Hi! I'm Tim LaDuca, the director of athletic communications here at Lynchburg! We'll get this blog out to you once a week, usually every Thursday, recapping past events and getting you ready for the upcoming slate of games for the Hornets. We break each blog up by sport and include teams that are playing games within the next seven days, so feel free to skip around to your favorite team, or read the whole thing. We've got as much Lynchburg Sports coverage as you need!

Major Tallent won the school's first national championship in 1986. After Tallent's triple jump performance, 12 years went by before Joe Bedard won the decathlon national championship in 1998. That started a four-year span in which the Lynchburg men's indoor and outdoor track & field teams won five national championships from the 4x400-meter relay, to the long jump, to the 400-meter dash, to the 400-meter hurdles. Could this be the start of another national-championship run for the Lynchburg track & field teams...it certainly feels like it.

Tom Sippie won a national championship in the 400m at the indoor championships in 2014 to break up the longest drought between track national championships (13 years), but then it was another 10 years until the Hornets won another event in track & field. The most recent championship from Frank Csorba, Jacob Hodnett, Sam Llaneza, and Chasen Hunt represents years of hard work and meticulous program building from the team's coaches. Csorba, Hodnett, Llaneza, and Hunt did the honors of bringing the ninth event-national championship back to the Hill City after winning the distance medley relay at this year's NCAA 2024 Division III indoor track & field national championships. Read the full story on their historic performance here, written by Evan Gates '26 and Sam Graham '24. 

Less than a week after winning a national championship in the DMR and earning six All-America awards, the Lynchburg men's and women's track & field teams shed the "indoor" designation and replaced it with "outdoor" as the Hornets split up and head to two different outdoor meets beginning on Friday. Some will be in Georgia for the Emory Spring Break Classic, and others are at the home of the NCAA 2024 Division III outdoor track & field championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. 

Just because it's early in the season, don't look past these early meets. Frank Csorba earned his indoor 3,000-meter qualification in November just a few weeks after being an All-American at the cross country championships. Some athletes could put up impressive times or marks in the first (outdoor) meet of the year. 

The Lynchburg women's lacrosse team's attacker Sydney Dumas is off to a flying start this season. Following a strong foundational season in which Dumas led Lynchburg's squad in goals, the now-sophomore is stepping her game up once again. Dumas has netted three goals or more in the Hornets opening five games this season. She leads the team in goals with 18, the second-highest total in the ODAC this season. However, Dumas' talents go beyond her ability to find the back of the net. She often facilitates offensive play, finding her teammates with decisive passes. Dumas showcases her versatility in the attack, having garnered the most assists on the squad so far.

The Hornets faced Piedmont in their last game, with Dumas giving perhaps her best showing yet. She recorded a career-best eight points, scoring and assisting four each as Lynchburg secured a 19-7 victory. Lynchburg's win marked a pivotal first road victory for the squad, with several standout players throughout the game. McKenna Steinau continued her recent run of form, scoring five to take her tally to 13 on the season.

Lynchburg (3-2) returns to Shellenberger for their next match, hosting Messiah (0-6) at noon on Thursday, March 14. The Hornets will be eager to continue their strong run of form at home, and key performances from the likes of Dumas and Steinau could well make the difference. Messiah started the season ranked 15th in the country, but has lost all six of its games so far including a one-goal loss to Shenandoah and blowout loss to Roanoke.

[written by Kyle Hoehne] After two more victories at Moon Field Tuesday afternoon, the Lynchburg softball team is off to its best start to a season since 2018. The Hornets are undefeated at 8-0 after beating The Pride 1-0 and 11-3 earlier this week. Stiffer tests are yet to come, but Lynchburg has passed the early season exams with flying colors. Top pupils include Sarah Watts, who has been scorching pitching in the last four games (10-12 with three home runs, and four doubles), and the solid one-two pitching punch of Kailey Dorcsis and Emily Charlton. Those two stars in the circle are a combined 7-0 and with two saves. Together, they've collected 53 wins in their careers on Lakeside Drive. This 2024 edition of the Lynchburg Hornets features great contributions from seasoned campaigners like Lexi Powell, Carly Hudnall, Kaliegh Hackett, Bri Hodges, Addison Walter (and others) to go along with fresh faces Jessica Strickland and Hailey Martin providing pop on the lineup. And the softball professor holding the chalk at the blackboard? None other than Dawn Simmons. In her 24th year and closing in on 700 wins (698 at the time of this writing), Coach Simmons continues to coach with passion and enthusiasm of a rookie head coach. After Friday's two wins over a talented Pacific Lutheran squad, Coach Simmons told director of athletic communications Tim LaDuca and myself she wasn't thinking much about getting to the 700-win plateau. She was more focused on lineup combinations, pitching possibilities, and getting her team to be more flexible and adjustable in their game plans. Her direction, along with a coaching staff that Coach Simmons said is "more like family than anything" seems to be pushing all the buttons early for a Lynchburg Hornets softball squad that is ready to learn, ready to compete, and on track to big things the rest of 2024.

