2014-2015 Media Guide

2014-2015 Media Guide

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 season of Lady Lakehawks Volleyball. Coach Belarmino has brought together a talented group of newcomers to join our returning veterans. We will have an exciting team that is fun to watch. Our program, under the guidance of long-time Athletic Director Mike Matulia, has a proud history of developing young student -athletes to reach their potential and fielding teams that are competitive on the court or field. What sets us apart, though, is our focus on helping our players excel in the areas of character, scholarship and service as well. As testimony to this commitment we can point to the numerous honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for achievement in the classroom. Our college was one of a select number of colleges to have all of its athletic teams named NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Finalists (GPA 3.0+). We had NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards, Chris Blanton, Taylor Douglass, Milica Golubovic, Sam Thomas and Breann VanderZyl and 23 others who received State Academic Honors as well. A special point of pride is Chris Blanton, a baseball player and most decorated Lakehawk in our history. Chris received the FCSAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year and then went on to become just the fourth Floridian to receive the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award in 2014! We congratulate the students, their coaches, faculty and advisors for their outstanding performance. LSSC provides a quality learning environment thanks to our talented and dedicated faculty and staff. We were once again selected as being in the Top Ten Percent of all Community Colleges in the nation and therefore invited to apply for the prestigious Aspen Prize. Our Learning Center was recognized as the National Learning Center of the Year for its innovative and effective service to large numbers of our students. Over the past five years, two of our faculty have been named Professor of the Year by the Association of Florida Colleges. Our students are well prepared for success after graduation whether they pursue further education or enter their chosen career. We appreciate the financial assistance of our sponsors and benefactors who help us make quality education and programs available for our students. Go Lady Lakehawks! Find us on the web at: www.lssc.edu/athletics Beginning his eighteenth year as Athletic Director, Mr. Matulia anticipates another successful 2014-2015 athletic year for the entire Lake-Sumter State College Athletic program. The 2014 volleyball campaign, under head coach, Jennifer Belarmino should begin this season with anticipated excitement for the fans and new adventures for the players! This year, the Lakehawk volleyball program will be faced with new challenges within conference play, with the addition of Santa Fe College as a new volleyball program. The Lady Lakehawks will begin the fall season with many new faces and the challenge of replacing some of the 2013 sophomores, including All-Conference performer, Samantha Spring and NJCAA Superior Academic Excellence Award recipient, Milica Golubovic; also missing will be the leadership from Heidi Cote and Katrina Lathi. Coach Belarmino will look for leadership from the returning players that include: Emily Smith, Katie Wickery, Nyasia Dunlap, Madyson Maxwell, Ashton Furnas, and Kelsey Showalter. With a group of highly talented new players, including: transfer Carol Kiam-Assato, Coach Belarmino is optimistic that the Lakehawks will compete in the tough Mid-Florida Conference. Coach Belarmino has worked hard to bring together her program, with valuable off-season conditioning and the recruitment of players that fit into her plan for a successful 2014 campaign. Coach Belarmino begins her second season, bringing a wealth of volleyball knowledge and a philosophy to lead the Lakehawk volleyball program to a successful future. The Lakehawk Athletic program was again represented with a strong contingency of All-Academic performers during the 2013-2014 year. Graduating players, Milica Golubovic, Samantha Palmer, and Samantha Spring, were named to the FCSAA All-State Academic team, this past spring. Milica Golubovic, Samantha Palmer, Samantha Spring, Katrina Lathi, Madyson Maxwell, Kelsey Showalter, Emily Smith, and Katelyn Wickery, were all named to the Mid-Florida All- Academic Team. In addition to the success of the volleyball team, both on and off the court; the LSSC athletic program placed five student-athletes on the NJCAA Academic Awards team, twenty-three (23) members on the FCSAA All-Academic Team and a total of thirty -four (34) members on the Mid-Florida Conference All-Academic Team. We welcome all the LSSC fans and supporters to another exciting year of Lakehawk Athletics and hope that the 2014 volleyball season will begin the success that should be enjoyed during this athletic year.

Jennifer Belarmino begins her second season as the head coach for LSSC. She served previously as the Head Volleyball Coach at West Virginia University Institute of Technology. During her tenure at WVU Tech she became the winningest coach in the school's history. She has also been an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of South Alabama. She was the co-director of Gulf Coast Select Volleyball Club and has coached juniors volleyball for many years as well. Many of her former players have gone on to play collegiately including: Florida State, Northwestern, Auburn, and many others. Coach Jennifer Belarmino (formally Jennifer Cook) is from Wilmington, OH. She had a stellar prep career at Wilmington High School and played collegiate volleyball as a right side hitter for the University of Illinois and Ball State University. Coach Belarmino graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She is married to assistant coach Brian Belarmino and they have 3 children Alexis, Brady, and Brooke. Morgan Maxwell joins the Lake-Sumter State College Volleyball Staff after having an accomplished career at St. Johns River State College. The Keystone Heights High School graduate, while at SJRSC, was ranked nationally for blocking. Morgan's responsibilities at LSSC include training the blockers, recruiting, and working camps throughout the year. Morgan will also be working on her Bachelor's Degree this year at LSSC. Brian Belarmino returns for his second year as an assistant to Jennifer Belarmino after serving as the Head Coach during the 2012 season. He came to Lake-Sumter State College after serving as the top assistant at West Virginia Institute of Technology. He has been an assistant coach at the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama, and Middle Tennessee State University. He has also served as a head varsity high school coach and has coached junior volleyball for many years. He was a co-director of Gulf Coast Select Volleyball Club, a member of USA Volleyball based out of Niceville, FL. Coach Belarmino has had many student-athletes continue on and play at all levels of collegiate volleyball. Coach Belarmino is from Pensacola, FL and graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Physical Education. LSSC DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman - Mr. Timothy Morris, Vice Chairman -Mr. Richard Bowersox Mr. Scott Blankenship - Ms. Marcia Butler - Ms. Kelly Flores - Mr. Bret Jones - Ms. Emily Lee - Mr. Kelly Rice - Mr. Peter Wahl Dr. Charles R. Mojock, LSSC President Anita Geraci-Carver, Esq., Board Attorney

