Lipscomb Bisons volleyball team fended off a relentless Tennessee Tech squad on Tuesday night at Allen Arena, claiming a hard-fought 3-1 victory (25–20, 21–25, 25–16, 27–25). Behind a balanced offensive attack and high-energy middle production, Lipscomb relied on composed execution down the stretch to secure the non-conference victory before diving into Atlantic Sun Conference play (ASUN). “We continue to talk about focusing on one thing at a time,” said Sarah Baldwin, Lipscomb’s head coach. “Whether we’re up or down, we’re not gonna get 5 points all in one kill. So it’s kind of this slowly chipping away mentality to kind of get us back into a rhythm or stay on top of teams.” Lipscomb set the tone early in the opening frame, building a quick 4–2 advantage following a serve from senior outside hitter Ella Durham. The Golden Eagles kept pace midway through the set, but key kills from senior middle blocker Brooklyn Fuchs and sophomore middle blocker Sydney Strenger, both set up by junior setter Kelsey Schenck, kept the Bisons in the driver’s seat at 18–14. Despite a late push by Tennessee Tech that pulled them within four at 24–20, Lipscomb sealed the first set 25–20 on a final attack error. Tennessee Tech answered back aggressively in the second frame, racing out to a 4–0 lead highlighted by consecutive service aces from sophomore outside hitter Audrey Berkebile. Lipscomb called two early timeouts as the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 19–13. The Bisons mounted a late charge to shrink the deficit to 20–18 following back-to-back kills from freshman setter Makenna Kirlin and Fuchs, but Tennessee Tech held off the push to capture the set 25–21 and tie the match score 1–1. Refusing to let the momentum slip, Lipscomb responded with a dominant showing in the third set. Holding an 11–7 lead early, the Bisons took complete control behind a high-pressure service rotation from Strenger, which included a service ace and forced attack errors during an 8–0 run. Schenck continuously found her options in transition, and Fuchs punctuated the set with a kill to secure the 25–16 win. “I think we did a really good job taking care of the first contact to be able to find our middles in transition and service options to be able to have them be really, really successful,” Baldwin said. “I think probably Sydney Strenger or Brooklyn Fuchs did a really good job holding the team up when we needed them the most, or we just needed some sort of kill, and they found a way.” The fourth set delivered a high-wire finish, featuring 12 ties and constant back-and-forth scoring. Lipscomb took an early 6–3 lead before Tennessee Tech rallied to knot the score at 11–11 and again at 14–14. The teams traded punches into extra points down the stretch: • 20–20: Fuchs buried a pass from defensive specialist Kenzie Kucks to tie the frame. • 21–20: Fuchs struck again on an unassisted kill to give Lipscomb the advantage and force a Golden Eagles timeout. • 23–23: After a successful challenge preserved a crucial point for Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech answered with a kill from freshman setter Morgan Petelin to tie the frame once more. • 24–23: Tennessee Tech earned a set point off a solo block from sophomore middle blocker Jordyn Milhouse, but an unforced setting error by the Golden Eagles brought the score back to 24–24. • 25–24: Strenger put the Bisons on match point with a kill off Schenck, but Tennessee Tech saved the point to knot the score at 25–25. • 26–25 & Match: Strenger connected on another clutch kill to give Lipscomb its second match point, and a final attack error by Tech junior outside hitter Alayna Pierce finalized the 27–25 victory for the Bisons. Schenck credited the team’s locker room reset following the second-set stumble for their late-game resilience. “Our main focus was just having a lot of energy there at the end and just getting a good pass and finding my hitters,” Schenck said. “After the second set… we kind of were just like, ‘We gotta be us.’ Second set was not us at all. And so we just kind of had to come back out and play Lipscomb volleyball.” Schenck also expressed appreciation for the home crowd at Allen Arena, which included visiting youth players from local schools. “They’re awesome,” Schenck said. “We get to work a few camps in the summer for Nashville Christian, so it’s so good to see them come out and support and get to hang out with them. And we just love our fans. They are the best.” The Bisons (6–3) now turn their attention to conference play as they travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to take on Bellarmine University on Saturday, Sept. 26. “I think minimizing the runs from the other teams [is key],” Baldwin said. “Sometimes we drop into these bigger margins of losing points all at the same time. And so can we cut those leads or runs of points a little bit smaller increments or just stop them altogether.” Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez
