Easley gets attention from The Sporting News

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on October 14, 2007 2:22 AM

• Print
• Email

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive guard Kendrick Easley has been selected a preseason All-American honorable mention candidate for 2007-08 by The Sporting News.

A 6-foot-1 sophomore from Norfolk, Va., Easley was the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference freshman of the year in 2006-07. He averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Easley tallied a team-leading 21 points against Millersville (Pa.) University in the opening round of the 2007 NCAA Division II East Regional.

He collected a season-best 25 points against Lees-McRae and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against Queens in the CVAC tournament semifinals.

Named to the 2006-07 Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll for earning a grade point average over 3.00 last year, Easley continues a tradition of athletics accolades in his family. His father, Kenny, garnered NFL All-Pro honors during his career as a safety for the Seattle Seahawks.

Meanwhile, the Trojan men's basketball was listed among the "others to watch" in The Sporting News preseason top 10 poll. They tip off their 2007-08 campaign with two nationally-ranked teams making appearances in the 42nd annual Pickle Classic at Kornegay Arena

The Trojans oppose in-state member Wingate University, ranked No. 5 in the Division II top 25. They face West Virginia State, an Elite 8 semifinalist in 2007, on the second night. WVSU is ranked No. 8 by The Sporting News and stands No. 17 overall in the Division II top 25.

Trojans split twinbill

DUE WEST, S.C. -- Jackie Jimenez tallied the game-tying goal in the 30th minute as Mount Olive dueled Erskine to a 1-1 draw in a Conference Carolinas women's soccer match Saturday afternoon.

The Flying Fleet's Amanda Tinker, who collected the game's first goal, nearly scored the game winner as time expired.

Mount Olive (5-6-3 overall) wound up with its third tie in league play and exited with a 3-1-3 Conference Carolinas record. Erskine (3-8-1) picked up its first tie in seven conference matches and departed 2-4-1.

Trojan goalie Ali O'Steen had four saves.

Mount Olive substituted freely throughout the 110-minute battle, while Erskine's starting lineup played the entire match without substituting.

On the men's side, Erskine collected two second-half goals and prevailed 3-0. The Flying Fleet got goals from Franz Destin, Ryan Voskuil and Seamus Shevlino.

The Trojans, who returned to the regional poll this week, managed six shots on goal.

Mitchell leds MOC

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Sam Mitchell recorded 21 kills and Alicia Mote posted a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs as Mount Olive defeated Converse 30-19, 19-30, 30-24, 30-25 in a Conference Carolinas women's volleyball match.

Mallory Peavler came within two digs of matching her career high, leading the Trojan defense with 29 digs.

The win boosted Mount Olive to 13-10 overall and 9-3 in Conference Carolinas play. The Trojans moved within a half-game out of the conference lead, pending Friday's other results.

-- MOC and Erskine Sports Information