acre campus and the Reedy Creek Greenway.

meredith soFtball comPlexThe home of Meredith softball has undergone several renovations in

the last year. The addition of irrigation to the Bermuda field and in-

field improvements have stepped up the playing conditions to make

it one of the best fields in the area. New dugouts have also just

been completed to increase comfort for the players and enhance

the game atmosphere.

meredith tennis comPlexThe home of the Meredith tennis program includes six lighted ten-

nis courts with windscreen. Over the summer of 2007, the courts

were resurfaced with a new color scheme—a “US Open Blue” inner

court surrounded by a green outer court. This color scheme helps to

heighten the visibility of the ball for players and fans.

athletic Facilities

Senior Brittany Cornelius drives the lane during a USA South game in Weatherspoon Gymnasium.

no. name yr. Pos. ht. hometown/high school

10 Erika Ramos SO G 5’6” El Paso, Texas/ Ysleta

12 Kayelyn Rochester FR G 5’5” Raleigh, N.C./ Word of God

13 Molly Mitchell SO G 5’9” Monroe, N.C./ Piedmont

21 Suzanne Gasperini JR F 5’11” South Boston, Va./ Halifax County

22 Brittany Cornelius* SR G/F 5’8” Rockwell, N.C./ East Rowan

24 Whitley Turner JR F 5’11” Wilmington, N.C./ Ashley

30 Megan Rahn JR G 5’11” Raleigh, N.C./ Broughton

31 Mary Woessner JR G 5’9” Hillsborough, N.C./ Home School

32 Courtney Kreber JR G 5’5” Charlotte, N.C./ Charlotte Catholic

33 Kaela Bellefeuil FR G 5’8” Kernersville, N.C./ Kernersville

40 Kourtney Barnes JR F 5’9” Raleigh, N.C./ Enloe

41 Bryana Holmes FR G 5’9” Cary, N.C./ Holly Springs

42 Hunter Johnson* SR F 5’11” Washington, N.C./ Pungo Christian

44 Kristin Stewart JR C 6’1” Sanford, N.C./ The O’Neal School

coachinG staFFmelinda camPbell

Melinda Campbell enters her first year as head coach of the Meredith

College basketball team. Campbell has spent the last 17 years as a

faculty member at Meredith and most recently was head of the De-

partment of Health, Exercise and Sports

Science. She also coached the Meredith

tennis team from 1992-2000, gaining

Meredith’s first ever NCAA tournament

bid. Campbell also serves as professor

of Health and Exercise in addition to her

basketball coaching duties.

Campbell’s most recent tenure at

Meredith includes administration,

teaching and being a loyal supporter of Meredith athletics while

helping to build a new academic major in Exercise and Sports Sci-

ence. As head coach of the Meredith tennis team, she led the team

to national ranking three times (1995, 1998 and 2000), south

regional rankings five times (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000)

and to the school’s first NCAA tournament bid in 2000. Prior to her

time at Meredith, she was the head basketball, head volleyball and

head girls track coach in the Greater Clark County School System

(Jeffersonville, Ind.). Campbell also served as a women’s basketball

graduate coaching assistant at Division I Indiana University.

Campbell was a standout student athlete at Gardner-Webb Col-

lege on the basketball and volleyball teams, earning Most Valu-

able Player honors.

Campbell, a native of Waynesville, N.C., holds a Ph.D. in physical

education teacher education from the University of North Carolina

at Greensboro, a Master of Science in physical education from In-

diana University and a Bachelor of Science in health and physical

education from Gardner-Webb College.

robert luckadooRobert Luckadoo enters his second season as assistant coach of

the Meredith College basketball team. Luckadoo also serves as

Meredith’s head softball coach.

Coach Luckadoo has been involved in coaching women’s athletics

for most of the past 18 years, and has experience in coaching

women’s basketball at the middle school and high school levels

of play. Coach Luckadoo has served as a head women’s JV coach

and assistant varsity women’s coach at Northwestern 4A women’s

basketball powerhouse Freedom High School in Morganton, N.C.,

and most recently, served as an

assistant women’s basketball coach

to head coach Mike Silver, and

perennial NC State women’s basket-

ball power, McDowell High School in

Marion, N.C., where he helped both

teams make runs through the NCHSAA

state playoffs.

