News from the FCS
May 27th, 2016, 10:10 AM
http://www.eiupanthers.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2016/5/27/Newcomers_EIU_2016.jpg
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois Athletics has named Devin Church from football and Taylor Smith from volleyball as the 2016 EIU Male and Female Newcomers of the Year.* The award, in its second year of existence, honors the top male and female newcomer to EIU Athletics (freshman or transfer).* Five finalists were announced for each award at the EIU Academic/Athletic Honors Reception in May.* The winners were voted on in late May. * Church made an immediate impact on the Panther football team after transferring from the University of Illinois.** He started 10 games at running back earning second team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and All-OVC Newcomer Team honors.* He led the team in both rushing and pass receptions as the Panthers advanced to the FCS playoffs.* Church finished the year with 743 yards rushing to rank sixth in the OVC.* He has two 100-yard rushing games with a high of 125 at Tennessee State.* He scored nine rushing touchdowns with two touchdown receptions.* In EIU's FCS playoff game at Northern Iowa he set the school record for pass receptions in a game by a running back with ten catches.** He ranked 48th in the NCAA and fourth in the OVC in all-purpose yards per game at 112.83. * Smith was one of the most versatile players on the EIU volleyball team as a true freshman.* She earned Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team honors and during the season was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Oakland Invitational.* She played in all 31 matches during the season making 26 starts as the Panthers tied for second in the OVC regular season standings.* She led the league in triple-doubles (kills-assists-digs) during the season posting seven including four in OVC action.* That total set the EIU school record for triple-doubles in a season.* Despite not being the primary setter, Smith ranked tenth in the OVC in assists per set with 6.58.** * The five finalists for the EIU Male Newcomer Award included Church, Alvaro Hernandez (golf), Trevor Kerns (soccer), Demetrius McReynolds (basketball) and Tyler Yunk (cross country/track). * The five finalists for the EIU Female Newcomer Award included Smith, Kayla Bear (softball), Maddie Lyon (soccer), Lauren Oostman (swimming) and Halle Stull (basketball).*
More... (http://www.eiupanthers.com/news/2016/5/27/general-church-smith-named-eiu-top-newcomers.aspx)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois Athletics has named Devin Church from football and Taylor Smith from volleyball as the 2016 EIU Male and Female Newcomers of the Year.* The award, in its second year of existence, honors the top male and female newcomer to EIU Athletics (freshman or transfer).* Five finalists were announced for each award at the EIU Academic/Athletic Honors Reception in May.* The winners were voted on in late May. * Church made an immediate impact on the Panther football team after transferring from the University of Illinois.** He started 10 games at running back earning second team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and All-OVC Newcomer Team honors.* He led the team in both rushing and pass receptions as the Panthers advanced to the FCS playoffs.* Church finished the year with 743 yards rushing to rank sixth in the OVC.* He has two 100-yard rushing games with a high of 125 at Tennessee State.* He scored nine rushing touchdowns with two touchdown receptions.* In EIU's FCS playoff game at Northern Iowa he set the school record for pass receptions in a game by a running back with ten catches.** He ranked 48th in the NCAA and fourth in the OVC in all-purpose yards per game at 112.83. * Smith was one of the most versatile players on the EIU volleyball team as a true freshman.* She earned Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team honors and during the season was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Oakland Invitational.* She played in all 31 matches during the season making 26 starts as the Panthers tied for second in the OVC regular season standings.* She led the league in triple-doubles (kills-assists-digs) during the season posting seven including four in OVC action.* That total set the EIU school record for triple-doubles in a season.* Despite not being the primary setter, Smith ranked tenth in the OVC in assists per set with 6.58.** * The five finalists for the EIU Male Newcomer Award included Church, Alvaro Hernandez (golf), Trevor Kerns (soccer), Demetrius McReynolds (basketball) and Tyler Yunk (cross country/track). * The five finalists for the EIU Female Newcomer Award included Smith, Kayla Bear (softball), Maddie Lyon (soccer), Lauren Oostman (swimming) and Halle Stull (basketball).*
More... (http://www.eiupanthers.com/news/2016/5/27/general-church-smith-named-eiu-top-newcomers.aspx)