Author: truex

#1 Sharks Face Miles to Begin NCAA Tournament

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks journey to Evansville (In.) begins in earnest on Saturday evening, as the NCAA South Region Tournament is set to begin. The top-ranked Sharks – and No. 1 overall seed – host the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champion, eighth-seeded Miles (AL.).  

HOW THEY GOT HERE 

No. 1 Nova Southeastern won the program’s second consecutive Sunshine State regular season and tournament crown. The Sharks (30-0) enter the NCAA Tournament with an undefeated record for the second consecutive year.  

The Sharks are led by D2CCA South Region and Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, RJ Sunahara. The junior is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals this season. Will Yoakum has also been superb for SSC Coach of the Year Jim Crutchfield‘s squad, averaging 18.9 points and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 59% from the field.  

Miles, the SIAC Champions, make a return trip to Fort Lauderdale, as the Golden Bears were the fifth-seed during the 2021-22 NCAA South Region Tournament. Miles went 23-6 during the 2022-23 campaign and enters the national tournament winners in their last six contests, including winning their third SIAC title under Head Coach Fred Watson.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP 

The matchup pits two contrasting styles of play against each other, the high-speed and high-scoring offense of the No. 1 Sharks and the physical, methodical defense of the Golden Bears. No. 1 Nova Southeastern leads NCAA Division II in scoring (103.8), scoring margin (26.8) and is second in assists-per-game (22). On the other hand, Miles ranks fourth in DII in scoring defense, allowing an average of 58.8 points-per-game.  

Yoakum, the SSC Tournament Most Valuable Player, enters the NCAA Tournament playing some of his best basketball. The senior averaged 23 points, 5.7 rebounds and shot 61% from the field during the No. 1 Sharks run to the program’s second consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament title.  

Dallas Graziani will need to continue playing at a high level for the Sharks to make a national title run. The guard played exceptionally well during his first taste of tournament basketball, scoring 15.3 points-per-game, 8-assists, and recorded 10 total steals during the SSC Tournament.  

No. 1 Nova Southeastern is 1-0 all-time against Miles – won 80-66 during the 2018-19 NCAA National tournament. The Sharks entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the South Region that season, as well.  

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL 

DIVISION II MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKET 

HOW TO WATCH 

The top-ranked Sharks tip-off against Miles from the Rick Case Arena in the third game of the NCAA South Region Tournament. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. 

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Sunahara, Yoakum named to D2CCA All-Region Team

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – The Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-South Region teams were announced on Friday afternoon. RJ Sunahara, the junior forward for the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks, was honored as the South Region Player of the Year and also earned his second career D2CCA All-Region First-Team selection. Sunahara is joined on the First-Team by Will Yoakum.  

The D2CCA South Region teams were selected by NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors from institutions and conference offices in the South Region, made up of Gulf South Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Sunshine State Conference.  

Sunahara follows in former teammates Sekou Sylla’s footsteps, winning both the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and South Region Player of the Year in the same season. No. 1 Nova Southeastern (30-0), following winning back-to-back Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, has advanced to the NCAA National Tournament unbeaten for the second consecutive year. The forward is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals for SSC Coach of the Year Jim Crutchfield.  

Yoakum, in his first season at Nova Southeastern, has joined the top-ranked Sharks and elevated both his game and the program. The senior guard is one of two Sharks to start all 30 games for NSU, and is averaging 18.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and is shooting 59% from the field.  

Player of the Year 

RJ Sunahara (Nova Southeastern) 6-8 Junior Forward Bay Village, Ohio 

First Team
RJ Sunahara^ (Nova Southeastern) 6-8 Junior Forward Bay Village, Ohio
Will Yoakum (Nova Southeastern) 6-5 Senior Guard/Forward Delaware, Ohio
Chaney Johnson^ (Alabama Huntsville) 6-7 Sophomore Guard Alabaster, Ala.
Jadin Booth (Florida Southern) 6-2 Sophomore Guard Omaha, Neb.
Tylandrius Parks (Union) 6-5 Senior Guard Pocahontas, Tenn. 