Coach Luckadoo is a native of

Rutherford County, N.C., a 1983 graduate of East Rutherford

High School (Forest City, N.C.) and a 1988 graduate of NC State

University. Luckadoo, a strong proponent of higher education,

completed a master’s degree in sports management in June

2008 from the United States Sports Academy. He is a North

Carolina Certified Science teacher and has worked as an instruc-

tor of physics and physical science in McDowell and Burke coun-

ties in North Carolina.

kevin WalkerCoach Kevin Walker enters his third

year as assistant coach with the bas-

ketball team at Meredith College.

Walker has many years of playing and

coaching experience at various levels.

His last coaching position was as

an assistant coach at Neuse Baptist

Church. He has coached in various

recreational leagues while attending

East Carolina University from 1989-1992 including at the AAU

level. His playing experience stems from his career at Matoaca

(Va.) High School. He also participated in Coach Morgan Wooten’s

basketball camp in Takoma Park, Md.

Walker is the supervisor of the copy center at Meredith College. In

2006, Walker received the Presidential Staff Award in recognition

of exemplary service to the Meredith community.

Meredith Record (Years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-0 (0)

2008 Team Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19 (2-16 USA South)

Home Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weatherspoon Gymnasium

Alma Mater/Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gardner-Webb/1981

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8309

Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . campbellm@meredith.edu

judy Peel Judy Peel enters her first season as a

volunteer assistant coach. Peel also

serves as the Director of Graduate

Programs in the Department of Parks,

Recreation & Tourism Management at

N.C. State.

usa south athletic conFerence

The USA South Athletic Conference is home to 11 institu-

tions, five in Virginia, five in North Carolina and one in

Tennessee. The conference consists of Averett University,

Christopher Newport University, Ferrum College, Greensboro

College, Peace College, Shenandoah University, Method-

ist University, Mary Baldwin College, Meredith College and

North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Tennessee institu-

tion, Maryville College, entered the conference in 2005 as a

football-only member.

sPorts inFormationmedia inFormation

All inquiries about interviews, press credentials, broadcasting

requests, and other related sports information areas should be sent

to Greg Jarvis, sports information director, at jarvisgr@meredith.edu,

(919) 760-8811.

WWW.meredith.edu/athletics

Follow the Avenging Angels on Meredith’s official athletics web site

at www.meredith.edu/athletics throughout the 2009-10 season. The

site features game notes, schedules, rosters, player and coaches’

bios, game recaps and special news related to the program.

broadcastinG inFormation

The 2009-10 sports season will

feature at least 45 Meredith College

athletics events to be broadcast live

and archived on the athletics web

site. Meredith’s athletics broadcasting

team is made up of faculty member

Michael Novak and guest broadcast-

ers. All broadcasts can be found on

Meredith’s official athletics web site

at www.meredith.edu/athletics.

meredith colleGe Quick Facts

Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh, N.C.

Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1891

Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,298

Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avenging Angels

Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maroon, Black and White

Affiliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NCAA Division III

Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .USA South Athletic Conference

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Hartford

Athletics Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie Myers (Elon/1978)

Asst. Athletics Director/SID .... Greg Jarvis (Virginia Tech/1994)

Faculty Athletics Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Novak

Department Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Melton

Athletics Department Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8205

Athletics Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.meredith.edu/athletics

Mailing Address ......3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607

SID Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (919) 760-8811

SID Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jarvisgr@meredith.eduMichael Novak, “Voice of the Avenging Angels”

meredith colleGe athletics historyAthletics at Meredith

College began in 1904

with the advent of Mer-

edith’s Athletic Associa-

tion. The first competi-

tive games against other

schools were held in 1904 with two games against St. Mary’s College.

In the early years, Meredith athletic activities included swimming, soc-

cer, horseback riding, tennis, baseball, basketball, golf, football and

field hockey. The first events were primarily inter-class competitions. In

1937, Meredith became a part of the United States Conference.

In 1944, Meredith’s freshman-sophomore basketball team defeated

the team from what is now Peace College, marking the beginning of

a cross-town rivalry between the two Raleigh women’s colleges. In

1952, the basketball team and the field hockey team pulled out im-

pressive victories against the University of North Carolina and Duke.

