CF Patriots Baseball: Five Fall Standouts

Outfielder Yoenny Gonzalez is part of a strong core
of Patriot returning sophomores.

A rough start to its 2011 Mid-Florida Conference season doomed the Central Florida baseball team to an early summer. With two years now separating CF from its most recent FCSAA State Tournament appearance, head coach Marty Smith is anxious to return his program to contender status. The current group he's assembled possesses the raw talent to do just that.

Here are five student-athletes who stood out over the recently-completed fall season:

Melvin Mercedes: A Bronx-bred shortstop with remarkable tools, Mercedes received a lot of well-deserved attention at the Patriots' Scout Day and throughout the fall schedule. A consummate leadoff man and switch hitter with a knack for getting on and around the bases, Mercedes also stars on defense with outstanding range and a great throwing arm from deep short.

Kevin Games: A highly-decorated high school star and a prized recruit, Games nonetheless approached fall camp like a walk-on scrapping for a roster spot. Grizzled by a prep career in the rugged Tampa Bay region and accustomed to transcending his diminutive 5-7 frame, Games contributed to CF fall victories across the board, pitching strong innings, playing a solid leftfield and driving the ball at the plate.

Derrick Davis: Of all the myriad tools available to win baseball games, none are more direct than the bat of an overpowering cleanup hitter. That's what Davis brings to the Patriot lineup. After posting monstrous numbers at Orange Park HS, the 5-11 slugger's swing easily survived the transition to college, and his presence in the designated hitter slot makes facing the Patriot offense an intimidating proposition.

Darren Fischer: This dominant left-handed pitcher comes to CF with impeccable diamond credentials. Fischer posted an ERA under 2.00 in his senior prep season in New Jersey, and flashed enough potential to earn a 46th-round draft selection from the Angels in 2010. Evidence suggests he's more than ready for consistent strong starts at the NJCAA level.

Yoenny Gonzalez: A key member of the Patriots' core of returning sophomores, Gonzalez appears ready to make a leap in his second season at the college level. A productive hitter as a freshman, the rightfielder became more dangerous with each swing in the just-finished fall campaign. Along with fellow incumbents Christian Coburn and Scott Schaub, Gonzalez gives the Patriots a needed dose of experience and leadership.

CF Patriots 111, Rise Academy 75 (MBB)

Central Florida routed non-NJCAA opponent Rise Academy 111-75 on Tuesday at CF.

CF Lady Patriots 81, Indian River 41 (WBB)

Sophomore Quinnecia Twine's magnificent shooting display lifted Central Florida to an emphatic 81-41 women's basketball victory over visiting Indian River on Tuesday.

Twine poured in 30 points while converting 8 of 11 attempts from long range to spearhead the Lady Patriots' highest-scoring effort of the season. The Atlanta-area native added 5 rebounds and 5 steals.

Freshman forward TiChina Mitchell added 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field.

The game was a rematch of CF's hard-fought FCSAA State Tournament quarterfinal victory in March. In contrast, Tuesday's outcome became clear soon after the opening tip as an overwhelming CF squad steadily built a 21-point halftime lead. That intensity escalated after the intermission as the Lady Patriots scored 45 second-half points, enough to win the game in itself, and claimed its largest lead of the game with the final 40-point margin.

The thorough victory snapped the team's three-game losing streak and put CF (5-4) back above .500 entering the two-day, eight-game women's Florida Colleges Shootout set for Friday and Saturday at CF. Each day's four-game schedule begins at 1 p.m. and concludes with the host Lady Patriots taking the court at approximately 7 p.m.

CF Announces Winter Baseball Camps

Central Florida baseball coach Marty Smith will host three winter baseball camps at Goodlett Field in December. For more information on CF camps, visit www.gocfcamps.com; to register, call Smith at 352-427-8372.

Two-Day Winter Baseball Camp
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 19-20, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. daily
Camp for developing baseball players ages 13-17. Schedule includes baseball discussion, on-field instruction, drills and live games at Goodlett Field. Cost is $60 per camper, including snack lunch, and is limited to the first 20 paid registrants.

Pitcher/Catcher Camp
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
This exclusive single-day camp is limited to 10 pitchers and 6 catchers, ages 9 to 16. The intensive session includes instruction, drills, mechanics, assessment and live pitching and catching. Cost is $40, including snack.

Winter Baseball Fun Camp
Thursday, Dec. 22, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
This one-day camp is open to children ages 6-12. Kids will play baseball, kickball, and wiffleball and compete in a home run derby. Cost is $40 per camper, including lunch, and is limited to the first 48 paid registrants.

CF Patriots Softball: Five Fall Standouts

Catcher Jessica Lopez followed her breakout freshman season with
a strong showing in the fall of her sophomore year.

Central Florida recently completed its non-NJCAA fall softball schedule, and coach Kerri Ryskamp's new recruits and returning sophomores showed the potential to return the Patriots to the FCSAA State Tournament when the competitive spring season arrives Jan. 28.

Here are five players who stood out over the course of the fall:

Addie Dozier: A freshman pitching phenom out of Tallahassee, Dozier adapted immediately to the college level. The hard-throwing righthander routinely posted shutout innings against quality lineups this fall, a good indicator that she'll be ready to give her team a fighting chance with each start when the games go live next semester. Much like predecessor Jessica Knight, Dozier also projects as a middle-of-the-order run producer as well.

Tori Stamper: One top-notch pitcher is nice to have, but teams that expect to stick around for the postseason should have two equally trustworthy options to turn to for a season-defining start. Stamper, a former prep star at nearby Williston High School, gives the Patriots the luxury of interchangeable pitching aces. Either can take the ball in a pressure situation, and the combination of the two creates the possibility to rack up wins quickly via doubleheader sweeps.

Chandler Bridges: Versatility is the name of the game in softball, and Bridges' presence at the top of the CF batting order opens up any number of positive possibilities for the Patriots. The freshman centerfielder from the far reaches of the Florida Panhandle brought seemingly every desireable softball skill with her to Ocala; she can draw a walk, hit for average and power, lay down a bunt base hit and take an extra base when the opportunity arises.