Second Team
Michael Zabetakis (West Georgia) 6-5 Senior Guard Cumming, Ga.
Shardarrion Allen (West Alabama) 6-4 Senior Forward Bolton, Miss.
K.J. Doucet (Fort Valley State) 6-7 Sophomore Forward Austell, Ga.
E.J. Dambreville (Florida Southern 6-3 Senior Guard Dorchester, Mass.
Sean Houpt (Florida Tech) 6-4 Senior Guard Danville, Ill. 

^-2021-22 first-team All-South Region Pick  

No. 1 Nova Southeastern is set to begin the NCAA South Region Tournament against eighth-seed Miles on Saturday, March 11, from the Rick Case Arena. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. 

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NSU Takes on Eckerd to Begin NCAA Tournament

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 7 seeded Nova Southeastern Women’s Basketball team kicks off the NCAA Tournament against the second-seeded Eckerd Tritons on Friday afternoon. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP  

The Sharks dropped the previous two matches against the Tritons this season, falling 83-93 in an overtime thriller at the Rick Case Arena, and 63-80 in an SSC matchup on the road. In the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, NSU fell in the first round against Florida Southern, and Eckerd dropped their semifinal matchup against Lynn.  

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, having led NSU to four elite eight appearances in the past decade. Which included three straight South Region titles during that span.  

On the other side, this is the Tritons seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with this being their sixth straight trip to the big dance.  

WHAT TO WATCH  

  • All-SSC First Team, All-SSC Newcomer Team, and All-South Region second team member Madison Frederick will spearhead the Sharks. Frederick averages 17.4 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, and 5.1 assists per game. In game one against the Tritons, the Ohio native finished with 31 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. 

  • Hailey Conley will be the difference maker for NSU, Conley is second on the team in points per game and is second in the league with 61 three-pointers made. 

  • Sofia Persson and Maya Price will lead the Tritons, averaging 17.4 and 15.1 points per game respectively. Both athletes were also named to the All-SSC first team. 

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL 

UPCOMING 
The opening round of the NCAA Tournament between the No. 7 seeded Sharks and second-seeded Eckerd is set to tip-off from the Bob Martinez Center at 2:30 p.m, in Tampa, Fla.

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NSU Swimming Continues Strong Performance at NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – After three days at the NCAA National Championships, the No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern Women’s Swimming team continues their strong performance, adding three more national titles and bringing their total to seven for the meet. Thomas Flower earned the first national championship of his career, taking home the 200-yard freestyle crown.
 

Flower

May Lowy won the first individual national title of her career on Thursday, winning the 400-individual medley with a time of 4:13.80. Savanna Best placed third in the event, recording a time of 4:17.07.
 

Lowy

Emilia Ronningdal won her second individual NCAA national championship, claiming the crown in the 200-freestyle in 1:47.11. Emily Trieschmann finished third in the event, narrowly behind Ronningdal, posting a time of 1:47.88.
 

Ronningdal

The top-ranked Sharks women’s team closed their Thursday performance by winning the 400-medley relay, as Mollie Morfelt, Best, Sasha Maslova, and Ronningdal earned their second relay national championship of the meet, recording a time of 3:38.34.
 

Ronningdal, Morfelt, Best, Maslvoa

Steven Aimable earned a second-place finish in the 100-butterfly, posting a time of 46.11. Nova Southeastern’s men’s swimming team moved back into the top-10, jumping three spots and sits in ninth-place.

INSIDE THE MEET
Events – 100-butterfly, 400-IM, 200-free, 400-medley relay
Locations – IUPUI Natatorium | Indianapolis, IN.

STANDINGS – Women’s

  1. Nova Southeastern – 300.5
  2. Indy – 227
  3. Drury – 178.5
  4. Colorado Mesa – 150
  5. Lynn – 130
  6. West Chester – 118
  7. Carson-Newman – 93
  8. Wingate – 88
  9. Henderson St. – 78
  10. West Florida – 77

STANDINGS – Men’s

  1. Indy – 254.5
  2. McKendree – 197.5
  3. Drury – 189
  4. Tampa – 167
  5. Colorado Mesa – 156.5
  6. Findlay – 135
  7. Grand Valley – 128
  8. Wingate – 121
  9. Nova Southeastern – 97
  10. Florida Southern – 89.5

UPCOMING
Day Four of the five-day NCAA Division II National Championships is on Friday, March 10, with the 500-free, 100-back, 100-breast, and 200-fly events.
To stay up-to-date on the Sharks Swimming programs, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter at NSU_Swim.
 