#1 Shirin Rajaee Fr. - DS Orlando, FL #3 Katie Wickery RS-Fr. - OH Baker, FL #5 Emily Ledoux Fr. - S Mount Dora, FL #6 Kelsey Showalter So. - S Leesburg, FL #12 Nicole Peace Fr. - MH Auburndale, FL #13 Carol Kiam-Assato So. - DS Sao Paulo, BR #15 Nyasia Dunlap So. - MH Deltona, FL #17 Kylie Irvin Fr. - OH Hinsdale, IL

#7 Mekenzie Bennett Fr. - OH Leesburg, FL #8 Shaniah Irvin Fr. - MH Orlando, FL #9 Ashton Furnas RS-Fr. - OH Leesburg, FL #11 Madyson Maxwell So. - OH Keystone Heights, FL #20 Michaela Steele Fr. - S Melbourne, FL #23 Emily Smith So. - S Melbourne, FL #31 Jade Laun Fr. - DS Clermont, FL

# Name Class Pos. Ht. Hometown/ Previous School 1 Shirin Rajaee FR. DS 5 4 Orlando, FL / Lake Nona HS 3 Katie Wickery RS-FR. OH 5 8 Baker, FL / Baker HS 5 Emily Ledoux FR. S 5 6 Mount Dora, FL / Mount Dora HS 6 Kelsey Showalter SO. S 5 7 Leesburg, FL / Tavares HS 7 Mekenzie Bennett FR. OH 6 0 Leesburg, FL / Leesburg HS 8 Shaniah Irvin FR. MH 5 8 Orlando, FL / Wekiva HS 9 Ashton Furnas RS-FR. OH 5 9 Leesburg, FL / Tavares HS 11 Madyson Maxwell SO. OH 6 0 Keystone Heights, FL / Keystone Heights HS 12 Nicole Peace FR. MH 6 1 Auburndale, FL / Auburndale HS 13 Carol Kiam Assato SO. DS 5 3 Sao Paulo, BR / Doctors Charter School 15 Nyasia Dunlap SO. MH 6 0 Deltona, FL / Pine Ridge HS 17 Kylie Irvin FR. OH 6 1 Hinsdale, IL / Hinsdale Central HS 20 Michaela Steele FR. S 5 0 Rockledge, FL / Edgewood HS 23 Emily Smith SO. S 5 6 Melbourne, FL / Eau Gallie HS 31 Jade Laun FR. DS 5 2 Clermont, FL / Foundation Academy

All Mid-Florida Conference Team 2nd team Samantha Spring Middle Hitter NJCAA Superior Academic Achievement Milica Golubovic FCSAA All-Academic Team Milica Golubovic Katrina Lathi Nikolina Nikolic Kelsey Showalter Emily Smith Samantha Spring Katelyn Wickery Mid-Florida Conference All-Academic Team Milica Golubovic Katrina Lathi Madyson Maxwell Nikolina Nikolic Samantha Palmer Kelsey Showalter Emily Smith Samantha Spring Katelyn Wickery Mariah Zirkelbach Emily Baty Lake-Sumter State College 9501 US Highway 441 Leesburg, FL 34788 Tel: 352-323-3645 Fax: 352-323-3646 Website: www.lssc.edu Media Guide Printed by Ford Press, Leesburg, FL

Date Opponent Location Time August Sat. 16th Alumni Game (Scrimmage) Leesburg, FL 1:00 PM Sat. 23rd Fri. 29th- 30th Conference Matches in BOLD LSSC Tri-Match with Gulf Coast State and Eastern Leesburg, FL 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM Florida State Florida St. College of Jacksonville Tournament Jacksonville, FL TBA September Thurs. 4th Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FL 7 PM (EST) Fri. 5th-6th Pensacola State Tournament Pensacola, FL TBA Tues. 9th Trinity College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 11th Polk State College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Fri. 12th Indian River State College Tri Match Ft. Pierce, FL 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM Thurs. 18th Clearwater Christian College Clearwater, FL 7:00 PM Tues. 23rd Florida State College at Jacksonville Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 25th College of Central Florida Ocala, FL 7:00 PM Fri. 26th Gulf Coast State College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Tues. 30th St. Johns River State College Palatka, FL 7:00 PM October Thurs. 2nd Santa Fe College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Fri. 3rd Trinity College Trinity, FL 6:00 PM Tues. 7th Daytona State College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 9th Florida State College-Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL 7:00 PM Sat. 11th Tri Match with Pasco-Hernando & Indian River Leesburg, FL 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM State Tues. 14th College of Central Florida Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 16th St. Johns River State College Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Fri. 17-18th LSSC Tournament Leesburg, FL TBA Tues. 21st Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 23rd Daytona State College Daytona, FL 7:00 PM Fri. 31st Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FL 1:00 PM November Mon. 3rd Webber International University JV (Sophomore Night) Leesburg, FL 7:00 PM Thurs. 6th- 8th NJCAA Region 8 Tournament Jacksonville, FL TBA