2007 Headlines

Crusaders come back in critical CCC match to defeat Leopards in 5, 3-2.

October 16th, 2007. Quincy, MA. The Crusaders came out strong in game one, but still fell by 4 points, 30-26, in a close game one.  Game two was a different story though as the Crusader's tremendous 30-26 effort brought the match even at one game a piece. In a pivotal game three, the Leopards recaptured the lead again winning 30-27.  Up two games to one, the Leopards felt they had the match in hand, but a grueling effort from the Crusaders in games four and five signaled the second conference win of the season for the young team. This keeps their hopes alive for post season play in the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs as three more CCC games remain.

Junior Captain Christina Ludwick (Meredith, NH/ Laconia Christian) had 38 assists over the course of the match while setting up Eastern Nazarene’s big hitters. Freshman Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, MD/Watkins Mill) smashed 27 kills (in 54 attempts) to help the Crusaders efforts.

Eastern Nazarene stays at home to battle Babson College at 7:00 pm Thursday, October 18th for their next match.

-Contributing writer David Dickerson
 

Crusader Rookie takes TCCC honors in Week #7

October 15th, 2007.  Boston, MA.  Crusader volleyball player Cassandra Auguste recognized in The Commonwealth Coast Conference for last weeks outstanding play.   

TCCC Rookie of the Week – Eastern Nazarene College freshman Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, Md.) posted double-digit kills in three of her team’s four matches last week as the Crusaders compiled a 2-2 weekly record. She recorded 18 kills and nine digs in a win over Lasell, added 10 kills and eight digs in a win over Newbury and posted 12 kills and six digs in a tough loss to UMass-Boston. For the week, Auguste averaged 3.29 kills and 1.86 digs per game.

Crusaders split weekend tri-match...top Clark, fall to RIC.

Providence, RI.  October 6th, 2007.  Although Clark made each game close, Eastern Nazarene kept the Cougars off the scoreboard once again, winning 3-0 (32-30, 30-28, 32-30). Freshman middle blocker Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, MD) led the Crusaders with 19 kills. Junior setter Christina Ludwick (Meredith, NH) dished out 24 assists, while freshman outside hitter Allison Aupperlee (Quincy, MA) posted 19 digs.  
     
Then in match two, the Crusaders were swept by Rhode Island College,
3-0 (30-24, 30-25, 30-13). Junior outside hitter Janna Fernandes (Taunton, MA) and freshman middle blocker Amber Burns (Fall River, MA) led the Crusaders with five kills a piece. Ludwick registered 16 assists.
     
In upcoming action, Eastern Nazarene hosts Endicott College on Oct. 9th, 2007.

Eastern Nazarene Sweeps Lesley University

October 2, 2007. Quincy, MA. From the first serve, the Crusaders dominated the Lynx on both sides of the court. Amber Burns FR/MB (Fall River, MA/Durfee High) tallied 10 kills on 29 attempts proving to be a dominant force to be reckoned with, while Darlene Richardson JR/MB (Baltimore, MD/Arlington Baptist High) dominated the Lynx front court with 7 blocks over the course of the match.

The Crusaders took a commanding lead, only allowing 33 points over the course of the first two games. In game three, the Lynx challenged the Crusaders point for point, but the Crusaders finally took over, to record the sweep with a 30-24 game three victory. The Crusaders appear to have come out of a tough stretch where they had lost seven games in a row. Tonight’s dominating effort, coupled with their five-game match victory over Regis College last Saturday, may be evidence of a reversal of fortunes as they stride to get back to .500.

Eastern Nazarene travels to play Mt. Ida at 6:00 pm Thursday, October 4th for their next match.
 

Eastern Nazarene digs out 3-2 win over CCC Regis. 

September 29, 2007. Natick, MA. Ending what was a seven game winless streak, the Crusaders picked up a much needed win over the Pride, fellow Commonwealth Coast Conference member.

Eastern Nazarene loses momentum and match, falls 3-2 to Simmons. 

September 21, 2007. Quincy, MA. Up by two games to none, the Crusaders let game three slip through their hands and never regained control of the match.  The Sharks would win three straight games to take the match and improve to 4-3, while the Crusaders slip to 3-7.   Freshman/MB Amber Burns (Fall River, MA/Durfee) led the Crusaders by contributing 9 kills in 22 attempts and having 7 blocks over the contest.

The Crusaders experienced their 6th straight loss and have the weekend to regroup and get ready for an important TCCC match next week verses Roger Williams at 7:00 pm Wednesday, September 26th.

-Contributing Writer David Dickerson and Tom Newell

Eastern Nazarene ties Saints in point total, but falls in match.

September 20th, 2007. Quincy, MA. With the two teams scoring the same amount of points over the course of the match, the Saints would walk away with the win.  The Crusaders (3-6) battled the Saints (2-7) point for point down to the wire as the home side fell 15-12 in the fifth and final game.  After falling in the first game 30-28, the Crusaders won game two by the same score.  The largest point difference in the match came in game three as the Crusaders won 30-25, but the Saints battled back to win game four 30-28, and then take game five, thus each team scoring 128 points.