Shelby Matthews: With few exceptions, a ground ball that makes it past third base will take a strange bounce and create all sorts of havoc for a defense while the hitter circles the bases. With Matthews at third, the Patriots don't expect to fall victim to that momentum-swinging situation too often. With impressive range, a strong arm and impeccable fundamentals, the freshman from nearby Clermont will convert a number of problematic balls in play into routine outs.

Jessica Lopez: As one of the team's key returning sophomores, Lopez has the motivation to erase last year's disappointing finish and the talent to do something about it. She proved as much in the fall, developing an effective top-of-the-order hitting tandem with Bridges. And as the team's incumbent starting catcher, Lopez adeptly helped freshmen pitchers Dozier and Stamper transition to the unique challenges of college softball. As the Patriots seek a return to the playoffs, it is Lopez's leadership that will set the tone.

Chipola 67, CF Lady Patriots 46 (WBB)

The Central Florida women's basketball fell to .500 with a 67-46 loss to Chipola at Niceville on Saturday.

The Lady Patriots (4-4) host Indian River on Tuesday.

Northwest Florida 76, CF Lady Patriots 55 (WBB)

FCSAA No. 3 Northwest Florida State opened its annual Thanksgiving weekend tournament Friday with a 76-55 win over Central Florida.

The Lady Patriots (4-3) play one more game in Niceville on Saturday before returning home for a 6 pm Tuesday matchup with Indian River State.

Pinder Commits to Florida Gulf Coast

Central Florida volleyball captain Christine Pinder has verbally committed to Florida Gulf Coast University, a Division I program in Fort Myers.

Pinder, a Gainesville native and the 2010 Gainesville Sun Player of the Year, spent her freshman season at Division I University of Houston. She signed with the first-year Patriots just days before the start of the season and assumed an immediate leadership role. Her year at CF ended with individual all-conference and all-state honors and a national seventh-place finish for her team.

The Eagles went 18-13 overall and 10-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference in their recently-completed 2011 season.

Pinder's commitment represents the first NCAA commitment for a student-athlete from the CF volleyball program.

CF Patriots 82, St. Petersburg 63 (MBB)

Central Florida won its fifth straight game Tuesday night with an 82-63 conquest of rival St. Petersburg.

CF (6-3) beat the Titans for the second time of the young season after starting its current win streak with a win at St. Petersburg on Nov. 11.

The Patriots led by a single point at halftime, but put together a dizzying rally out of the locker room to take a double-digit lead just 5 minutes into the second half. The home team fought off repeated Titan responses with timely baskets and pulled away in earnest over the closing minutes.

Returning sophomore guard Brian Pace took the fore on offense as CF continues to turn to a different backcourt star nearly every night. Pace made 6 of 7 attempts, including both 3-pointers, in a brilliant first half that saw the Gainesville native score 15 points in 10 minutes. He finished with a game-high 20 points to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

Christian Martinez scored 18 points and Alhaji Fullah added 10 to join Pace in double figures.

The Patriots enjoy a week off prior to hosting Rise Academy on Nov. 29 at 7:30 pm.

CF Alum Muo Hits 6 Three-Pointers in One Half

Charleston Southern forward and Central Florida Patriots alumnus Mathiang Muo put on an amazing shooting display Monday in CSU's 73-64 win over Stetson.

Muo described the sharpshooting effort to the The Post and Courier: 

“I never felt a rhythm in the first half, and as a team we were not playing very well, so I just waited for it to come,” said Muo, who hit five 3-pointers in Saturday’s win over Milligan. “Once I hit the first two, I started feeling it. I got some good screens and was able to make a few and get us rolling.”

Another CF alum, Flagler College guard Addison Smith, turned in a standout performance of his own Monday with 12 points and 8 assists.

CF has 10 former student-athletes on NCAA rosters, including Missouri forward Ricardo Ratliffe and South Carolina guard Markeshia Grant.

Gulf Coast 67, CF Lady Patriots 46 (WBB)

Central Florida's second-half rally fell short Tuesday as the Lady Patriots took a 67-46 home-court loss to Gulf Coast.

Patriot Baseball Celebrates 21st Annual Blood Bowl

The Central Florida baseball team held its annual Blood Bowl on Nov. 14 and 15, marking the 21st year of the Patriots' signature effort to boost the inventory of a local blood bank.

At the end of each fall season, CF splits its roster into two distinctly-themed squads for a pair of intrasquad scrimmages. The teams assembled for this year's event are pictured above: at top, the self-explanatory Sharp-Dressed Men; at bottom, the Tool Bags, a group of players adorned in the kind of cliched baseball accessories that head coach Marty Smith detests.

Though the losers are ostensibly required to donate blood, traditionally the vast majority of both squads happily line up to take the needle when the LifeSouth bus parks outside of Goodlett Field. This year's donation session is set for Monday, Nov. 21; CF students and staff are welcome to stop by and donate from 11 am to 1 pm, before the baseball team steps up to the plate.

As for the games, Smith was vindicated by the Sharp-Dressed Men's sweep of the two scrimmages, 4-0 and 9-1. Josh Grisham went 2-for-2 with 2 runs and an RBI in the opener. On Tuesday, Tomas Rivera smacked a 3-run home run, Ryan Smith hit a 2-run double and Sean Plunkett went 2-for-2 with a run scored.

CF Lady Patriots 72, Brevard 66 (WBB)

Central Florida earned the second double-digit victory of its two-game women's basketball homestand Saturday night with an impressive 72-66 victory over Brevard.

CF Patriots 92, Pasco-Hernando 71 (MBB)

The Central Florida men's basketball team moved two games above .500 on Saturday with a 92-71 rout at Pasco-Hernando.

CF Patriots 3, Eastern Arizona 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida ended its amazing debut volleyball season in appropriate fashion Saturday, claiming a national seventh-place finish with a straight-set win over Eastern Arizona on the final day of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament. (Watch video of the match at NJCAA TV.)