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Sharks Win Fifth Straight, Beat St. Cloud State

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Baseball team won its fifth consecutive game on Thursday evening, defeating St. Cloud State 9-2 in the series opener. The Sharks were led by another dominant performance from Carlos Rey (5 IP, 8 K) and a two-hit, two-run game from Ihovany Castañeda.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Score: Nova Southeastern 9, St. Cloud State 2

Records: Nova Southeastern (8-9, 3-3 SSC) | St. Cloud State (4-5)

Location: NSU Baseball Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Get Social: Instagram & Twitter – NSU_Baseball | Facebook – Nova Southeastern University Baseball

HOW IT HAPPENED

Top of the Second – Carlos Rey picked up where he left off in his previous start, opening up the contest with four strikeouts in the first two innings. 

Bottom of the Fourth – The Sharks loaded the bases after Daniel Irisarri, Adam Smith and Derek Bermudez reached base. Ihovany Castaneda drove in Irisarri on a fielder’s choice, and Smith scored on a throwing error. NSU extended its lead to 3-0 after Tyler Epstein drove in Castañeda on an RBI single.

Top of the Fifth – The Huskies got on the scoreboard, bringing in two runs on a double.

Bottom of the Fifth – Duncan Pastore and Irisarri reached base to open the inning, and each advanced a base after a wild pitch. Smith drove in Pastore and advanced Irisarri on an RBI groundout. Irisarri later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Sharks a 5-2 advantageover the Huskies.

Top of the Sixth – After allowing St. Cloud to load the bases, Danny Vazquez escaped the jam by recording back-to-back strikeouts. 

Bottom of the Sixth – Epstein reached on a base hit and stole both second and third base, before Stephen Schissler brought him home on a sacrifice fly to extend Nova Southeastern’s lead to 6-2.

Bottom of the Seventh – With two outs, the Sharks added three more runs following a dropped pop-up by the Huskies shortstop, putting NSU ahead 9-2. 

Top of the Ninth – Anthony Karoly struck out two of the final three batters and secured a 9-2 win for Nova Southeastern over St. Cloud State in the series opener.

UPCOMING

Nova Southeastern and St. Cloud State will play game two of their three-game series on Friday, March 10, from the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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Frederick Selected to All-South Region Team

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Nova Southeastern Women’s basketball team continues to add to their postseason accolades as Madison Frederick was selected as a member of the 2023 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Women’s Basketball All-South Region Teams. Frederick earned the nod on the All-South Region Second Team. 

The teams were voted on by the sports information directors in the south region. 

The All-SSC First Team and All-SSC Newcomer Team member added another accolade to her collection. Frederick led the Sharks, averaging 17.8 points per game in the regular season, which ranked her third in the SSC. She also was second in the league in three-point percentage (41.7) and second in assists per game (5.1). The Iowa State transfer had five games where she scored 25 or more points, including a season-high 31 points against Eckerd. Frederick also had seven double-doubles and a triple-double against Lynn, which was the first triple-double by a Shark since Christen Prasse did it on February 27, 2019, against Palm Beach Atlantic. 

Sydney Kin of Tampa collected the award as South Region Player of the Year. 

Nova Southeastern was tabbed as the seventh seed in the NCAA South Region and will face number two seed Eckerd, Friday, March 10th at 2:30 pm, in Tampa, Fla.  

To stay up-to-date with NSU’s postseason run, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com, or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Wbasketball. 

Here is the complete list D2CCA All-South Region teams.

2023 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Women’s Basketball All-South Region Team

First Team

Pos.       Name                 School           Yr.       Hometown

F       Sydney Kin             Tampa           Sr.      Carey, Ohio

G      Haley Schubert ^      Lee               Sr.      Knoxville, Tenn.