The energy was vibrant and the mission was clear as Raíces, Lipscomb University’s Latino and Hispanic student organization, gathered in the Office of Intercultural Development (OID) to launch the new semester. The introductory kickoff event, held from 3 to 5 p.m., began with a formal presentation from the club’s leadership introducing the new officer board and laying out their vision for the coming months. For Raíces President Joseph Llerena, a senior data analytics major, the afternoon was a celebration of how far the organization has come since its inception in the spring of 2021. “Today was our first event of the semester,” Joseph said. “It’s to talk about Raíces, what it’s mainly about, its mission, and to introduce our officers for the semester.” Once the officer presentations concluded, the OID space shifted into a lively social hour centered around community and comfort food. Students lined up for a catered spread from local favorite Baja Burrito, before filling the room with laughter, chatter and connection. Creating an approachable environment where students can let their guard down is exactly why officers like Josue Rivas, a sophomore biology education major and the club’s outreach coordinator, stepped into leadership. “I’m just very social. I love to talk,” Rivas shared, reflecting on how the previous president nudged him into the role. “He low-key kind of made a decision for me, but it was worth it because it’s fun. I love talking to people and I love being a community together.” For Rivas, the kickoff afternoon is essential for breaking the ice for students who might otherwise stay on the sidelines. “All the Hispanic kids on campus, they’d be scared to go make friends and stuff,” Rivas said. “It’s like a place where they can all congregate and get to know one another and see other people that they can relate to.” At its core, Raíces which translates to “roots” in Spanish, is designed to be a vibrant cultural hub on campus where heritage is celebrated. “What Raíces is all about at Lipscomb is they’re a Latino Hispanic organization that showcases their culture and heritage through authentic food, dancing, music and plenty of fun activities,” Joseph explained. However, the club’s vision extends far beyond a single demographic. Leadership emphasizes that the organization is a welcoming space for anyone looking to learn, share and connect. “Raíces is open to everybody on campus,” Joseph added. “So anybody can join in and have all the fun with us. The main goal is to bring people together.” A major focus for Raíces this year is intersectionality and collaboration. Joseph highlighted a desire to build stronger bridges with Lipscomb’s other affinity groups, creating a unified network of student culture. “The goal is to also bring in other cultures from the other affinity clubs, right? Like the Asian American Student Association, the Black Student Association or African Student Association,” Joseph said. “[We want] to bring together and to be connected with each other, through our culture and heritage.” Since its founding in 2021, Raíces has experienced a massive surge in student interest. What started as a foundational effort has exploded into a major campus presence, boasting over 100 members in their group chat this semester alone. Joseph attributes much of this growth to high-profile campus collaborations, particularly during Hispanic Heritage Month. The club frequently partners with Student Life and the OID, the very space that hosted the afternoon’s kickoff for major traditions like Fall Fiesta. Looking ahead, students can expect to see Raíces deeply involved across campus this autumn, starting with a special Hispanic Heritage Month Art Gallery in collaboration with the OID. With a record-breaking turnout, Raíces hopes to prove that its roots on Lipscomb’s campus are growing deeper than ever. Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez
This Friday, Sept. 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. In recent years, Lipscomb University has partaken in the nation’s memoriam of the devastating attacks by planting American flags all over the Square. With this year being the 25th anniversary, Lipscomb staff has put together a full day of activities in which students can learn about 9/11 and how it changed the nation. The events will begin on the Bell Tower steps at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony. Director of Veteran Services Samuel Lynn will give a speech. Alongside him the Lipscomb Concert Choir will perform an acapella rendition of “God Bless America,” the same way Congress did on the night of 9/11. After that a blood drive will begin in the Paul Rogers Boardroom at 9:30 a.m. and will run to 2:00 p.m. Every pint of blood donated will lead to a donation to first responders. Participants will receive a free t-shirt. At 10 a.m., 11a.m and 1 p.m. there will be showings of three different short documentaries that focus on personal impact stories. All three screenings will be in Shamblin Theater. The final major event of the day is a 2,200 stair-climb honoring