Tuesday, September 02, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Jacksonville senior Sara Bendorf powered the Dolphins to a weekend tournament title at the Holiday Inn Invitational hosted by Georgia Southern with three double-doubles, and on Tuesday the conference office rewarded her with her second career Player of the Week honor.

The outside hitter helped the Dolphins to their best start since 2000 as she tallied three consecutive double-doubles to earn all-Holiday Inn Tournament honors while leading JU to the tournament title. Against UCF, she tallied 21 kills, 10 digs and a .190 (21-10-58) hitting percentage as the Dolphins fell to the Knights, 3-2, in day one. Against Presbyterian, Bendorf led the squad to its first win of 2008 with a match-high 15 kills and 10 digs while also tallying three blocks. In the tournament finale against host Georgia Southern, she finished with a match-high 18 kills and 10 digs while also tallying two blocks and a .292 (18-4- 48) hitting percentage. For the weekend, Bendorf led the squad with 54 kills and 4.15 kills per set while ranking second with a .233 hitting percentage and third with 30 digs and a 2.31 digs per set average.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Rebecca Orzechowicz, Stetson (Sr. – OH – Miami, Fla. – Psychology) – Orzechowicz reached the 900-kill mark for her career in Saturday night's tournament finale against Florida State.

Claire Tucker, Mercer (Sr. – L – New Orleans, La. – Business) – In Mercer's unprecedented victory over SEC member Auburn, Tucker anchored the team with 15 digs, adding three assists and notching a service ace. Tucker was named to the War Eagle Invitational All-Tournament team for her performance over the weekend.

Amanda Youell, ETSU (Jr. – S – Middleburg, Fla. – Radiography) – Youell led the Bucs to a 3-2 comeback win over High Point in the ECU Tournament recording her first triple double.

Alex Kelly, Lipscomb (So. – MB – Park Hill, Kan. – Undecided) – Kelly's kill total was the match-high in all three matches in looses to Western Illinois (3-2), Indiana St. (3-2) and host Morehead St. (3-1) in the Comfort inn and Suites Classic Friday and Saturday.

A-Sun Weekly Notes

The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles enter perhaps their most challenging tournament in school history this weekend. They open up with AVCA Preseason #23 New Mexico State and face Utah and Houston while in the New Mexico State Tournament. Utah is also receiving votes in the top 25 poll. NMSU fell out of the poll but is still receiving votes.

The Lipscomb Lady Bisons will face No. 15-ranked Middle Tennessee Friday afternoon in Murfreesboro in the Blue Raider Bash. Also on the schedule Friday is a match with Loyola-Marymount followed by Florida International Saturday.

Jacksonville junior libero Shelley Walroth broke her own single-season digs record at JU with 672 last year and is now set to destroy the overall record with two full seasons remaining in her career. Along with the single season record, Walroth surpassed Julie Heipp - 1,324 (1991-94) on the career digs list with 25 digs against Georgia Southern to give her 1,328 for her career.