Under legal pressure, Quinnipiac reinstates volleyball

By Jeremy Schilling

Back on March 4, Quinnipiac University announced that due to the current economic downturn, they would have to cut the men’s golf team, men’s outdoor track, and the women’s volleyball team. As a result, on April 17, the volleyball team sued the school, claiming Title IX.

This was brought up later that month at an interview school President John Lahey had with The Quinnipiac Chronicle. He denied the accusations in the suit, but said he does understand what Title IX says. He went on to say that if the courts did in fact find that Quinnipiac was in violation, they would have to act further and cut more men’s sports.

Well, in a victory for the volleyball team, that is exactly what happened. It was announced today that volleyball is being reinstated, with men’s indoor track now being cut. The following was the news release put out by John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations:

“In light of recent judicial action, Quinnipiac University will eliminate men’s indoor track in addition to the previously announced elimination of men’s golf and men’s outdoor track. The University’s women’s volleyball program will be reinstated.

“The University’s Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will immediately begin a comprehensive review of Quinnipiac’s offices of athletic compliance and the athletic director and where necessary, will make appropriate changes in the athletics department to ensure that Title IX reported participation numbers for all men’s and women’s athletic teams are accurate and adhered to by all coaches.

“During the 2009-10 year, the University will also be able to determine actual, as opposed to projected, participation numbers for its newly added women’s sport of competitive cheer.”

WQAQ Sports will continue to cover this story as it develops.

Golf finishes 9th in last tournament

By Jeremy Schilling

As the result of the announcement earlier this semester that the golf team would be cut from the Quinnipiac University Athletics department after the 2009 season, the Bobcats knew that they needed to go out with a bang, and they traveled to ChampionsGate Golf Club in Kissimmee, Fla., for the Northeast Conference Tournament to attempt to do that. They ended up with a ninth place team finish out of 11 teams and a 15^th place individual finish by Senior captain Ian O’Connor.

The team shot a three-day score 945. Sacred Heart won the team portion with an 883, followed by Central Connecticut wit 909, Long Island University with 910, Robert Morris with 915 and St. Francis (Pa.) shot a 916 to round out the top five.

Individually O’Connor got that fifth place by shooting 72 on the final day for a 54-hole team score of 227. He was followed by Jayson Loranger who had a 235, Charlie Niland with a 241, Ryan Reynolds with a 242, and Ben Cook with a 265. Central’s Eric Hawerchuk shot a 212 to win the individual competition.

So after 12 events for the 2008-2009 school year, head coach John O’Connor and his team of 10 have hit their last QU golf shots for the foreseeable future.

Bobcats continue final season with 7th place finish

By Jeremy Schilling

The Quinnipiac University Bobcats Golf team continued their final season by finishing seventh out of 10 teams at the Northeast Invitational Friday, April 17 in Providence, R.I. The Bobcats shot a combined 36-hole team score of 649. Sacred Heart won the tournament with a score of 590. They were followed by the University of Hartford with 593 and University of Rhode Island with 598.  Dartmouth and Central Connecticut State rounded out the top five.

Individually the Bobcats were led, for the second straight tournament, by Chris Connell, who shot a two-round score of 155. He was followed by Chris Gatcomb with 156, Charlie Niland with 157, Jayson Loranger with 163, Ian O’Connor with 164 and Ben Cook with 165. Ryan Reynolds shot a 36-hole score of 171.

The Bobcats next play on May 1-3 when they take part in the Northeast Conference Championship in warm Kissimmee, Fla.

Bobcats play two

By Jeremy Schilling

Last weekend, April 10-11, the Quinnipiac University golf team played at the New England Championships in Providence Rhode Island and finished eighth out of 10 teams. The team shot a combined score of 470. The tournament was supposed to be a 36-hole tournament but was cut to 27 due to bad weather. Sacred Heart won the tournament, shooting a 446, followed by Binghamton, Bryant, Rhode Island and Central Connecticut State.

Individually, the Bobcats were led by Charlie Niland who finished in 15th place with a two-day score of 114. He was followed by Ian O’Connor who shot 117. Jayson Loranger followed with 119, with Ryan Reynolds following with a 120. Ben Cook shot a 27-hole score of 125.

On Tuesday, the Bobcats played in the St. Peter’s Peacock Invitational in Neshanic, N.J. The team shot a score of 327 in difficult conditions, finishing eighth out of 15 teams. Iona College won the tournament with a score of 316. They were followed Central Connecticut State, Army, Bucknell and St. Peter’s College.

Individually the Bobcats were led by Chris Connell who finished in third place individually with a score of 75. He was followed by Loranger and Reyndols with scores of 80. Niland was next with 82 and O’Connor and Chris Gatcomb both shot 85. Cook shot 87 and Ryerson Stinson shot 88.