first responders who climbed 110 flights of stairs. While climbing, participants can listen to the story of Welles Crowther, also known as the Man in the Red Bandana. The event will take place in Allen Arena at noon and will run until 2 p.m. The first 200 to arrive will receive a red bandana. Lynn played a major role in putting this year’s event together. While past events only took a couple weeks of preparation, he explained that this year’s event has been in the works since March because of the anniversary’s significance. “We’re recognizing that this is not just a remembrance event anymore,” Lynn said. “This is also an opportunity. Most of our graduate students either weren’t born yet or they were infants when it happened. So, for those of us that remember it, it’s an incredibly… sobering event. But for you guys, while you may not have been around when it happened, all of our undergraduate students and most of our graduate students were at least born during the time of war that happened in the aftermath of it, so you’re still connected to it.” Part of what makes this year’s event so much larger than the previous ones is that Lynn and his team set out to plant a flag for each person that passed away on 9/11. Flags will be set up in a way that represents the lives lost in four different places: the North tower, the South tower, the Pentagon and Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. “60% the North Tower. 32% of the casualties from the South Tower. 3% at the Pentagon and 1.7 [Flight 93],” he said. “So if you want to know the breakdown, 2,977 total lives were lost. 1,792 of those in the North Tower, 952 in the South Tower, 189 in the Pentagon. 07:28 and 44 from Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when the passengers took over.” The 2,977 flags will be placed on the lawn by the campus’ Bell Tower on Sept. 10. At its center will be a flagpole with a flag featuring the names of those who perished. Adjacent to these flags will also be a 10-by 20-foot tent that will be walkthrough timeline of events. Boards inside will be dedicated to the events, aftermath and heroes of 9/11. This will be available throughout the day. “Encourage your friends to come out,” said Jimmie Handley, outreach coordinator for veteran services. “Here there are so many wonderful people that are at this university that during aftermath went and sacrificed to ensure that you all could be here doing what you’re doing now. And do it in a loving, friendly way.” Feature image shot by Frances Inwood.
Lipscomb Bisons volleyball team fended off a relentless Tennessee Tech squad on Tuesday night at Allen Arena, claiming a hard-fought 3-1 victory (25–20, 21–25, 25–16, 27–25). Behind a balanced offensive attack and high-energy middle production, Lipscomb relied on composed execution down the stretch to secure the non-conference victory before diving into Atlantic Sun Conference play (ASUN). “We continue to talk about focusing on one thing at a time,” said Sarah Baldwin, Lipscomb’s head coach. “Whether we’re up or down, we’re not gonna get 5 points all in one kill. So it’s kind of this slowly chipping away mentality to kind of get us back into a rhythm or stay on top of teams.” Lipscomb set the tone early in the opening frame, building a quick 4–2 advantage following a serve from senior outside hitter Ella Durham. The Golden Eagles kept pace midway through the set, but key kills from senior middle blocker Brooklyn Fuchs and sophomore middle blocker Sydney Strenger, both set up by junior setter Kelsey Schenck, kept the Bisons in the driver’s seat at 18–14. Despite a late push by Tennessee Tech that pulled them within four at 24–20, Lipscomb sealed the first set 25–20 on a final attack error. Tennessee Tech answered back aggressively in the second frame, racing out to a 4–0 lead highlighted by consecutive service aces from sophomore outside hitter Audrey Berkebile. Lipscomb called two early timeouts as the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 19–13. The Bisons mounted a late charge to shrink the deficit to 20–18 following back-to-back kills from freshman setter Makenna Kirlin and Fuchs, but Tennessee Tech held off the push to capture the set 25–21 and tie the match score 1–1. Refusing to let the momentum slip, Lipscomb responded with a dominant showing in the third set. Holding an 11–7 lead early, the Bisons took complete control behind a high-pressure service rotation from Strenger, which included a service ace and forced attack errors during an 8–0 run. Schenck continuously found her options in transition, and Fuchs punctuated the set with a kill to secure the 25–16 win. “I think we did a really good job taking care of the first contact to be able to find our middles in transition and service options to be able to have them be really, really successful,” Baldwin said. “I think probably Sydney Strenger or Brooklyn Fuchs did a really good job holding the team up when we needed them the most, or we just needed some sort of kill, and they found a way.” The fourth set