F      Jaclyn Jarnot ^^       West Florida  Sr.      Brooklyn Park, Minn.

G     Shanique Lucas       Union             Sr.      Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

G     Bria Dent             West Alabama    Sr.      Birmingham, Ala.

Second Team

Pos.     Name                      School                    Yr.   Hometown

F          Ashiala Jackson ^^  Tuskegee               Sr.   Merrillville, Ind.

G         Sofia Persson           Eckerd                   Jr.    Arvika, Sweden

G         Melijah Sullivan        Tampa                     Sr.   Bartow, Fla.

C         Maya Price ^             Eckerd                    Sr.   Bury St. Edmunds, England

F         Madison Frederick    Nova Southeastern Sr.  Tipp City, Ohio

F          Zoe Piller                 West Florida            So. Nolensville, Tenn.

South Region Player of the Year: Sydney Kin (Senior, Forward, University of Tampa)

^ – 2022 First Team Selection ^^ – 2022 Second Team Selection

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#1 NSU Adds Three More NCAA National Titles

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – The NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving National Championships continued on Wednesday from the IUPUI Natatorium. The top-ranked Sharks Women’s Swim team had another historic day, winning three more individual national championships in the 1000-free, 200-IM, 200-medley relay.

Emily Trieschmann continues her record-breaking year and won two more NCAA National Championships. The sophomore set the new NCAA Division II record in the 1000-free – posting a time of 9:43.25 – and also was part of the 200-medley national championship relay team.

Mollie Morfelt, Savanna Best, Aleksandra Maslova, and Trieschmann defended the No. 1 Sharks national title in the 200-medley relay, recording a time 1:39.90, edging out Indy (1:40.11).

Emilia Ronningdal recorded the first individual NCAA national title of her Nova Southeastern career, taking home the crown in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:57.78.

Luca Alessandrini placed fifth for Nova Southeastern in the 1000-free, recording a time of 9:04.35.

INSIDE THE MEET
Events – 1000-free, 200 medley relay, 200 IM, 50 free
Location – IUPUI Natatorium | Indianapolis, IN.

Standings – Women’s

1. Nova Southeastern – 182 points
2. Indy – 144
3. Drury – 97
4. Colorado Mesa – 85
5. Lynn – 77
6. Wayne State & West Chester – 75
7. Wingate – 66
8. West Florida – 50
9.McKendree – 48

Standings – Men’s

  1. Indy – 121.5 points
  2. McKendree – 105.5
  3. Tampa – 103
  4. Drury – 97
  5. Colorado Mesa – 76.5
  6. Wingate – 72
  7. Grand Valley – 66
  8. Florida Southern – 65.5
  9. Findlay – 65
  10. Oklahoma Christian – 61
  11. St. Cloud State – 48
  12. Nova Southeastern – 47

UPCOMING
The NCAA National Championship continues on Thursday, with the 100-fly, 400-IM, 200-free, and the 400-medley relay.
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Swimming, be sure to follow on Instagram & Twitter at NSU_Swim.
 
 
 
 

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#1 Sharks Claim National Title on Day One of NCAA Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – The 2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships began on Tuesday evening from the IUPUI Natatorium. The top-ranked Nova Southeastern Women’s Swimming team made an immediate statement, taking home the National Championship in the 800-freestyle relay – the first event of the championship meet. Emilia Ronningdal, Ilaria Murzilli, May Lowy and Emily Trieschmann set a new meet record with a time of 7:13.65.