With the 25-21, 25-17, 25-19 win, the Patriots (43-9) recorded their second upset of a higher-seeded team in the three-day, 16-team tournament. Tenth-seeded CF knocked off No. 7 North Idaho in its opener Thursday, and now No. 8 Eastern Arizona to close their postseason run. The Patriots also earned the higher finish of Florida's two participants, as Miami-Dade finished outside of the top 10. (View the full tournament schedule and results.)

Individual stat leaders for the Patriots on Saturday included Vanessa Benke (12 kills, 4 blocks, 7 digs); Christine Pinder (11 kills); Eleanora Kazarian (11 kills, 4 blocks); Carolline Reis (5 blocks); and Amber Wyborny (17 digs).

Saturday's victory was a fitting end for the program's inaugural volleyball season, a remarkable odyssey that saw head coach Flavia Siqueira's team fight off injuries and early-season home-court struggles and blossom into a state and national powerhouse.

Few understand the rigors of NJCAA volleyball better than Siqueira, a standout player at Western Nebraska CC and a proven winner in three seasons at the helm of Wyoming's Northwest College before her hiring to guide the launch of Patriot volleyball. With that track record, she knows the success her first-year program enjoyed this season is hard-won and not to be taken for granted.

"It's been a great season. We accomplished our goals step by step, conference, state, and nationals. We've also accomplished a lot that many people did not believe we could do being a first-year program."" said Siqueira. "Finishing seventh at nationals is not an easy task. We grew not only as players, but as individuals, and learned many life lessons. I am very proud of this group of young ladies, and want to thank my assistant coaches for their hard work and the administration at CF."

The Patriots squeezed a lot of action into a fall season that somehow played out from start to finish in under three months.

CF opened its inaugural volleyball season in August with an invitational tournament win in Jacksonville. They swept through Mid-Florida Conference play, conquering defending champion FSC-Jacksonville on its home court in the process, and completed a perfect MFC season in Ocala on Oct. 18. CF entered the FCSAA State Tournament nationally ranked and a favorite to advance.

The Patriots opened against Indian River in its Nov. 4 postseason opener, and won handily. But the next day, nemesis Miami-Dade sent CF into the consolation bracket; they had to again knock off FSC-J that night to survive. Facing elimination with each match, the Patriots woke up on the final day of the tournament and beat Hillsborough, forcing an immediate rematch for the coveted NJCAA Tournament berth. Playing its fifth match in three days, CF swept Hillsborough and burst into celebration. An anti-climactic state title game loss to Miami-Dade did nothing to quell the Patriots' jubilation.

In Missouri, the Patriots made their national debut not with the humility of a first-year program but with the edge of a legitimate national power taking its rightful place among the NJCAA elite. Seeded tenth, CF pulled off the only first-round upset of this year's tournament on Thursday, sweeping seventh-seeded North Idaho in three magnificent sets.

The upstart Patriots met their match the next day in the form of defending NJCAA champion Western Nebraska, which handed CF a three-set sweep. No. 6 seed Iowa Western did the same, sending CF into Saturday's national seventh-place match against Eastern Arizona.

CF Lady Patriots 56, Miami-Dade 46 (WBB)

Central Florida handled visiting Miami-Dade 56-46 on Friday, improving to 3-1 with its second double-digit victory over the Lady Sharks in the young season.

Freshman forward TiChina Mitchell paced the home team with 16 points while adding 7 rebounds. Sophomore Briana Gibson added 8 points and 8 rebounds, and guard Quinnecia Twine scored all 9 of her points on a trio of 3-pointers.

The Lady Patriots also beat Miami-Dade 64-42 Nov. 11 at Daytona Beach.

CF hosts Brevard at 6 pm Saturday.

Iowa Western 3, CF Patriots 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida ran into another national power Friday in its third match of the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament, dropping a straight-set decision to Iowa Western.

The sixth-seeded Reivers beat the 10th-seeded Patriots 25-20, 25-22, 25-20. (Watch the match via NJCAA TV.)

CF (42-9) will play No. 8 seed Eastern Arizona on Saturday at 1 pm EST to conclude its remarkable inaugural season and determine its national finish in the 16-team tournament's seventh-place match. (View the full tournament schedule.)

Continuing to defy expectations, CF made a forceful debut on the national level Thursday as the only lower-seeded team in this year's field to win its opening match. Defending NJCAA champion Western Nebraska proved too much for the upstart Patriots later Thursday.

Western Nebraska 3, CF Patriots 0 (Volleyball)

The defending national volleyball champions proved too much for upstart Central Florida on Thursday.

Reigning NJCAA Division I champ and tournament No. 2 seed Western Nebraska handled the first-year Patriots 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 in the winner's bracket round of the 16-team tournament in West Plains, Mo. (Watch video of the match via NJCAA TV.)

Setter Jordyn Wright collected 27 assists for the second consecutive match, while Vanessa Benke added 12 kills.

The loss eliminates CF from national title contention, but the Patriots (42-8) move on to play No. 6 seed Iowa Western at 3:30 pm EST Friday. The Patriots defeated Iowa Western in 4 sets on Sept. 23 at Bradenton, the program's first victory over an opponent ranked in the top 10 of the NJCAA poll.

With a win over Iowa Western, the Patriots will play Saturday at 3 pm EST for a national fifth-place finish; a loss, and CF will play for seventh place Saturday at 1 pm EST. (View the full tournament schedule.)

Though they won't come home with a national title, the Patriots will have made their mark in their first visit to the NJCAA Tournament. With its Thursday afternoon win over seventh-seeded North Idaho, 10th-seeded CF became the only lower-seeded team to win its opening match in this year's tournament. CF has also secured the better finish of Florida's two participants thanks to Miami-Dade's opening-round loss to Eastern Arizona.

CF Patriots 3, North Idaho 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida gave a masterful performance in its debut on the national stage Thursday, sweeping North Idaho 26-24, 28-26, 25-12 in the opening round of the NJCAA Division I National Volleyball Championship.

(Watch the match in its entirety via Panhandle Broadcasting.)

The Patriots' quest for a national championship continues tonight at 6:30 pm EST against second-seeded Western Nebraska. The Cougars are the defending NJCAA national champions. (View the full tournament schedule.)

