Returning experienced players on all Emory sports teams at the start of spring semester are putting expectations of winning games and championships within reach.
Softball
Head coach Penny Siqueiros begins her 16th season at the helm of the softball program with an experienced cast that looks to nail down its fifth straight UAA title and fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles return 14 letter winners from last year's squad that had an overall record of 42-5, the second-winningest season in school annals. Senior Amanda Kardys headlines the pitching corps after posting a 25-5 won-lost record that led to her earning Third Team All-America honors. Senior first baseman Megan Light (pictured) is coming off a big year, hitting .408 with a school-record 12 home runs en route to First Team All-America acclaim. Senior center fielder Lauren Gorodetsky heads up a strong outfield contingent after hitting at a .315 clip and stealing 23 bases in 2013.
Men's Tennis
The men's tennis team, a perennial power in Division III, promises to continue to be a major force in 2014 with considerable experience in the lineup. Head coach John Browning returns five of the six members of last year's regular singles playing group including juniors Eric Halpern, Ian Wagner (pictured) and Alex Ruderman. Halpern enjoyed a strong fall season, capturing the ITA Regional singles crown. The sophomore tandem of Rafe Moestick and Will Adams are the other returning singles veterans with Mosetick tying Wagner for the team lead with 21 wins last season.
Golf
Head coach John Sjoberg and his squad aim for a repeat of last year's success that saw the Eagles post the program's best performance ever with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Leading the team's efforts will be senior Johnathan Chen and junior Alex Wunderlich (pictured), both of whom captured Third Team All-America acclaim in 2013. Wunderlich averaged a team-best 75.2 strokes per round while Chen was a close second at 75.4 strokes. The senior duo of Will Roth and Alec Berens should be mainstays in the lineup after seeing extensive action last season.
Baseball
The baseball team will carry a veteran squad into the 2014 campaign, as the team aims for a return to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles graduated just one member from last year's team, which finished the season with an overall record of 22-17 and will return 11 position players who started at least 10 games, and six pitchers who made double-digit appearances. Leading the way for the Eagles' pitchers will be all-South Region starter Connor Dillman (pictured), 2013 UAA Rookie of the Year Paul Merolla, and all-UAA closer Graham Bloomsmith, while all-UAA outfielders Brandon Hannon, Wes Peacock and Daniel Iturrey, and all-UAA shortstop Jared Kahn will look to pace Emory's offense.
Women's Tennis
Coming off a second-place finish at last year's NCAA Championships, the women's tennis team is primed for another run at the national title in 2014. Ranked second in the ITA Preseason Poll, the Eagles will be returning 10 members from last year's team, including former National Singles Champion Gabrielle Clark (pictured) and NCAA Singles Tournament qualifier Beatrice Rosen. The Eagles' lineup will also be boosted by a large and talented incoming class, including Michelle Satterfield, who won the USTA/ITA Fall National Singles Championship earlier in the year, and transfer Rebecca Siegler, who teamed with Satterfield to win the USTA/ITA Regional Fall Doubles Title.
Women's Outdoor Track and Field
The women's outdoor track and field team will be looking to build on the success of last year's squad, entering their 2014 campaign. The Eagles finished tied for 16th at the 2013 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, and claimed their fourth consecutive University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship last season. Leading the list of returners for Emory is junior all-American sprinter Debora Adjibaba, who became the first Emory athlete to win back-to-back UAA Outdoor Runner of the Year honors last season. Other returning NCAA Championship participants include senior hurdler Morgan Monroe (pictured), junior sprinter Electra Korn, junior sprinter Pollara Cobb and sophomore mid-distance runner Julie Williamson.
Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Returning the majority of the team's contributing athletes from the 2013 season, the men's outdoor track and field team will look to take strides forward in 2014. After finishing fourth at last year's University Athletic Association (UAA) Outdoor Championships, the Eagles will be returning a pair of conference event winners – senior Mike Moserowitz, who won the triple jump, and sophomore Adam Rabushka, (pictured) who claimed a victory in the 400-meter hurdles. Other returning all-UAA finishers from last season include senior Brandon Bassell, junior James Bassen, sophomore Maxwell Hoberman, senior Samuel Jean-Baptiste, sophomore Spencer Koh, and junior Ankush Mohile.
Visit www.emoryathletics.com for schedules, stats and more.