Lynchburg Weekly Sports Blog – University of Lynchburg

Welcome to the Lynchburg Sports Weekly Blog, where we will give updates recapping past events and getting you ready for the upcoming slate of games on the Hornets’ schedule. We’ll get this blog out to you once a week, usually every Thursday, and keep you in the loop on all things Lynchburg athletics. 

The Lynchburg athletic department announced its 2024 Lynchburg Sports Hall of Fame class earlier this week. This year’s inductees include the 2024 NCEA Championship Equestrian Team, the 2024 Track & Field Distance Medley Relay Team, Sam Llaneza’s 1,500-Meter Run National Championship, Frank Csorba, Michael Releford, Kevin Reinecke, Joe Lisicky, Brittany Klippstein, Rachel Sadowski, Bill Bodine, Chip Berry, and Chip Childress. Click here to read more about the Hall of Fame class and homecoming weekend this October.

The Hornets hosted the first Code Red game of the year when women’s volleyball welcomed Randolph-Macon to Turner Gym. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, with hundreds of students yelling at the top of their lungs and sporting the color red to support the Lynchburg volleyball team. Just the first of many incredible Code Red events to come this year. The field hockey squad is off to a rolling start, earning a spot in the top 10 of the national NCAA Division III rankings for the first time since 2015! Plenty to look forward to for the rest of the fall season and more!

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After kicking off the season to an impressive 4-1 start, the Lynchburg women’s volleyball team entered this week with a difficult three-game stretch. Last weekend, Lynchburg traveled to Fredericksburg for two matches against top-30 opponents, #24 Mary Washington (5-3) and Gettysburg (5-0). While Lynchburg fell in both matches, the Hornets kept both games extremely competitive and showcased phenomenal toughness. The Hornets opened up their regular season schedule with a match vs. Randolph Macon in the first Code Red match of the 2024 season. After dropping the first two sets, the Hornets mounted an impressive comeback to force five sets. While Lynchburg fell 15-12 in the final set, the team displayed phenomenal adversity and skill. “From the time we started the season to where we are now, we’ve progressed really really far and that’s exciting to watch,” said Head Coach Kevin Cardoza, “The team has shown they’re gritty, they’re competitive, and they work hard. We’re never out of any match we play.” The Hornets will take the court once again in Turner Gymnasium this weekend as they host the Hill City Classic. Lynchburg will face Greensboro and William Peace on Friday and North Carolina Wesleyan and LaGrange on Saturday.

The Lynchburg field hockey squad has begun their 2024 campaign in spectacular fashion. After starting the season ranked 13 in the nation for Division III, Lynchburg clocked in at 10 overall in the polls this week. The Hornets’ rise in rankings was largely due to their first two home games, outscoring their opponents 7-1. Danny Coon lead the way for the Hornets in their first two affairs, tallying three goals of her own. This week, Lynchburg maintained its model of success, with a shutout victory on the road vs. Mary Washington. Freshman forward, Jill Plieter scored both of the Hornet goals during the second and third quarter in a 2-0 victory. Lynchburg continues its road trip this weekend, traveling to Collegeville and Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. On Saturday, the Hornets will take the field vs. #18 Ursinus (3-0) and Sunday against #22 Bryn Mawr (3-1). The Hornets look to sustain their high-octane offense, which has provided nine goals off four assists, along with a tenacious defensive attack in their two biggest road tests of the year. Following this weekend’s matchup, the Hornets will have two more games in Pennsylvania next weekend as well, concluding their longest stretch of games away from home during the regular season.

Tonight’s sole competition for Lynchburg sports will be the Lynchburg men’s soccer team, taking on William Peace on the home turf at 7 p.m. If you see this in time, be sure to come out to Shellenberger and show your support! Following tonight’s matchup, the Hornets host again when they welcome Catholic on Saturday, September 21 at 2 p.m. Last weekend, the men’s soccer crew competed in the John P. Salamone Invitational, hosted by Oglethorpe University. After dropping the first match to Emory, the Hornets came away with a draw against the hosts of the tournament, the Stormy Petrels. In the young season of just three matches, Lynchburg has two draws and one loss, searching for the first victory of the season. Tonight’s matchup presents a great opportunity to put a tally in the win column. Be sure to come out and cheer on the team!

The Lynchburg women’s soccer team visited Roanoke College this past weekend in Salem, Va. for the Roanoke Classic, where they faced heavyweights No. 18 Hardin-Simmons and No. 17 Johns Hopkins. The Hornets battled in both matchups but ultimately fell short, being edged out by the cowgirls 3-2 and losing to the Blue Jays 4-1. Still, the women’s soccer squad is undeterred, looking to bounce back against Marymount for their first home match of the season. Lynchburg will square off against the Saints on Shellenberger Field at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 14. After the home bout, the Hornets have just two more nonconference contests before heading into ODAC play for the remainder of the season. 

Can’t get enough of Lynchburg Sports? Here are some of the most recent headlines from Lynchburg athletics:

Hornets Take Randolph-Macon to Five Sets in a Thriller 9/11/2024 | Women’s Volleyball The Lynchburg women’s volleyball team opened up their home schedule with a match vs. Randolph-Macon (5-2) in front of a Code Red crowd. In a back-and-forth affair, Lynchburg fell in five sets, 3-2.

Field Hockey Climbs Into National Top 10 9/10/2024 | Field Hockey The University of Lynchburg field hockey team earned a spot in the top 10 of the NCAA Division III Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll for the first week of rankings, released on Tuesday morning.

Visit Lynchburg athletics’ home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

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–LYN–