Odds were lined up against the first-year Patriot volleyball program as the tournament opened in West Plains, Mo. The neophyte Patriots drew the No. 10 seed in the 16-team bracket, and with it a first-round match against North Idaho. The Lady Cardinal, seeded seventh and making its second consecutive trip to the national tournament, also owned the circumstantial edge of beating FCSAA state champion and CF nemesis Miami-Dade in straight sets in the regular season.

Displaying none of the anxiety that hampered them early in their inaugural regular season and in the opening sets of their FCSAA State Tournament run, the Patriots took to the West Plains, Mo., court in top form, claiming the first set's first three points. The postseason-tested Lady Cardinal rallied to go ahead 12-9, but CF clawed back as the score reached the high teens. A pair of vicious Vanessa Benke kills put the Patriots in front 20-19, then 21-20. After trading points, fellow all-state hitter Christine Pinder hit a spike of her own to take CF to set point, 25-24. A misplayed volley on NIC's side of the net delivered the required two-point win, 26-24.

NIC seemed headed for a comfortable match-tying win in the second set before the Patriots mounted their resistance. CF rattled off three straight points to meet the Cardinal at 23, and traded points until the set was tied at 26. Jordyn Wright's spot-on set teed up Benke's emphatic kill to give the Patriots set point at 27-26, and Brittany Toney and Eleanora Kazarian combined on a block at the net to deliver the second-set victory, 28-26.

Having withstood the Cardinal's best shot, the Patriots coasted to a third-set victory, 25-12.

"We came out focused and determined to win," said head coach Flavia Siqueira.

Benke had 14 kills and 12 digs, Kazarian added 7 blocks and 3 aces, and Wright notched 27 assists.

The Patriots improve to 42-7, and will advance to play Friday regardless of Thursday evening's outcome. With a win over Western Nebraska, CF will play in a tournament semifinal match Friday at 7:30 pm EST against the winner between Western Wyoming and Iowa Western; with a loss to Western Nebraska, CF will face the Western Wyoming-Iowa Western loser in an elimination match Friday at 3:30 pm EST.

CF Set for National Tournament Debut

It is a week away from Thanksgiving, and the inaugural season of Central Florida Patriots volleyball is still underway. That fact alone makes the launch of the program an unmitigated success.

With a new coach recruiting new student-athletes to play a new sport in a newly-refurbished gym, Patriot volleyball began its first NJCAA season with only the expectations it placed on itself. Those outside the locker room, from fans to CF administrators, could only watch the net go up and hope for the best.

Well, the best is exactly what's been delivered. CF made an impact immediately and emphatically with an opening-weekend invitational sweep on the home court of its toughest local rival, and the impression the Patriots made grew deeper and wider until it altered the landscape of FCSAA volleyball. Two weeks ago, CF claimed one of the two NJCAA Tournament spots allotted to Florida, and the program officially went national.

Watch live Thursday at noon EST right here on CFPatriots.com as the Patriots begin their direct pursuit of a national championship in West Plains, Mo. The 16-team double-elimination tournament finds CF opening against North Idaho College, arguable the most accomplished opponent it has faced in its brief existence. A win, and the Patriots play again Thursday evening at 6:30 pm; a loss, and CF will face elimination on Friday morning at 11 a.m.

CF Patriots 104, TAAG Academy 77 (MBB)

Central Florida picked up a comfortable 104-77 win over non-NJCAA opponent TAAG Academy on Wednesday in the CF gym.

Benke, Pinder Earn All-State Volleyball Honors

Central Florida twin hitters Vanessa Benke and Christine Pinder have been named to the FCSAA All-State volleyball team.

Benke, a freshman from Brazil, is the 2011 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and an All-FCSAA Tournament selection. She led the Patriots with 533 kills, good for third in the state and 12th in the nation, and 538 digs.

Team captain Pinder, a sophomore transfer from Division I Houston and a first-team All-MFC selection, ranked fourth in the state and 15th in the nation with 453 kills while adding 440 digs.

The honors add to an historic inaugural season for Patriot volleyball, one which includes a Mid-Florida Conference championship, a top-11 national ranking, 40 victories and a berth in the NJCAA Tournament. CF faces North Idaho on Thursday at noon EST in West Plains, Mo., to open its bid for a national title.

Former Patriots Ratliffe, Cecil Set to Face Off

Two of Central Florida's most prominent recent men's basketball alumni will share a court tonight at 8 pm EST as Justin Cecil's Mercer Bears visit Ricardo Ratliffe's Missouri Tigers. (The video above shows the pair connecting for a basket during their time as CF teammates.)

Mercer, an Atlantic Sun member school in Macon, Ga., visits Columbia as part of the CBE Classic, an annual series of games hosted by a variety of campuses across the country. Click here for game notes from Mizzou and here to follow the action online.

Cecil spent his 2009-10 sophomore season at CF as a sharpshooting complement to Ratliffe's dominant post presence. He averaged 5.4 points as a Mercer junior a year ago and is the program's lone returning senior for 2011-12.

Ratliffe is nothing less than the most accomplished athlete in Patriots history, setting the program's career and single-season scoring records and earning the 2009-10 NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award, the most prestigious honor available at the two-year level. He averaged 10.6 points and 6 rebounds per game as a Mizzou junior and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

CF Patriots 89, Pasco-Hernando 57 (MBB)

A stifling defense and a barrage of 3-pointers gave Central Florida an emphatic 89-57 victory over Pasco-Hernando in its 2011-12 men's basketball home opener Saturday.

Sophomore transfer Christian Martinez made 6 of his 7 attempts from long range, accounting for the lion's share of CF's 15 made 3-pointers on the evening. Martinez, a standout at FCSAA rival Broward in 2009-10, made 8 of 10 shots overall on the way to a game-high 22 points in just 16 minutes of floor time off the bench.

The reserve guard's effort led a balanced offensive attack that saw 11 Patriots in the scoring column. Returning sophomore center Alhaji Fullah added 10 points and 6 rebounds, fellow returnee Steven Shipwash added 9 points and freshman guard Timmone Whatley had 7 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

CF's depth proved too much for the NJCAA Division II Conquistadors. Non-starters, led by the breakout performance by Martinez, scored 64 of the Patriots' 89 points.