The Lynchburg beach volleyball team returned home from Texas with two more wins on its ledger. While the Hornets lost their three other matches, one defeat was at the hands of Hendrix, the defending national champion, and one was from a Division-I opponent, Nicholls. Against Hendrix, the Hornets only lost two sets by more than four points. While there is usually no consolation in losing, since you have to win by two in a beach volleyball set, it is worth noting that four sets were decided by the minimum amount of points. Three sets went extra points and all went Hendrix's way…the Hornets are excited to get another crack at the Warriors two weekends from now. Until then, the Hornets play Catawba twice this weekend in NCAA play and get Sandhills Community College and Gaston in exhibitions. 

The Lynchburg IHSA equestrian team competes at Hollins for its eighth and final show before IHSA regionals. The Hornets will be in Roanoke, Va. for Hollins' show, a competition they placed sixth in earlier in the academic year. It was actually Lynchburg's first IHSA show of the season back in October, and Alexandria Russell brought home the only blue ribbon of the day with a win in limit flat. Russell has since won limit flat two more times and most recently competed in intermediate flat. 

Elle Nutting won a blue ribbon for the Hornets in intermediate fences last time out while Zoey Horn placed second in the event. She also placed third in intermediate flat. 

[written by Sam Graham '24] If defense wins championships, the Lynchburg men's lacrosse team may be building towards a championship. The backfield unit has stolen the show, giving up 9.3 goals per game through the first four contests: 2.5 less than last year's average against non-conference foes. Tyler Hadley is coming off his best game of the season to anchor the Lynchburg defense, making 14 saves and stopping 77.8% of shots faced in Sunday's win over No. 19 Denison. Only one goal got by him in the second half for a Lynchburg team that has been its best in the fourth quarter. They have held opponents to two total goals in the past three outings during the final 15 minutes and are giving up 1.5 goals per game in the final period.

Lynchburg's four goals allowed in the game against Denison were the fewest against a ranked opponent since holding No. 4 Stevenson to three in March 2012. (I was in fourth grade that year. I am a senior in college as I write this.) Lynchburg has won 43 straight games when holding opponents to less than 10 and is 53-2 since the start of the 2019 season. In front of Hadley, the Hornets have caused 40 turnovers for an average of 10 per game. That is 2.3 more than a season ago. Look for the defense to be on display in Owing Mills, Md. as the Hornets take on Stevenson and Hamilton on Friday, March 15 and Saturday March 16 in the Mustang Classic. 

Evan wrote the following baseball blurb a few hours before the Lynchburg baseball team beat Pfeiffer 23-1. I'm sure if he waited until after the game, he would have chosen to write about the offense a little more than the pitching…but his piece here is still well-written and informative! But we have to mention, the Hornets scored 15 runs in the second inning alone against Pfeiffer. The first 17 batters reached base safely in the inning…our inning-by-inning data is not easily accessible after 2014, but in the past 10 years AT LEAST, the Hornets have never scored 15 runs in an inning. As Brady Moore, the director of baseball analytics, texted me on Wednesday during the 15-run inning, "Man that North Carolina water good for our bats."

[written by Evan Gates '26] No one excluded the baseball world from celebrating Pi Day. 

The Hornets boast 10 wins heading into Saturday's home double-header against Roanoke; nine pitchers already secured a win for the Hornets. Safe to say everyone earned a slice in the opening weeks of competition.

On one hand, relievers should be expected to contribute heavily during these dense stretches of the schedule. Lynchburg played five games in four days after the Wittenberg series became a Tuesday double-header with two seven-inning matchups. Even the coaching staff shared some chuckles when picking a starting pitcher for the second game. Between injuries and inning production from the weekend, Lynchburg's bench seemed decimated. But Trent Judd delivered. Seven underclassmen pitched during the home stretch. At a time when many skippers must determine who belongs in the starting rotation, head coach Travis Beazley can fine tune his deep pitching staff. Bullpen reps this early in the season can help facilitate big-time moments in early May. Many would argue the question is not if, but when the Hornets see the difference on the scoreboard.  

Lynchburg's ERA was the staple point of last season's success; though bruised and battle-tested, this bullpen might be the exclamation point come the postseason…and that's with only getting one appearance out of its All-American closer Jack Bachmore so far. 

The day before we release next week's blog, Claire Galloway will have already competed in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA 2024 Division III swimming & diving championships representing the Lynchburg women's swimming team. Her keynote event isn't until Friday, March 22, so we'll have time to discuss Galloway's upcoming 100-yard breaststroke race in more detail ahead of prelims at 10 a.m. So look for that in next week's blog, but until then, check out this feature story I wrote on Galloway's swimming career before we found out she was invited to nationals if you haven't already. 

