THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411190283
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEVIN DOEPP, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
While most of the faces on the court remain the same, the one on the sideline has changed.
That new face is coach Valerie Kepner, who succeeds Tom Palombo as the first full-time women's coach at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Kepner a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, hopes to instill readiness for every game.
``We need to come and be ready to play every night,'' said Kepner. ``Not just for Roanoke and Randolph-Macon, but for every team.''
Kepner inherits a team comprised of five seniors, four juniors, one sophomore and two freshman.
Leading the way will be Kempsville graduate Amy Beisch. Beisch, who had a team-leading 29 3-point field goals last season, will run the show at point guard.
Joining her at the guard positions will be seniors Kelly Krapfl and Ann Herring. Both are interchangeable at two and three guard. Krapfl and Herring will add to scoring from the perimeter.
Kris Hopkins and Ericka Bynum will play in the post. Bynum, a Manor graduate, led the team in rebounds a year ago with 10.9 a game. Hopkins, a Norfolk Christian graduate will start in the post and see spot time at three-guard too.
``Kris has been working hard on her post moves and Ericka is very coachable,'' said Kepner.
Off the bench in the post will be senior Carrie Warren and at the guards will be Andrea Beisch, Jackie Cordery and Amy Shindle.
``I am very confident with the first four off the bench,'' said Kepner. ``Every one of them can contribute and can get the job done.''
On top of a tough ODAC schedule, the Lady Marlins will face cross-town rival Christopher Newport as well as North Carolina Wesleyan.
``I expect us to beat Roanoke and North Carolina Wesleyan,'' Kepner said. ``It is too easy to get used to losing. If the girls invest into the program that makes winning and losing more important.'' MEMO: VIRGINIA WESLEYAN Location: Astride Norfolk/Virginia Beach border
Coach: Valerie Kepner; in her first year at VWC
Last season: 17-9; tied for third in the ODAC, lost to Roanoke in the
semifinals of the ODAC tournament.
Impact players: G Amy Beisch, 5-7 Jr. (11.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg,); F Ericka
Bynum, 6-3 Soph. (10.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg); G Kris Hopkins, 5-8 Sr. (2.7 ppg,
1.9 rpg); G Ann Herring, 5-6 Sr. (7.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg); G Kelly Krapfl, 5-6
Sr. (5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
Newcomer to watch: G Stacey Stuart, 5-6 Fr.
Prospectus: With five seniors in the starting five, Kepner won't have
to worry about experience on the floor. Point guard Amy Beisch is a
solid floor general. Andrea Beisch, Kris Hopkins and Kelly Krapfl will
be called upon to provide outside scoring. In a team of mostly guards,
forwards Ericka Bynum and Carrie Warren will have to carry the load on
the boards. The Lady Marlins will be tested early as they will face
regionally ranked N.C. Wesleyan, Roanoke and Randolph-Macon in its first
four games.
Schedule: Nov. 18, VWC Tipoff; 19, VWC Tipoff; 29, at Randolph-Macon;
Dec. 2, at Roanoke; 3, at Hollins; 5, Lynchburg, Jan. 6, Emory and
Henry; 7, Washington and Lee; 10, at Guilford; 13, Randolph-Macon
Woman's; 14, Roanoke; 17, at Washington and Lee; 21, Hollins; 24, at
Lynchburg; 26, Randolph-Macon; 28, Guilford; 31, Christopher Newport;
Feb. 3, at Eastern Mennonite; 4, at Bridgewater; 7, at Randolph-Macon
Woman's; 9, Mary Washington; 11, at Emory and Henry; 17, Eastern
Mennonite; 18, Bridgewater, 23-25, ODAC tournament
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia Wesleyan coach Valerie Kepner is the first full-time
women's coach at the school.
by CNB