delivered a high-wire finish, featuring 12 ties and constant back-and-forth scoring. Lipscomb took an early 6–3 lead before Tennessee Tech rallied to knot the score at 11–11 and again at 14–14. The teams traded punches into extra points down the stretch: • 20–20: Fuchs buried a pass from defensive specialist Kenzie Kucks to tie the frame. • 21–20: Fuchs struck again on an unassisted kill to give Lipscomb the advantage and force a Golden Eagles timeout. • 23–23: After a successful challenge preserved a crucial point for Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech answered with a kill from freshman setter Morgan Petelin to tie the frame once more. • 24–23: Tennessee Tech earned a set point off a solo block from sophomore middle blocker Jordyn Milhouse, but an unforced setting error by the Golden Eagles brought the score back to 24–24. • 25–24: Strenger put the Bisons on match point with a kill off Schenck, but Tennessee Tech saved the point to knot the score at 25–25. • 26–25 & Match: Strenger connected on another clutch kill to give Lipscomb its second match point, and a final attack error by Tech junior outside hitter Alayna Pierce finalized the 27–25 victory for the Bisons. Schenck credited the team’s locker room reset following the second-set stumble for their late-game resilience. “Our main focus was just having a lot of energy there at the end and just getting a good pass and finding my hitters,” Schenck said. “After the second set… we kind of were just like, ‘We gotta be us.’ Second set was not us at all. And so we just kind of had to come back out and play Lipscomb volleyball.” Schenck also expressed appreciation for the home crowd at Allen Arena, which included visiting youth players from local schools. “They’re awesome,” Schenck said. “We get to work a few camps in the summer for Nashville Christian, so it’s so good to see them come out and support and get to hang out with them. And we just love our fans. They are the best.” The Bisons (6–3) now turn their attention to conference play as they travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to take on Bellarmine University on Saturday, Sept. 26. “I think minimizing the runs from the other teams [is key],” Baldwin said. “Sometimes we drop into these bigger margins of losing points all at the same time. And so can we cut those leads or runs of points a little bit smaller increments or just stop them altogether.” Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez
The energy was vibrant and the mission was clear as Raíces, Lipscomb University’s Latino and Hispanic student organization, gathered in the Office of Intercultural Development (OID) to launch the new semester. The introductory kickoff event, held from 3 to 5 p.m., began with a formal presentation from the club’s leadership introducing the new officer board and laying out their vision for the coming months. For Raíces President Joseph Llerena, a senior data analytics major, the afternoon was a celebration of how far the organization has come since its inception in the spring of 2021. “Today was our first event of the semester,” Joseph said. “It’s to talk about Raíces, what it’s mainly about, its mission, and to introduce our officers for the semester.” Once the officer presentations concluded, the OID space shifted into a lively social hour centered around community and comfort food. Students lined up for a catered spread from local favorite Baja Burrito, before filling the room with laughter, chatter and connection. Creating an approachable environment where students can let their guard down is exactly why officers like Josue Rivas, a sophomore biology education major and the club’s outreach coordinator, stepped into leadership. “I’m just very social. I love to talk,” Rivas shared, reflecting on how the previous president nudged him into the role. “He low-key kind of made a decision for me, but it was worth it because it’s fun. I love talking to people and I love being a community together.” For Rivas, the kickoff afternoon is essential for breaking the ice for students who might otherwise stay on the sidelines. “All the Hispanic kids on campus, they’d be scared to go make friends and stuff,” Rivas said. “It’s like a place where they can all congregate and get to know one another and see other people that they can relate to.” At its core, Raíces which translates to “roots” in Spanish, is designed to be a vibrant cultural hub on campus where heritage is celebrated. “What Raíces is all about at Lipscomb is they’re a Latino Hispanic organization that showcases their culture and heritage through authentic food, dancing, music and plenty of fun activities,” Joseph explained. However, the club’s vision extends far beyond a single demographic. Leadership emphasizes that the organization is a welcoming space for anyone looking to learn, share and connect. “Raíces is open to everybody on campus,” Joseph added. “So anybody can join in and have all the fun with us. The main goal is to bring people together.” A major focus for Raíces this