The Crusaders were led by FR/MB Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, MD/Watkins Mill) who tallied 20 kills in 52 attempts, 15 digs, and 8 blocks over the five game stretch. Feeding Auguste was JR/OH captain Christina Ludwick (Meredith, NH/Laconia Christian) who recorded 36 assists in the match.

Eastern Nazarene is at home to face Simmons College at 7:00 pm Friday, September 21st for their next match and Emmanuel College travels to MIT to take on Connecticut College in the MIT invitational on Friday, September 21st at 6:00 pm.
 

-Contributing Writer David Dickerson and Tom Newell

Eastern Nazarene falls to Univ. of New England in three straight.

September 18^th, 2007.  BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Crusaders suffered for the fourth time in a row as they lost to Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent University of New England tonight falling to 3-5, 0-3 in the CCC. 

The Nor'easters would get off to a strong start, winning the first game by a score of 30-16.  They would continued to surge in the second--taking a 30-18 decision--before the Crusaders would finally test the home side, 30-26 in the third game. 

Cassandra Auguste '11 (Montgomery Village, Md.) led the way for ENC with eight kills and five blocks.  Christina Ludwick '09 (Meredith, N.H.) handed out 16 assists, while Allison Aupperlee '10 (Quincy, Mass.) dug out 17 balls.

Eastern Nazarene hosts Emmanuel College on Thursday, September 20th at 7:00 pm.

Crusaders take TCCC honors in Week #2

September 10th, 2007.  Boston, MA.  Two Lady Crusader volleyball players garnered "The Commonwealth Coast Conference" Rookie and Libero of the Week honors with their outstanding performances in week two of the season. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Eastern Nazarene College freshman middle blocker Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, Md.) excelled on both sides of the net, averaging 2.92 kills, 5.4 digs and 0.83 blocks per game, as the Crusaders compiled an impressive 2-1 weekly record. She fell one kill shy of collecting three double-doubles, chalking up 14 digs and nine kills in a sweep of UMass-Dartmouth, 19 digs and 11 kills in a four-game win over Pine Manor and a sensational 32 digs and 15 kills in a tough five-game loss to Wheaton (7-1).

LIBERO OF THE WEEK – Eastern Nazarene College sophomore Allison Auperlee (Quincy, Mass.) was all over the floor in three matches, averaging 8.58 digs and helping Eastern Nazarene post a 2-1 weekly mark. She opened the week with 28 digs in a sweep of UMass-Dartmouth and 25 digs in a 3-1 win over Pine Manor. Auperlee ended the week with a career-high 50 digs in a tough five-game loss to Wheaton (7-1).

September 4^th, 2007.  Quincy, MA.  Eastern Nazarene (1-0) jumps to 3-0 victory in season opener vs. U/Mass-Dartmouth (0-1).

Trailing by six , 17-11, the Crusaders refocused their efforts and battled back in game two to win 32-30, thus taking a 2-0 lead in the best of five volleyball match.  The Eastern Nazarene student body showed up in force at the Lahue PE Center cheering the team through the final five points of game two in playoff like intensity.  With the crowd behind them, the Crusaders went on to win the match straight out as they took the third and final game 30-26 to clinch the victory.

Crusaders SO/OH Allison Aupperlee (Quincy, MA) played strong defensively and FR/MB Cassandra Auguste (Montgomery Village, MD) contributed well on both sides of the ball. 

Crusader Coach Mike Johnston is pleased with the win tonight but knows the team will need to grow together and stronger to make a solid run for the CCC playoffs this season.  He highlights, “we will need to be more consistent in serving and passing to be effective against the top CCC teams.”

Eastern Nazarene heads toward their next match this weekend in a tri-match with Pine Manor and Wheaton College at Pine Manor College, first serve at 10:00 am. 

 Go Crusaders!!!

 2007 Season Preview: 

A good blend of experience and youth.

September 1st, 2007.  Quincy, MA.  The 2007 Crusader Volleyball team comes into the season ready to improve on the last two season’s 15-16 records.  Coach Michael Johnston is focusing on a stronger “team” mentality this year and aims to develop a better offensive scheme to win the close games and improve the programs level of play.

Johnston notes that, "co-captains JR/S Christina Ludwick and JR/OH Rebekah Sorensen, have made it a point to push themselves, and the team, to be their best and ready to deliver when the time comes."  The team will be returning four out of six starters from last season and adding seven freshman who will help fill the void in the middle of the court.  With the experience of the returning players and this new crop of young athletic talent, Johnston believes, "we are going to have a successful season and go past the last two seasons CCC Quarterfinal Playoff experiences.”  

This kind of recipe has worked well before, why not again!

November 4, 2006.  Boston, MA.  Picking up where she left off.

Eastern Nazarene's Amber Crow finishes off career with Honors.

Senior Amber Crow was voted on to the Commonwealth Coast Conference 1st Team by the coaches in the CCC this week.  Amber finishes off her final season as a Crusader having been apart of the CCC All Conference Teams for three consecutive years and in 2004 earning Player of the Year honors.

Her confident and quiet spirit led the Crusaders to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2006 CCC Playoffs before finishing her last game as a Crusader.

Congratulations to Amber for her efforts and this honor!

October 31, 2006.   Lady Crusaders bumped, set and served out of playoffs on Halloween.