The 2013 cross country season was a big step for the program in the third season under the direction of Coach Jason Lewkowicz.  Both the men and the women improved throughout the fall, with both taking high finishes at the ODAC Championship and improving their regional finish over last season.   (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) also qualified for nationals, becoming the first female to run on the big stage since 2002.

Field hockey gets back to the playoffs in 2013

The EMU field hockey team worked their way back to the ODAC Tournament in 2013 after a one-year absence and landed three women on the All-ODAC teams.

The Royals finished fifth in the crowded Old Dominion Athletic Conference standings, but lost 2-1 in overtime at Bridgewater in their ODAC Quarterfinal game.  All of Eastern Mennonite’s wins came in conference play, as the women finished 4-4 in the ODAC and 4-15 overall with a tough non-conference schedule.  It was also a year of feast-or-famine, as the Royals averaged 4.0 goals per game in their wins, but scored a total of six goals in their 15 losses.

A season of near misses for men’s soccer

The men’s soccer season was bookended with wins in 2013.  The middle of the campaign, however, displayed the parity of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, as the Royals suffered five one-goal losses, including two in overtime, and were denied a return trip to the ODAC Tournament.

“It was a season of near misses,” said Coach Roger Mast after his 23rd season at his alma mater, “from losing by a goal to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the conference to finishing one spot out of making the conference tournament.  There is so much parity amongst our conference opponents and a fine line between success and failure, and wins and losses. It’s a good life lesson learned.”

EMU’s soccer women are back

The EMU soccer women made a bold statement in 2013 – we’re back!  With just one senior on the team, the Royals ended a two-year postseason drought by returning to the ODAC Tournament and posted a winning record for the first time since 2008.

Eastern Mennonite’s women started the season 6-1, outscoring their opponents 22-5.  Despite close losses to some of the ODAC’s top teams, injuries started to wear on the limited depth of the roster by the end of the season.

Year of rebirth for women’s volleyball

Despite replacing three of their top four hitters from the previous season, EMU’s volleyball women had a season full of new life in 2013.  The Royals tied their best winning percentage since 2003 and broke a long ODAC losing skid.

In Coach Jeff Tyson’s second year at the helm, Eastern Mennonite had a pair of three-match winning streaks and was 9-9 on Oct. 4.  But injuries to two of the team’s top three hitters, as well as the starting setter, torpedoed their final record, which settled at 9-18.

The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

The Lady Royals had a cumulative GPA of 3.34. EMU was the only school from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to earn the award.

“Excellence doesn’t happen by accident, either on the court or in the classroom,” said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. “It takes consistent preparation, relentless effort, and determined leadership. A full year of academic achievement, by an entire team of individual students, is a remarkable achievement. What better way to start a new season than with a celebration of an award so emblematic of all that is necessary for sustained success.”

The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA’s fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-01 season, the number of recipients has increased every single year but one, while amassing an overall 300% increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award’s inception in 1993, the amount of award winners has increased from 62 to its current number of 622.

In Coach Jeff Tyson’s first year, Eastern Mennonite finished 4-19 in 2012. They host the six-team EMU Invitational to open the 2013 campaign on Aug. 30 and 31.

The women have 11 home matches on their 24-match slate, including hosting tradition ODAC powers Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon.  EMU welcomes in the Generals for the home opener on Sept. 11, and takes on the Yellow Jackets one week later on Sept. 18.  The two teams finished first and second, respectively, in the ODAC standings last fall, with R-MC winning the postseason tournament.

The Lady Royals also get their biggest rival in Yoder Arena this year, with Bridgewater College coming in on Sept. 29.  That contest will be the first match of a tri-match with non-conference opponent North Carolina Wesleyan, and is the second of two tri-matches.  Emory & Henry and Southern Virginia visit on Sept. 15 in the other.

As part of EMU’s Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 13, the women take on Lancaster Bible.  Other home contests include: Guilford, Ferrum, Roanoke and Mary Washington.  The date with the Eagles closes the regular season on Oct. 27.

Eastern Mennonite opens the season at St. Vincent College’s invite, the Bearcat Challenge, in Latrobe, PA.  The young women will play four matches over Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Last fall EMU finished 7-20 with just one senior on the team.  Newly hired head coach Jeff Tyson will be looking to end a four-year drought in qualifying for the ODAC Tournament.

He will become the EMU program’s ninth head coach when he officially starts on July 1, replacing interim Lauren Reznik.  The Lady Royals finished 7-20 last fall with a roster featuring just two upperclassmen.

Eastern Mennonite Director of Athletics said Tyson was the right pick to lead the program.

“Jeff’s experiences as an assistant coach at Indiana Wesleyan have prepared him well for the head coach position at EMU and I’m sure he will continue the building process for our women’s volleyball program,” explained King.  “The strengths he brings in recruiting strategies and use of social media, along with his ability to analyze player development and game strategy should help us increase roster size and develop confidence in young players.”

Tyson, a native of Elizabethtown, PA, felt both appreciative and well-fitted for this position.

“Thank you to EMU and the search committee for their belief in me and for their commitment to developing the entire student-athlete,” he said.  “I am excited to work for an institution that is committed to athletic excellence as well as holistic student-athlete growth.  I look forward to leading a passionate and dedicated group of athletes as we look to embark upon the journey of success together.”

During his seven seasons as a coach or manager with NAIA Indiana Wesleyan, Tyson was involved in all facets of running a successful program, from recruiting and public relations to weight and individual skill training.  The Wildcats compiled a record of 108-66 in his four years as an assistant, including three campaigns with a winning percentage .643 or higher.

King pointed to that experience as a strength for Tyson.

“Having been both a player and coach, Jeff brings a thorough understanding of the game and what it takes to create a winning program,” said King.  “I believe that his approach to player recruitment and development will produce immediate results in key areas of the women’s program.”

Tyson graduated cum laude from IWU and added a Master’s Degree from Ball State University in physical education with a coaching specialization.  King said his personal character has stood out wherever he has been.

“I know that Jeff is looking forward to working in a place where he can integrate his faith with coaching and I believe that he will be a good fit for our situation,” King explained.  “Jeff is a person of high integrity and character, has a strong work ethic and will always put the team first.”

Heading into his first collegiate head coaching job, Tyson is looking forward to starting with the basics and giving EMU fans something fun to watch.

“I am passionate about developing teams that focus on the fundamentals and the details of the game of volleyball on both offense and defense,” he said.  “When fans come to a match they can expect to watch an exciting volleyball match with a cohesive team that plays hard and hustles for every point.”

Jeff and his wife Ruth will move to Harrisonburg in June.  The Lady Royals open their 2012 season on the road on August 31, with the full schedule to be released later this summer.