Galloway looks back on her five-year swimming career at Lynchburg

And enjoy looking through this week's headlines! Find them all below: 

Men's track & field places seventh at national championship; women boast three second-team All-Americans 3/9/2024 | Track & Field Virginia Beach, Va. -- University of Lynchburg men's indoor track & field junior Sam Llaneza and sophomore Chasen Hunt earned first-team All-American awards on Day 2 of the NCAA 2024 Division III indoor track & field championships Saturday.

Mega signs professional contract with Maryland Bobcats FC 3/13/2024 | Men's Soccer Boyds, Md. -- Former University of Lynchburg men's soccer player Luke Mega signed a professional contract with the Maryland Bobcats FC on Thursday.

Softball off to best start since 2018 3/12/2024 | Softball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg softball team swept Greensboro for the first time since 2018 on Tuesday afternoon and improved to 8-0 for the first time in six seasons.

No. 15 baseball scores 15 in second inning, downs Pfeiffer 23-1 3/13/2024 | Baseball | Box Score Misenhiemer, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg baseball team defeated Pfeiffer 23-1 in seven innings on Wednesday evening.

Men's tennis blanks Oswego 3/13/2024 | Men's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- The University of Lynchburg men's tennis team cruised past Oswego 9-0 on Wednesday afternoon.

Women's tennis falls in penultimate spring break match 3/13/2024 | Women's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- The University of Lynchburg women's tennis team fell 9-0 against Saint Mary's (Ind.) on Wednesday morning.

Llaneza, Reed earn regional awards 3/13/2024 | Track & Field New Orleans, La. -- University of Lynchburg men's indoor track & field graduate student Sam Llaneza was named the regional track athlete of the year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches of America on March 6. Llaneza's coach, Jake Reed, was named the men's assistant coach of the year in the south region.

No. 15 baseball run rules Greensboro 3/12/2024 | Baseball | Box Score High Point, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg baseball team took down Greensboro 12-1 in seven innings on Tuesday afternoon.

Women's golf kicks off spring season in Savannah 3/12/2024 | Women's Golf Savannah, Ga. -- University of Lynchburg women's golf senior Emily Brubaker tied for eighth at the Savannah Invitational on Tuesday.

Women's tennis falls to Asbury (Ky.) 3/11/2024 | Women's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- The University of Lynchburg women's tennis team fell 9-0 to Asbury (Ky.) on Monday.

Men's tennis loses first match of the season 3/11/2024 | Men's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- The University of Lynchburg men's tennis team lost its first match of the year to Asbury (Ky.) 8-1 on Monday afternoon.

No. 4 men's golf ties for 11th in North Carolina 3/11/2024 | Men's Golf Pinehurst, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg men's golf team tied with Hampden-Sydney and Wittenberg for 11th in the Tiger Invite at Forest Creek on Monday.

Women's lacrosse gets eight points from Dumas in road win 3/11/2024 | Women's Lacrosse | Box Score Demorest, Ga. -- The University of Lynchburg women's lacrosse team earned its third double-digit win of the season on Monday afternoon with a 19-7 win over Piedmont.

Watts' perfect day at the plate earns her ODAC player of the week honors 3/11/2024 | Softball Forest, Va. -- University of Lynchburg softball sophomore Sarah Watts was selected as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's player of the week announced Monday.

No. 12 baseball splits first ODAC double-header 3/10/2024 | Baseball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Bridgewater, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg baseball team split its Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener with Bridgewater on Sunday afternoon.

Women's tennis falls to St. Mary's (Md.) 3/10/2024 | Women's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, Sc. -- The University of Lynchburg women's tennis team fell to St. Mary 7-2 Sunday afternoon.

Men's tennis extends win streak to four 3/10/2024 | Men's Tennis | Box Score Hilton Head Island, Sc. -- The University of Lynchburg men's tennis team defeated St. Mary 7-2 Sunday afternoon.

No. 13 men's lacrosse stifles No. 19 Denison 3/10/2024 | Men's Lacrosse | Box Score Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's lacrosse team improved to 2-0 at home this season after a 13-4 victory over No. 19 Denison Sunday afternoon in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament third round game.

Beach volleyball grabs two wins in Texas 3/9/2024 | Women's Beach Volleyball Belton, Texas -- The University of Lynchburg beach volleyball team won two of its five matches over the weekend on the campus of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Hornets took down Oklahoma Wesleyan 5-0 on Friday and Southwest Baptist 3-2 on Saturday.

Softball sweeps Pacific Lutheran 3/8/2024 | Softball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg softball team swept Pacific Lurtheran Friday afternoon. The Hornets shut out the Lutes 3-0 in Game 1 and walked it off in Game 2 for a 4-3 win.

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--LYN--