year is intersectionality and collaboration. Joseph highlighted a desire to build stronger bridges with Lipscomb’s other affinity groups, creating a unified network of student culture. “The goal is to also bring in other cultures from the other affinity clubs, right? Like the Asian American Student Association, the Black Student Association or African Student Association,” Joseph said. “[We want] to bring together and to be connected with each other, through our culture and heritage.” Since its founding in 2021, Raíces has experienced a massive surge in student interest. What started as a foundational effort has exploded into a major campus presence, boasting over 100 members in their group chat this semester alone. Joseph attributes much of this growth to high-profile campus collaborations, particularly during Hispanic Heritage Month. The club frequently partners with Student Life and the OID, the very space that hosted the afternoon’s kickoff for major traditions like Fall Fiesta. Looking ahead, students can expect to see Raíces deeply involved across campus this autumn, starting with a special Hispanic Heritage Month Art Gallery in collaboration with the OID. With a record-breaking turnout, Raíces hopes to prove that its roots on Lipscomb’s campus are growing deeper than ever. Featured Image taken by Harold Espinoza Lopez
This Friday, Sept. 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. In recent years, Lipscomb University has partaken in the nation’s memoriam of the devastating attacks by planting American flags all over the Square. With this year being the 25th anniversary, Lipscomb staff has put together a full day of activities in which students can learn about 9/11 and how it changed the nation. The events will begin on the Bell Tower steps at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony. Director of Veteran Services Samuel Lynn will give a speech. Alongside him the Lipscomb Concert Choir will perform an acapella rendition of “God Bless America,” the same way Congress did on the night of 9/11. After that a blood drive will begin in the Paul Rogers Boardroom at 9:30 a.m. and will run to 2:00 p.m. Every pint of blood donated will lead to a donation to first responders. Participants will receive a free t-shirt. At 10 a.m., 11a.m and 1 p.m. there will be showings of three different short documentaries that focus on personal impact stories. All three screenings will be in Shamblin Theater. The final major event of the day is a 2,200 stair-climb honoring first responders who climbed 110 flights of stairs. While climbing, participants can listen to the story of Welles Crowther, also known as the Man in the Red Bandana. The event will take place in Allen Arena at noon and will run until 2 p.m. The first 200 to arrive will receive a red bandana. Lynn played a major role in putting this year’s event together. While past events only took a couple weeks of preparation, he explained that this year’s event has been in the works since March because of the anniversary’s significance. “We’re recognizing that this is not just a remembrance event anymore,” Lynn said. “This is also an opportunity. Most of our graduate students either weren’t born yet or they were infants when it happened. So, for those of us that remember it, it’s an incredibly… sobering event. But for you guys, while you may not have been around when it happened, all of our undergraduate students and most of our graduate students were at least born during the time of war that happened in the aftermath of it, so you’re still connected to it.” Part of what makes this year’s event so much larger than the previous ones is that Lynn and his team set out to plant a flag for each person that passed away on 9/11. Flags will be set up in a way that represents the lives lost in four different places: the North tower, the South tower, the Pentagon and Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. “60% the North Tower. 32% of the casualties from the South Tower. 3% at the Pentagon and 1.7 [Flight 93],” he said. “So if you want to know the breakdown, 2,977 total lives were lost. 1,792 of those in the North Tower, 952 in the South Tower, 189 in the Pentagon. 07:28 and 44 from Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when the passengers took over.” The 2,977 flags will be placed on the lawn by the campus’ Bell Tower on Sept. 10. At its center will be a flagpole with a flag featuring the names of those who perished. Adjacent to these flags will also be a 10-by 20-foot tent that will be walkthrough timeline of events. Boards inside will be dedicated to the events, aftermath and heroes of 9/11. This will be available throughout the day. “Encourage your friends to come out,” said Jimmie Handley, outreach coordinator for veteran services. “Here there are so many wonderful people that are at this university that during aftermath went and sacrificed to ensure that you all could be here doing what you’re doing now. And do it in a loving, friendly way.” Feature image shot by Frances Inwood.