The Patriots (3-3) host non-NJCAA opponent TAAG Academy on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.

Pensacola Forfeits Win Over Lady Patriots (WBB)

Pensacola State College's Nov. 7 women's basketball win over Central Florida has been forfeited due to Pensacola's use of an ineligible student-athlete.

The FCSAA decision improves CF's record to 2-1.

Palm Beach 67, CF Lady Patriots 59 (WBB)

Central Florida concluded its two-day visit to Daytona Beach with a 67-59 setback to Palm Beach State.

Quinnecia Twine scored 20 points and TiChina Mitchell and Taylor Broadnax added 10 apiece for CF (1-2). The Lady Patriots host their own Shootout next Friday and Saturday.

CF Lady Patriots 64, Miami-Dade 42 (WBB)

Central Florida picked up the first victory of its women's basketball season Friday with a 64-42 win over Miami-Dade at Daytona Beach.

Returning sophomore Quinnecia Twine led the Lady Patriots with 16 points. TiChina Mitchell added 14, Najah Chambers 11 and Simone High 10 to join Twine in double figures.

CF (1-1) wraps up its visit to Daytona on Saturday, then hosts its own two-day Shootout on Nov. 18 and 19.

CF Patriots 64, St. Petersburg 59 (MBB)

Central Florida earned a road win over a perennially stout Florida rival Friday, defeating St. Petersburg 64-59.

Four Patriots posted double figures in points, led by breakout freshman Roosevelt Scott's 17.

CF (2-3) plays its long-awaited home opener on Saturday, a 7:30 pm matchup against NJCAA Division II program Pasco-Hernando.

Former Patriots Starring at NCAA Hoops Level

No less than 10 recent Patriot and Lady Patriot stars will play a role for an NCAA team this fall. Here's a look at this impressive group of CF alumni:

Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri
The 2009-10 NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year and the Patriots' career scoring leader transitioned to the next level with ease last season, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors. Having proven himself as a top-notch NCAA big man, however, Ratliffe will play under a new level of pressure as a senior. His expected senior frontcourt partner, Laurence Bowers, will miss the entire season with a knee injury, leaving Ratliffe as the lone established presence in the paint. How he handles the responsibility will determine his professional future, and Mizzou's postseason hopes.

Markeshia Grant, South Carolina 
The Lady Patriots' star playmaker proved to have the goods to contribute at the highest level of NCAA play as well. Grant played in every game for the Gamecocks as a junior and led the team in postseason scoring with 12.3 points per game. Expect her to turn her late-season surge a year ago into a permanent starring role in the USC offense this season.

Kevin Foster, Fresno State
An All-America season at CF set the former George Mason prospect back on course for Division I. He'll make his NCAA return with the Bulldogs, who will seek to gain ground in the hyper-competitive WAC under new head coach Rodney Terry. A strong returning core and a standout recruiting class give Fresno a chance at contention.

Mathiang Muo, Charleston Southern
The well-traveled swingman enjoyed a stellar sophomore season at CF, playing his way into a scholarship with Big South Conference school CSU. The Buccaneers are looking to Muo to help push the team into the winning column after finishing 16-16 overall and 9-9 in conference last year.

Justin Cecil, Mercer 
The sharpshooting forward produced 5.4 points in 30 games for the Bears, returning to the Atlantic Sun Conference after spending his freshman season at the University of North Florida. As the team's lone senior, Cecil should see his role expand both on the court and in the locker room.

Jeff Neal, Florida A&M
A relentless rebounder and defender with a craving for contact in the paint, Neal seems custom-built to withstand the rigors of Division I basketball. After a redshirt season in 2010-11, the former Ocala Forest star is ready to prove himself with the Rattlers.

Slobodan Miljanic, Lynn
The two-year Patriot fan favorite improved steadily at CF as he adjusted to stateside basketball, and now the Montenegro native is ready to test his skills in the Division II Sunshine State Conference. Miljanic's deadly outside shooting should place him in the rotation from day one.

Travis Johnson, West Virginia Wesleyan
The Gainesville native played his way from practice-squad support to starting point guard over his tenure with the Patriots. He made another leap in 2010-11, averaging 18.3 minutes per game in 29 appearances as WVWC earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Addison Smith, Flagler
Smith came to CF after a freshman season at Florida Gulf Coast, and he continues his Sunshine State tour with St. Augustine DII program Flagler. The 6-1 guard will be called on to help the Saints bounce back from a 10-14 season in 2010-11.

A.J. Holland, Sioux Falls
Holland found his niche as a sure-handed playmaker, scorer and defender in his lone season at CF, and he seems to have found an NCAA program that will put his skill set to similar use. The Division II Cougars are coming off a 20-win campaign.

SCF-Manatee 82, CF Patriots 78 (MBB)

Central Florida fell to 1-3 on the young men's basketball season with an 82-78 loss at SCF-Manatee.

CF to Open NJCAA Tournament Against North Idaho

The NJCAA has announced seedings and first-round pairings for the upcoming NJCAA Division I National Volleyball Championship, running Nov. 17-19 in West Plains, Mo.

Central Florida will enter the national tournament as a the No. 10 seed and will face No. 7 seed North Idaho College on Thursday, Nov. 17 at noon EST.  Visit www.cfpatriots.com to watch the action live.

CF Patriots Volleyball: How They Got Here

An awful lot had to happen to get the Patriots volleyball team to the national tournament. Here's a reading list to help make sense of it all:

CF opened its inaugural volleyball season with an invitational tournament win in Jacksonville. They swept through Mid-Florida Conference play, conquering defending champion FSC-Jacksonville on its home court in the process, and completed a perfect MFC season in Ocala on Oct. 18. CF entered the FCSAA State Tournament nationally ranked and a favorite to advance.