In 1970, Meredith athletics took on a new life with the completion

of Weatherspoon Gymnasium. Volleyball and tennis saw their first

winning seasons during the 1970s. In 1980, the golf team won the

NCAIAW state championship while the tennis team took the confer-

ence title. The golf team finished second in the AIAW Division III

national tournament in 1981, in Meredith’s first bid for a national

championship. Softball was added as a varsity sport during the

1985-86 academic year. The most recent varsity sports to be added

were soccer in 1993 and cross country in 2005.

In recent years at Meredith, there has been an increase in the com-

petitiveness of the athletics programs on a regional and national level

in Division III. The program has had seven NCAA tournament bids

across three different sports since 2001 (basketball 2001, 2003;

tennis 2003, 2007, 2009; and soccer 2007, 2008). In 2007, Mer-

edith’s athletics identity became the “Avenging Angels” to emphasize

the prowess of Meredith athletes.

The 2007-08 season marked the

first year of competition in the

USA South Athletic Conference.

Meredith was the first single gender

institution to win a conference title

with both tennis and soccer tourna-

ment wins in 2008-09.

meredith colleGe athletics ProGramthe division iii exPerience

Meredith athletics teams participate in Division III of the National

Collegiate Athletic Association. Meredith College fully supports

the Division III experience that allows the student athlete to enjoy

competitive sports and other activities throughout their college

years. Division III athletics offers student-athletes the opportunity to

become well-rounded individuals who successfully integrate athletics

and academics while experiencing all aspects of college life. Division

III athletics feature athletes who can receive only academic financial

assistance and athletics departments that are staffed and funded

like any other department in the College.

academics

Meredith College’s commitment to academics is exemplified by

its athletics teams. Each year, the USA South Athletic Conference

recognizes its student-athletes’ hard work in the classroom by nam-

ing an Academic All-Conference team. A student-athlete must have

earned a 3.0 GPA in each of the two semesters of a given year to

be eligible. The athletics department also offers a special Athlet-

ics Director’s List that recognizes the athletes that receive a 3.5

each of the two semesters. During the 2008-09 season, 41.25% of

Meredith’s student athletes finished with a 3.0 or higher and 20%

received the Athletics Director’s award with a 3.5 or higher.

medical services

In addition to the academic and fitness programs available, the athletic

training staff provides excellent care for participants. The athletic train-

ing support staff consists of head athletic trainer, Sharon Malley, student

athletic trainers from the University of North Carolina and on-call physi-

cians. Some of the services and equipment provided in the Weather-

spoon Gymnasium include a whirlpool, hydrocollator, ultrasound, injury

ice and electrical stimulation. Meredith College serves as a clinical site

for the UNC-Chapel Hill Undergraduate Athletic Training Program.

strenGth and conditioninG

Strength and Conditioning Coach David Zinn, a certified personal

trainer and sports conditioning specialist, leads the program. An

instructor in the Department of Health, Exercise & Sports Science at

Meredith, Coach Zinn assists in the development and implementation

of conditioning and weight training programs for all of Meredith sports.

community service

Members from each team are elected to the Student Athlete Advisory

Committee that organizes support for each sport and also coordinates

community service. Past volunteer work includes Special Olympics of Wake

County, Habitat for Humanity, Service Raleigh, and the USA South Athletic

Conference’s Cans Across the Conference and Pennies for a Purpose.

about meredith

academics and sPecial ProGramsMeredith offers 45+ majors and concentrations. •

Meredith awards Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor •

of Music; Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Business Admin-

istration; Master of Education; Master of Arts in Teaching; and

Master of Science in Nutrition degrees.

As part of the Meredith Technology Initiative, freshmen receive a •

ThinkPad® loaded with professional and educational software to

use on Meredith’s wireless campus environment.

The Undergraduate Research Program supports student/faculty •

partnerships in the pursuit of research and creative activity in all

fields. College funds support these projects and underwrite travel

costs for students presenting their work at conferences.

Meredith recently launched a semester study abroad program in •

Sansepolcro, Italy.

Honors and Teaching Fellows programs are offered. Meredith is •

one of five private colleges participating in the N.C. Teaching Fel-

lows program.

FacultyThe undergraduate student-faculty ratio is approximately 10:1. •

The average class size is 16.

