Benson’s Transition To Volleyball Paid Off

Coming in as a freshman cross country runner from Hurley, Carly Benson never had any thoughts about playing college volleyball.

“I never had intentions of playing college volleyball,” Benson said. I had considered other sports, but never volleyball.”

That changed at the end of her running season as now senior setter Abby Haiar approached Benson and asked her to talk with Lancer volleyball coach Tracey Grotenhuis.

Benson made the switch in the fall semester of her sophomore year and began playing as the Lancers libero.

Benson entered a young team and helped them to improve throughout her two years on the team.

Benson considered her transition to the volleyball team like joining a new family.

“The girls on and off the court are like family to me and it is awesome to have that kind of support behind you,” Benson said. “I have really enjoyed the team aspect and love the girls I play with.”

Benson had a solid year on the court. She played 128 of 129 games and led the team with 546 digs. She directed the passing to help set up the Lancers offensive attack.

Her performance was good enough to make her an All-GPAC Honerable Mention libero.

Although Benson is only considered a sophomore in volleyball eligibility, she is a junior academically.Next year will be Benson’s last year with the Lancers as she graduates in May 2010.

Matthew Mayer Returns to Mount Marty

Matthew Mayer, solo pianist and songwriter, played again this year at Mount Marty. He performed in Marian Auditorium on November 21.

His fingers seem to fly over the keys!

Photos by Theresa Condon

Pete Good Visits Mount Marty

Singer/songerwriter Pete Good played in the Cyber Cafe on Wednesday, November 19. Here, Pete (left) sings one of his songs while Isaiah James sings and plays backup. Isaiah is from the band Liquid Thin.

Photo by Theresa Condon

Chatting With The Coaches: Men's Basketball

Playing Against Coach Meyer

BY SCOTT MORRISON

The Lancers men’s basketball team will be in the presence of collegiate basketball greatness on Tuesday.

They travel to Aberdeen to play against Northern State University and their legendary coach Don Meyer.

Meyer is currently second on the NCAA Career Men’s College Basketball Wins list, just behind former coach Bob Knight. Meyer entered the season with 889 wins, behind Knight’s 902 wins.

Playing against Meyer and his NSU team could prove to be a valuable experience for the Lancers.

Not only will they play against one of the most successful coaches in college history, they play against a man who is currently battling some major obstacles.

On his way to an annual hunting trip on September 5th, Meyer was in a traumatic car accident in which he was severely injured.

Meyer was hospitalized with fractured ribs and fractured bones in his lower leg. However, that wasn’t the worst. Meyer was diagnosed with cancer.

While performing emergency surgery, doctors found slow growing carcinoid cancer. Meyer is currently rehabilitating his injuries and the cancer.

Lancers of the Month

Men’s Athletes of the Month:
Dave Mueller and Derek Otton

As freshmen, Mueller, a defender, and Otton, a goalkeeper, earned All-Conference Honorable Mention status for the soccer team.

Otten allowed only 31 goals and made 161 saves on the year.

Women’s Athletes of the Month:
April Dolezal and Lauren Donlin

Dolezal and Dolin both earned All-GPAC Honorable Mention for their roles on the women’s soccer team.

Dolezal (So.) was the team captain for the lancers. She switched from defender, to midfielder, to goalie throughout the season.

Donlin (Jr.) was by far the team leader in points with 8 (7 goals, 1 assist). Donlin scored the game-winning goal in the team’s only win.

The Beacoms: Family Of The Year

Growing up as one of 14 siblings, Lindsay Beacom’s father could not afford to go to college. So, he vowed that his children would all have the opportunity that he missed out on.

Now, all five of his children have taken at least some type of college courses. However, Mount Marty College has been the popular choice.

By the time that now freshman Courtney Beacom graduates, the Beacoms will have had a member of the family enrolled at MMC since 2004.

Not only have they been present in the college setting, but they have had their fair share of extra-curricular activities as well.

The Beacoms, from Lyons, Neb., have had three siblings attend the college while playing some type of athletic sport.

Using an academics first mindset, the Beacom siblings have successfully balanced academics and athletics.

This starts with Corey, a 4-year letterman in baseball, who graduated in May 2008 with an Accounting degree.

Corey received NAIA Academic All-American both his junior and senior years.

Lindsay, a volleyball letterman, received the award as a junior and is set to earn the award again. She is expected to graduate in May 2009 with and History and Secondary Education degrees with and a coaching endorsement.

And now, Courtney, a freshman on the Track and Field team, is expected to graduate Spring 2012. She is taking classes on her way to degrees in both Elementary Education and Special Education.

Because of the academic success that both Corey and Lindsay have had, the expectations are high for Courtney. However, this is nothing new for any member of the Beacom family.

“My parents have always made us put academics before sports,” Lindsay said. “All five of us kids played sports year-round. But, grades came first.

Lindsay is the only one of the three who will attend at least one year with both siblings. She said that her experience was made easy by having her brother to help.

“It has been a wonderful experience attending college with my brother and sister,” Lindsay said. “Our family has always been really close, and it was nice to have my big brother here when I started out school.”

Now she hopes that she can help Courtney during her first year.

“I’m trying to make Courtney’s transition a good one now, too,” Lindsay said. “I think people worry that they won’t be able to make a name for themselves at college if they follow their brother or sister, but I have found that is an easy thing to do at Mount Marty.”

Blue and Gold Days

The Lancer basketball programs take on Black Hills opponents for Blue and Gold Days in their home openers this weekend.

This begins on Friday night as the Lancers take on Black Hills State University on Friday night at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

This continues against South Dakota School of Mines and Technology at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

On the women’s side, the Lancers face two teams that received NAIA Division II recognition in the preseason polls.

BHSU (2-0) is ranked 18th in the preseason polls and defeated Dordt College (71-57) and Dana College (65-55).

SDSM&T (1-1) received ten votes which would rank the 33rd in the nation. They fell to Dana College (60-54) and defeated Dordt (63-59) last weekend.

Coach Tom Schlimgen says that the most important part of preparing for this weekend’s games is going to be just playing their game.

“We know that we have big challenges this weekend, but right now our biggest concern is us.” Schlimgen said.

After defeating Johnson and Wales University (Colo) 81-34, they started off on the right foot.

However, it is going to take a stronger effort to do well this weekend.

“Offensively, we just need to great better with our execution and our spacing to see improvement,” Schlimgen said.

Schlimgen hopes that his team can keep expanding on the offensive side of the court to help with production.

"Offensively we need to expand on some of the things we do to give us more options,” Schlimgen said.

This weekend could prove to be the first glimpse on what the Lancers need to do to improve.

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Halloween Dance

The Halloween Dance was held in the Bistro on November 1. Here, Ben Puthoff dressed as Julius Caesar.

Catrina Ellis and Paige Linden were ninjas for the dance, complete with swords and knives.

There were many different costumes at the dance. Here, April Dolezal was an old lady, Abby Dickes was a cop, Sara Haase was a cowgirl, and Steph Schultz was a nerd.

Photos by Theresa Condon