The Patriots opened against Indian River on Friday, and won handily. But on Saturday, nemesis Miami-Dade sent CF into the consolation bracket; they had to again knock off FSC-J that night to survive. Facing elimination with each match, the Patriots woke up Sunday and beat Hillsborough, forcing an immediate rematch for the coveted NJCAA Tournament berth. Playing its fifth match in three days, CF swept Hillsborough and burst into the celebration shown in the video above. An anti-climactic state title game loss to Miami-Dade did nothing to quell the Patriots' jubilation. They now prepare for the NJCAA Tournament in West Plains, Mo., Nov. 17-19.

Pensacola 103, CF Lady Patriots 64 (WBB)

Central Florida opened its women's basketball season with the toughest opponent it could find, and left with an instructive 103-64 loss.

The game was a rematch of last year's FCSAA State Tournament semifinal, won by eventual state champion Pensacola 96-71. That game saw the Lady Patriots hang tough with the Lady Pirates until a string of costly CF turnovers set favored PSC off and running.

In similar fashion Monday, the FCSAA No. 6 Lady Patriots gave FCSAA No. 2 Pensacola a hard time in the opening minutes before falling behind.

CF (0-1) travels to the Daytona State Shootout this weekend, then hosts its own Shootout the following weekend, Nov. 18 and 19.

Miami-Dade 3, CF Patriots 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida came up a match short of an FCSAA state championship on Sunday, losing to Miami-Dade 25-20, 25-23, 25-23.

CF Patriots 3, Hillsborough 0 (Volleyball)

The Patriots are going to the national tournament.

CF Patriots 3, Hillsborough 1 (Volleyball)

Central Florida is one win away from a berth in the NJCAA Tournament after a morning victory over Hillsborough, 25-15, 24-26, 25-22, 25-22.

The Patriots need to beat the Hawks one more time to eliminate them, secure the national playoff spot and advance to the FCSAA State Tournament match Sunday afternoon. (One team will be crowned state champion, but both participants in the state title game move on to the national tournament.)

After a relatively smooth opening set, CF ran into trouble as the FCSAA No. 5 Hawks responded to the challenge presented by the second-ranked Patriots. A back-and-forth set was decided by the narrowest of margins as Eleanora Kazarian's attempt at a tying kill sailed inches past the line, giving HCC a 26-24 win. The Patriots recovered to win consecutive sets and close out the Hawks.

Eleanora Kazarian posted a match-high 14 kills, while Christine Pinder added 9 kills and Vanessa Benke 8.

CF (40-6) risks elimination with every match after losing Saturday to Miami-Dade. The Patriots survived Saturday night with a sweep of host FSC-Jacksonville.

Season Preview: CF Lady Patriots Women's Basketball

Each season, CF women's basketball head coach Cheryl Rice has a script in mind. She recruits gifted athletes who will run the floor and commit to defense. She will challenge them with the most difficult out-of-conference schedule of any FCSAA program. Things begin to click down the stretch of the Mid-Florida Conference season, and they qualify for the FCSAA State Tournament as the battle-tested team nobody wants to draw in the first round.

That blueprint has worked for just shy of a decade, as this season Rice will try for her 10th straight trip to the state postseason. Last year, the Lady Patriots snuck in as the third postseason qualifier from the MFC, but erased the sting of their middling conference slate with a satisfying win over Indian River and a respectable showing against eventual state champion Pensacola.

With four returning players and a fresh crop of promising freshmen, CF seems poised to extend Rice's streak to double digits and keep its annual appointment in Marianna. The beauty of Rice's approach is that that level of achievement is considered a baseline; the potential for greater things is always present, and this year is no exception.

Last season: 18-14, 7-5 Mid-Florida Conference; FCSAA State Tournament semifinalist

Preseason ranking: FCSAA #6

Season openers: Monday, Nov. 7, 5 pm vs. Pensacola (season and home opener);

Key losses: G Janay Borum; F Moniqua Darby; F Yasmeen Thompson

Returning sophomores: G Quinnecia Twine; F Briana Gibson; F Simone High; G Nikarre Sesler

Frontcourt: Continuity is valuable for any college basketball program, and that's particularly true at the two-year level. That's why the Lady Patriot frontcourt projects to be a position of strength in 2011-12. Returning sophomores Briana Gibson and Simone High were not only on the roster a year ago, they were major contributors logging reliably productive minutes, and their presence solidifies the group considerably.

Rice has put together a diverse group of newcomers in support of Gibson and High, collecting prospects from Florida and up the Atlantic coast. Native Floridians Rona Gabriel and Shay Wright, Georgia's Brittany Taylor, Virginia's TiChina Mitchell and New Jersey's Najah Chambers give the Lady Patriots a deep reserve of talented forwards to throw at defenses in a variety of combinations.

Backcourt: Quinnecia Twine transformed from a solid starter to a legitimate first-option offensive star as her freshman season went on, culminating in a breakout performance at the FCSAA State Tournament. Her spot-on outside shooting and enhanced all-around offensive game make her a threat to pour in 20-plus points on any given night.

With an elite scorer in place, Rice focused on adding playmakers to the program in the offseason, and came away with an impressive haul. Tampa-area stars Taylor Broadnax and Dasia Daniels and Panhandle standout Jakia Grimsley all are capable of initiating the CF offense and crafting positive possessions. The guard contingent is further strengthened by Swedish import Jennifer Froden, former local stars Sherita Carter and Denisse Pozo and returning sophomore Nikarre Sesler, who lost half of her freshman campaign to injury.

CF Patriots 3, FSC-Jacksonville 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida stayed alive in the FCSAA State Tournament on Saturday night with a straight-set victory over host FSC-Jacksonville. The Patriots won 25-13, 25-18, 25-21.

CF will now face Hillsborough with a berth in the NJCAA Tournament at stake, and will have to beat the Hawks in two consecutive matches to advance. The most important match in the young history of Patriot volleyball starts at 10 am on Sunday morning. A loss will end the Patriots' inaugural season; two victories give them a national tournament berth and a Sunday afternoon state championship match.

The Patriots (39-6) successfully recovered from Saturday afternoon's heartbreaking loss to defending state champion Miami-Dade and staved off elimination. They also completed this season's conquest of their fiercest Mid-Florida Conference rival; CF swept four matches from the Stars and supplanted them as MFC champions.