Of the 147 full-time faculty members, 90% have earned doctoral •

or terminal degrees. Sixty-seven percent of the full-time faculty is

female and 33% is male.

camPus and FacilitiesMeredith’s 225-acre campus includes a 1,200-seat amphithe-•

ater on a lake, seven residence halls, a music library, art galler-

ies, a research greenhouse, music practice rooms, auditoriums,

a theater, concert halls, a student center, computer labs, a child

care lab, a learning center, an autism lab, an astronomy observa-

tion deck, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a dance

studio, lighted tennis courts, a putting green, an athletic field

and track complex and two miles of greenway connecting our

campus to the community.

camPus liFeTotal enrollment for 2008-09 was 2,250, which included 2,001 •

undergraduate degree students and 249 graduate-level students.

One hundred non-degree students also took undergraduate courses.

Meredith sponsors juried student exhibitions, an active •

concert schedule, visiting artists and exhibitions featuring

professional artists.

Students participate in four theatre and dance performance •

troupes, three choral groups and four musical ensembles.

Meredith students advance their leadership skills in programs •

such as the Emerging Leader Seminar Series, Officer and Advi-

sor Training, Sophie Lanneau Women’s Leadership Development

Program and the LeaderShape® Institute.

tuition and Financial assistanceTuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students in 2009-10 is •

$24,490, with room and board at $7,020, for a total of $31,510.

Cost for part-time students is $640 per credit hour, with a gradu-

ated fee schedule.

In 2008–09, Meredith coordinated $38.1 million in financial aid •

for more than 1,800 students.

about raleiGhThe capital city of North Carolina has a population of more •

than 350,000

Raleigh is located 150 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean •

and 190 east of the Great Smoky Mountains

Raleigh has an annual average high of 70 degrees and •

low of 47

Raleigh is a true college town; in addition to Meredith, it •

is home to NC State University, Peace College, St. Augus-

tine’s College and Shaw University. NC Central University,

UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University are also located

within 30 minutes of Meredith’s campus.

Area sports teams include Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) Caro-•

lina Mudcats (AA baseball), Durham Bulls (AAA baseball)

and Carolina Railhawks (USL-1 soccer).

Raleigh is home to entertainment venues including the RBC •

Center, Time Warner Cable Music Pavillion and the Progress

Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Some recent artists:

Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and John Mayer.

Raleigh’s active arts scene is supported by the N.C. Muse-•

um of Art, which is connected to Meredith by a greenway

that runs through campus. Other museums include the

North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina

Museum of Natural Sciences.

2009-10 basketball schedule

* - USA South Conference Game # - Eastern Mennonite Tip-Off Classic W - Web cast on Meredith athletics web site Home Games in bold

Schedule is subject to change. Visit www.meredith.edu/athletics for up-to-date information.

3800 Hillsborough StreetRaleigh, NC 27607-5298www.meredith.edu/athletics

09-109

Date Opponent Time

November 20 Fri @ Eastern Mennonite # 8 p.m.

21 Sat vs. Va. Wesleyan # 2 p.m.

24 Tue @ Bennett 6 p.m. December 1 Tue @ Averett * 7 p.m.

3 Thu vs. Ferrum * 7 p.m. W

12 Sat vs. Chris. Newport * 4 p.m. W

January 2 Sat @ Roanoke 1:30 p.m.

6 Wed vs. Greensboro * 7 p.m. W

11 Mon @ Methodist * 7 p.m.

13 Wed @ Salem 7 p.m.

17 Sun @ Peace * 2 p.m.

20 Wed vs. N.C. Wesleyan * 7 p.m. W

23 Sat @ Mary Baldwin * 2 p.m.

Date Opponent Time

24 Sun @ Shenandoah * 2 p.m.

27 Wed vs. Methodist * 7 p.m. W

30 Sat vs. Averett * 2 p.m. W

February 3 Wed @ Greensboro * 7 p.m.

6 Sat vs. Mary Baldwin * 2 p.m. W

7 Sun vs. Shenandoah * 2 p.m. W

10 Wed vs. Peace * (Senior Night) 7 p.m. W

13 Sat @ Chris. Newport * 2 p.m.

16 Tue @ Ferrum * 7 p.m.

18 Thu vs. Salem * (PinkZone Game) 7 p.m. W

20 Sat @ N.C. Wesleyan * 2 p.m.

23 Tue USA South Quarterfinals TBD

26 Fri USA South Semifinals TBD

27 Sat USA South Finals TBD