After the tournament, head coach John O’Connor told quinnipiacbobcats.com, “Despite the fact that Chris was a freshman walk on and did not play his sophomore year, his contributions this season have been extremely positive for this team. He has been a tremendous leader on the course and in the class room.”

The Bobcats next play on Friday, April at the Northeast Invitational in Portsmouth, R.I.

Bobcats finish middle of pack at Monmouth Invitational

By Jeremy Schilling

The Quinnipiac University Bobcats Men’s Golf Team finished six out of the 12 teams that participated in the Monmouth Hawk Invitational on March 21-22. They shot a two-day combined team score of 614. Sacred Heart won the Invitational with a team score of 590. They were followed by Lafayette, Bucknell, Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth.

Individually, the Bobcats were led by Ian O’Connor, who finished 14th in the individual competition by carding a 36-hole total of 151. Pat Fillian won it with a two-day total of 139. Back to the Bobcats – O’Connor was followed by Jayson Loranger who shot a 151, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Gatcomb who both shot 2-day scores of 157.

The Bobcats’ season continues next at the New England Championships, held in Providence, R.I., on April 10-11.

Bobcats finish 21st at season-opening GWU Invitational

By Jeremy Schilling

The Quinnipiac University Bobcats golf team began its final season at the George Washington Invitational March 20 and 21 with a 21st place finish. Held at the Bear Trap Dunes Golf Course in Bethany Beach, Del., the Bobcats shot a 36-hole team score of 678. The team victor was the University of Rhode Island who shot a combined score of 601. They were followed by Longwood University, the University of Pennsylvania, Skidmore College and the University of Delaware to round out the top five.

Individually, the Bobcats were led by Jayson Loranger, who shot a 36-hole score of 168 for a 72nd place finish. They were followed by captain Ian O’Connor with a 168, Ryan Reynolds who shot 169, Ben Cook who finished with a 172, and Ryerson Stinson who finished with a 181. They all chased Justin Martinson of Delaware, who shot a 145 to win the individual tournament.

Quinnipiac returns to action March 28 and 29 when they participate in the Monmouth University Hawk Invitational in Littlestown, Pa.

‘Bobcatch II’ makes SportsCenter

By Jeremy Schilling

Quinnipiac Bobcats baseball player Brian Monack’s diving catch in the Bobcats’ 30-10 loss to the College of Charleston earlier this week was voted SportsCenter’s No. 1 Play in the Top 10 Plays last night.  Monack also had a No. 1 play last year when he robbed a home run and fell over the wall.

Here’s the video from SportsCenter. (Note, it needs Quicktime to successfully show.)

Three sports to be discontinued

By Jeremy Schilling

The recession has officially hit Quinnipiac Athletics.  Men’s golf, men’s outdoor track and women’s volleyball will be cut by the end of the spring semester. The following is the posting on MyQ from Vice President for Public Affairs Lynn Bushnell:

“As part of the University’s budget deliberations for next year and beyond, three of its NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic programs – men’s golf, men’s outdoor track and women’s volleyball – will be discontinued effective at the end of the 2008-09 academic year.  At the same time the cheerleading program will be elevated to a competitive, varsity status.

All athletics programs were reviewed within the context of conference, NCAA and federal guidelines. The review considered projected cost savings, facility and scheduling issues, gender equity and programs’ competitive aspirations.

“It was an extremely difficult decision. A variety of scenarios were explored to continue to provide gender-equitable and competitive opportunities for the greatest number of male and female student-athletes in these fiscally challenging times,” said Jack McDonald, director of athletics and recreation. “The student-athletes, coaches and staff associated with all of the affected programs have continually represented Quinnipiac in the highest manner possible, both on and off the field of competition. We will, of course, honor existing scholarship agreements with those student-athletes affected by the changes and who choose to remain at Quinnipiac.”

These athletics budget reductions are in addition to previously announced decisions to freeze senior management salaries, freeze, and in some cases, eliminate a number of planned faculty and administrative searches, and to reduce virtually all operating budgets by 5%.  A broader salary freeze for all administrators and faculty also is under consideration.”

Stay with WQAQ Sports for more on this developing story.

Feldeine named NEC Player of the Week

Photo Credit: QuinnipiacBobcats.com

By Jeremy Schilling

Quinnipiac junior guard James Feldeine was named the Northeast Conference Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. This is the first time Feldeine has received this honor in his career at Quinnipiac.  Feldeine recorded his second double-double of the season and third of his career in Saturday’s victory over Wagner.  He scored 19 points and recorded 10 rebounds.

For the season, the leading scorer on the Bobcats (5-3, 2-0 NEC) is averaging 16.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, both ranking in the top 10 in the conference. In addition, he is shooting just over 46 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line, both good for top 15 rankings in the conference.

The Bobcats return to action when on Wednesday, when they travel to Hanover, N.H., to take on the Dartmouth Big Green.  The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.