The Sharks Men’s Swimming team placed seventh in the event, as the team of Thomas Flower, Jarryd Baxter, Olle Williamsson and Luca Alessandrini finished with a time of 6:28.42

INSIDE THE MEET
Location – Indianapolis, Indiana | IUPUI Natatorium
Get Social – Instagram & Twitter – NSU_Swim | Facebook – Nova Southeastern University Swimming

STANDINGS – Women’s

  1. Nova Southeastern – 40 points
  2. Drury – 34
  3. West Chester – 32
  4. Colorado Mesa – 30
  5. Lynn – 28
  6. Wingate – 26
  7. Wayne State
  8. Indy – 22
  9. Tampa – 18
  10. Azusa Pacific – 14

STANDINGS – Men’s

  1. McKendree – 40
  2. Tampa – 34
  3. Grand Valley – 32
  4. Wingate – 30
  5. Colorado Mesa – 28
  6. Drury – 26
  7. Nova Southeastern – 24
  8. Indy – 22
  9. Oklahoma Christian – 18
  10. Carson-Newman – 14

UPCOMING
The NCAA Swimming & Diving National Championships continue on Wednesday, March 8, with the 1000-freestyle, 200-individual medley and 50-freestyle.
To stay up-to-date on Sharks Swimming during the national title pursuit, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter at NSU_Swim.
 

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Sharks Earn No. 7 Seed In NCAA Tournament

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA – The Nova Southeastern Women’s basketball team earned the seventh seed in the NCAA South Region on Sunday evening. The Sharks make a return to the NCAA Tournament, where they will face fellow SSC member and number two seed, the Eckerd Tritons. 

This will be the third meeting this season between both teams, tip-off will take place at the University of Tampa, on Friday, March 10th, at 2:30 p.m.   

Head Coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry led NSU to four elite eight appearances in the past decade, including a recent trip in 2019, where they won the South Region Tournament as the seventh seed. The Sharks enter the NCAA Tournament with a 21-8, 13-7 SSC record, where they will be led by Madison Frederick who earned All Sunshine State Conference First-Team and Newcomer team honors, and All-SSC Second-Team member Hailey Conley.

Both Tampa and Lynn were the other two SSC programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, as the Spartans collected the No. 1 seed and will face Tuskegee. While Lynn secured the No. 5 seed and are set to face Lee. 

Union and Valdosta State round out the remainder of the NCAA South Region. 

The winner of NSU and Eckerd will advance to play the winner of Union (TN) and Valdosta State.  

To stay up-to-date with NSU’s postseason run, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com, or follow the Sharks on Instagram and Twitter at @NSU_Wbasketball. 
 

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#1 Sharks Set to Host NCAA Regional

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After clinching the program’s second consecutive Sunshine State Conference tournament title earlier this afternoon, the No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball, led by SSC Coach of the Year Jim Crutchfield, has been tabbed the top-seed in the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.

The Sharks (30-0) enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated for the second consecutive season and are the lone unbeaten program across Division I and II. RJ Sunahara, the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, and Will Yoakum, the SSC Newcomer of the Year & Tournament MVP, lead the undefeated Sharks. NSU leads NCAA Division II in points-per-game (103.8), scoring margin (+26.8), turnover margin (+10) and the Sharks are second in assists-per-game (22.0)

NSU will face No. 8 seed Miles (23-6) on Saturday, March 12 from the Rick Case Arena.

Nova Southeastern will host seven NCAA Tournament games from March 12 – 14, with four quarterfinal games scheduled for Saturday, two semifinal contests on Sunday, March 13, and the NCAA South Region Championship game on Tuesday, March 14. The winner of the NCAA South Region Tournament will advance to the Elite Eight, which is held at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN., from March 21 – 25.

Quarterfinals – Saturday, March 12
Game 1 – No. 3 Alabama-Huntsville (25-7) vs. No. 6 Embry-Riddle (19-11)– 12 p.m.
Game 2 – No. 2 West Alabama (26-5) vs. No. 7 Tuskegee (20-8)– 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 1 Nova Southeastern (30-0) vs. No. 8 Miles (23-6)
Game 4 – No. 4 Lee (20-7) vs. No. 5 West Georgia (20-9)

Semifinals – Sunday, March 13
Game 5 – Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2 – 5 p.m.
Game 6  – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 7:30 p.m.

South Region Championship (Sweet 16) – Tuesday, March 14
Game 7 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 7 p.m.

To stay up to date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & Twitter at NSU_MBasketball and Facebook at NSU Men’s Basketball.
 

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