Christine Pinder had 12 kills and 8 digs, Vanessa Benke 9 kills and 13 digs and Eleanora Kazarian 9 kills for the Patriots. Setter Jordyn Wright collected 32 assists.

Hutchinson 93, CF Patriots 83 (MBB)

Central Florida rounded out its season-opening trip to Kansas on Saturday with a 93-83 loss to host Hutchinson.

Guard Roosevelt Scott continued to impress early in his freshman season, posting 34 points for his second consecutive double-figure scoring night. Fellow freshman Eugene McCrory also reached double figures for the second straight game with 11 points. Sophomore transfer Christian Martinez joined the freshmen in double digits with 13 points.

CF (1-2) now heads back to Florida but remains on the road, swinging through the Tampa Bay area for dates with SCF-Manatee and St. Petersburg on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. The Patriots host Pasco-Hernando in their home opener Saturday at 7:30 pm.

Miami-Dade 3, CF Patriots 2 (Volleyball)

Central Florida played up to its growing national reputation Saturday in the second round of the FCSAA State Tournament, battling defending state champion Miami-Dade to the final set before taking the loss. The Sharks won 20-25, 25-19, 27-25, 21-25, 15-7. 

The Patriots are still alive in their pursuit of a national tournament berth. They will play again at 7 pm Saturday night, an elimination match against host FSC-Jacksonville. 

CF (38-6) entered the highly-anticipated match as the first-year upstart to Dade's established national power. The Patriots (FCSAA No. 2, NJCAA No. 11) and Sharks (FCSAA No. 1, NJCAA No. 12) were the runaway favorites entering the tournament, and their showdown Saturday did not disappoint.

After fighting off nerves to win its postseason debut Friday, the Patriots enjoyed a quick start Saturday. CF jumped to first-set leads of 11-6 and and 20-13 en route to a 25-20 opening victory.

Dade responded with the pride of a defending state champion in the second set, pulling ahead 13-10 en route to a 25-19 victory.

With each team notching a set, the teams raised their intensity for a tiebreaking third set. CF moved in front late to set up set point, 24-23. Miami-Dade's serve hit the top of the net squarely with all the trappings of a service error; instead, the ball crawled over onto CF turf and landed to tie the set. Dade rode the momentum shift to a 27-25 win in the rubber set.

But Dade had yet to absorb CF's best shot. The Patriots turned in a gritty fourth-set effort, winning 25-20 and forcing a decisive 15-point fifth set. But the more battle-tested Sharks took control of the final set, winning 15-7.

Vanessa Benke collected 17 kills and 17 digs for the Patriots, while Christine Pinder added 15 kills. Setter Jordyn Wright notched 43 assists, and Amber Wyborny recorded 21 digs.

CF Patriots 3, Indian River 0 (Volleyball)

Central Florida responded flawlessly to its debut on the postseason volleyball stage Friday, sweeping Indian River State in 3 sets in the first round of the FCSAA State Tournament. The Patriots won 25-18, 25-16, 25-19. (Click here to watch the Panhandle Broadcasting webcast.)

The Patriots advance to face defending state champion Miami-Dade on Saturday. The match starts at noon at FSC-Jacksonville's South Campus. (Tournament passes are $15 for adults and $10 for students; tickets for individual sessions are $7 for adults and $4 for students. Click here for a map to the facility.)

Miami-Dade beat FSC-Jacksonville 25-21, 25-15, 25-15 to move on, while Hillsborough and Polk State advanced on the opposite side of the bracket.

CF head coach Flavia Siqueira said the Patriots won despite the nervous energy produced by their first postseason test.

"It was visible that we were too anxious at certain points during the match, which cost us many unforced errors," Siqueira said. "We look forward to playing a better match (Saturday)."

Individual standouts for CF included Vanessa Benke (24 digs), Amber Wyborny (17 digs), Jordyn Wright (30 assists), Carolline Reis (5 blocks), and Brittany Toney (7 kills, 2 blocks).

With a win over Miami-Dade, CF will enjoy the rest of Saturday off and will play for a national tourmament berth in Sunday's 10 am district title match. With a loss, the Patriots will be forced into an elimination game Saturday night at 7 pm.

Aside from the eventual state championship match Sunday, Saturday's CF-Dade faceoff is the marquee event of the tournament. The Patriots are ranked 11th in the nation; the Sharks rank 12th. Dade is first in the state; CF is second. Dade is the established power in Florida volleyball; the Patriots are the first-year upstarts intent on regime change. Finally, the two teams staged an epic battle in their first meeting, a neutral-court duel claimed by the Sharks 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11.

CF Patriots 68, Fort Scott 55 (MBB)

The CF Patriots men's basketball team recorded its first win of the 2011-12 season Friday, handling Kansas NJCAA program Fort Scott 68-55 in Hutchinson, Kan.

A pair of freshman reserves carried the offensive load for CF, which successfully rebounded from a 3-point season-opening loss the previous night. Forward Eugene McCrory led the Patriots with 19 points, while guard Roosevelt Scott added 11.

CF (1-1) concludes its three-day visit to Hutchinson on Saturday with a game against the host Blue Dragons. The Patriots' home opener is Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 pm against Pasco-Hernando.

Volleyball Set for First Postseason Test

The FCSAA State Tournament runs Friday through Sunday at FSC-Jacksonville's South Campus (scroll down for a map to the facility). Tournament passes are $15 for adults and $10 for students; tickets for individual sessions are $7 for adults and $4 for students. The Patriots' first-round opponent is Indian River State, an unranked team that CF did not play in the regular season. The match starts at 1 pm Friday.

Whatever expectations one might have held for the inaugural season of Central Florida women's volleyball, the Patriots have likely surpassed them.

Just over two months removed from its debut, the newest addition to CF's intercollegiate athletics program has become a dominant force on the Florida scene and a power player on the national level.

The Patriots completed their regular season at 37-5, finishing strong on a 12-match win streak. They climbed to No. 11 in the national rankings, their ascent stopped only by the end of the season. They swept their six Mid-Florida Conference matches, wresting the conference crown away from defending champ FSC-Jacksonville. And while this team is too good to count moral victories, their five-set slugfest with reigning Florida juggernaut Miami-Dade proved CF as a legitimate threat to the Sharks' long-held Florida throne.

This weekend, the Patriots look to add to that list as they encounter seven Florida rivals in the FSCAA State Tournament. Two major prizes are at stake, each far shinier than any they've collected to date. Two teams will advance to the NJCAA Tournament to play for a national title. And one will be crowned state champion.

As the top two teams in the state rankings, Miami-Dade and CF are the on-paper favorites to claim the two national tournament berths and battle for the state title. But the double-elimination FCSAA tournament bracket is unpredictable, capable of producing a matchup with a hungry underdog or a wounded contender desperately clinging to survival. And the upstart Patriots, having stepped on a lot of toes and turf on their immediate climb to the top of the Florida pile, will have to defend the ground they've gained with each match.

CF's first volleyball season was always going to be historic. At the end of this weekend, it could be transcendent.

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Parkland 73, CF Patriots 70 (MBB)

Central Florida took a narrow loss in its 2011-12 men's basketball season opener, falling 73-70 to Illinois NJCAA program Parkland at Hutchinson, Kan.

The Patriot backcourt carried the offense, led by returning sophomore point guard Hunter Williams' 17 points. Sophomore transfer Christian Martinez added 15 points off the bench, while returning sophomore guard Brian Pace chipped in 14.

CF (0-1) continues its three-game stint in Hutchinson's annual season-opening invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Patriots' home opener is Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 pm against Pasco-Hernando.

Season Preview: CF Patriots Men's Basketball

The 2011-12 CF Patriots men's basketball team. Front row, left to right:
Jordan Parks; Will Saunders; Alhaji Fullah; Eugene McCrory; Jeremiah Eason.
Back row, left to right: Timmone Whatley, Roosevelt Scott; Steven Shipwash;
Hunter Williams; Jernell Hughes; Brian Pace; Christian Martinez; Luis Jacobo.

Under head coach Tim Ryan, now entering his ninth season, the CF Patriots men's basketball program has been a model of consistency. Ryan has led teams to seven postseason berths, including an active streak of six state tournament berths, and three Mid-Florida Conference titles, including last season's. Each year enough sophomore talent exits Ocala to cripple a lesser program; each year, Ryan restocks his roster and molds it into yet another contending team. 

Patriot fans could be forgiven for managing their expectations a year ago, as NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year Ricardo Ratliffe led another exodus of graduating sophomores bound for the NCAA. Ryan might have settled in for a rebuilding year, reeling from the loss of the most accomplished student-athlete in school history and searching for solid footing. Instead, the team he assembled to follow Ratliffe's dominant sophomore season gelled instantly, a disparate group of far-flung freshmen and sophomore transfers meeting the standard of team success established by Ratliffe and his outgoing class.

With that precedent set, the 2011-12 Patriots look to continue the program's tradition of championship-caliber basketball. The new group returns two starters and a proven impact scorer on the wing, a solid foundation from which to build. The incoming freshman class is overflowing with high school stars anxious to prove their college mettle; only time will tell which have the tools to make the transition.

Below, a look at the 2011-12 CF Patriots men's basketball season:

Last season: 25-7, 10-2 Mid-Florida Conference; MFC champion, FCSAA State Tournament semifinalist.

Preseason ranking: FCSAA #6

Season openers: Nov. 3-5 at Hutchinson, Kan. (season-opening road trip); Saturday, Nov. 12, 7:30 pm, vs. Pasco-Hernando (home opener); Jan. 7 vs. Santa Fe, 7:30 pm (conference opener).

Key losses: F Kevin Foster (Fresno State); F Mathiang Muo (Charleston Southern); G/F Slobodan Miljanic (Lynn); G Addison Smith (Flagler); G A.J. Holland (Sioux Falls)

Returning sophomores: C Alhaji Fullah; G Hunter Williams; G Brian Pace; G Steven Shipwash

Frontcourt: Returning starter Alhaji Fullah gives CF a top-notch shot-blocker and rebounder who can defend any opponent's featured post scorer. The 6-9 Englishman also packs an improving offensive game to add to last year's repertoire of dunks and putbacks.

Ryan has options alongside Fullah. Freshmen Eugene McCrory and Jeremiah Eason offer size, bulk and scoring on the low block. The early-season minutes, however, are likely to go to a pair of more experienced forwards in Division I transfers Luis Jacobo and Will Saunders. Jacobo starred at Stetson University as a freshman, and as such will require no acclimation to the speed and caliber of play at the NJCAA level. Saunders spent a redshirt freshman season at South Carolina-Upstate, but his years spent representing Great Britain in international play should eliminate his learning curve as well.

The wild card is 17-year-old New York City phenom Jordan Parks, a ridiculously athletic wing with seemingly endless potential. Following his progress will make for one of the more interesting subplots of the coming season.

Backcourt: Continuity is a rare and valuable commodity at the two-year level. The Patriots, then, can count themselves as wealthy, as they return both their starting point guard and their most dynamic perimeter scorer. After assuming control of the team midway through his freshman season, in-county prep product Hunter Williams returns for another year of steady-handed playmaking and brilliant outside shooting. Brian Pace, meanwhile, was a revelation as a freshman, a newcomer to organized basketball who learned to channel his raw talent into positive contributions to his team. Along with fellow returning sophomore Steven Shipwash, CF has a solid trio of guards to lead the program as the newcomers find their way.

Though his experience didn't come with the Patriots, sophomore transfer Christian Martinez is another proven NJCAA standout, having spent an impressive freshman season at FCSAA school Broward in 2009-10. Those past achievements should give him an early edge in fending off upstart freshmen Jernell Hughes, Roosevelt Scott and Timmone Whatley, each of whom has the potential to turn in a game-changing freshman year like Williams, Pace or Martinez and play havoc with the projected depth chart.

Ratliffe Watch: Looking Ahead, Looking Back

The latest edition of Ratliffe Watch, a season-long series covering the senior season of CF alum and Mizzou senior Ricardo Ratliffe, is online at Rock M Nation. Click here to read it.