From The Desk Of The Athletics Director: September 2017
9/11/2017 7:56:00 PM | UC Riverside Athletics Association
Greetings Highlander Fans, and welcome to the 2017-18 academic year.
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Although fall classes don't begin until late September, the student-athletes who represent our five fall sports have been training since early July. Their seasons are already underway, and the first victories of the year are already rolling in.
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Volleyball in particular has hit the ground running. Head Coach Michelle Patton-Coleman and her crew are off to one of the best start of the program's Division I history, and already have Big West Defensive Player of the Week (Nicole Rodriguez) and Freshman Player of the Week (Yuliya Ushakova and Nicole Rodriguez) honors on their 2017 résumé.
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As a department, we have been hard at work during the offseason in preparations for the coming year, welcoming several new members into the Highlanders' family, and expanding the duties of others so that we can continue to build on the promise of our recent success.
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We also continue to raise funds for our Bears' Den Project, and are actively pursuing plans to roll out the Nutrition Station component for this season. If you would like to take a tour of the facility, and learn more about our vision for the space, please contact Director of Development Krysta Plato at 951-827-6823.
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The Chancellor's Staff & Faculty Picnic was held on September 12, and we enjoyed seeing those of you who work at UC Riverside out and about on campus. This is always a great event for the university, and our coaches and administrators love the opportunity to mingle with the rest of our campus community.
Hopefully you had the opportunity to stop by our table, and pick up information about this season's All-Sports pass, which allows faculty and staff to attend all of our home regular season athletics events for just $50 each.
We also have a number of other exciting ticketing options this season, including special discounts for alumni. You can find out about these and all of our other promotions by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at 951-827-4653.
In addition to seeing you at our various athletics events this season, I hope you will be able to join us on the evening of Thursday, September 21. On that date, UC Riverside Athletics and Loft 84 partner to celebrate the start of the athletics season, and expand upon our relationship with the downtown Riverside area. Our Meet A Highlander, Be A Highlander event at Loft 84 runs from 5:30–7:30 pm, and you may register to attend by visiting gohighlanders.com/MeetAHighlander.
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Less than a week later, on September 27, we host our annual Welcome Back Picnic, as the entirety of our student athlete contingent returns for the start of school. This year we have added a "Cannonball" contest to the festivities, as members of each of our 17 teams will vie for bragging rights at the SRC South pool. Be on the lookout for plenty of social media posting from that event.
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Our student-athletes will also be taking part in the fourth annual Highlander Health Fair in early October. Hosted by our Sports Medicine Clinic in conjunction with The Well, the Highlander Health Fair partners with on- and off-campus entities to provide student-athletes with information and resources on mental health, nutrition, sexual violence awareness, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs, physical and dental health, time management, and other areas relevant to their short- and long-term health.
Â
It is a busy start to the 2017-18 season, but we can't wait to see you again at an upcoming UC Riverside Athletics event. Please be sure to stop by and say hello.
Â
Until next time …
Â
All the best, and Go Highlanders!
Â
Although fall classes don't begin until late September, the student-athletes who represent our five fall sports have been training since early July. Their seasons are already underway, and the first victories of the year are already rolling in.
Â
Volleyball in particular has hit the ground running. Head Coach Michelle Patton-Coleman and her crew are off to one of the best start of the program's Division I history, and already have Big West Defensive Player of the Week (Nicole Rodriguez) and Freshman Player of the Week (Yuliya Ushakova and Nicole Rodriguez) honors on their 2017 résumé.
Â
As a department, we have been hard at work during the offseason in preparations for the coming year, welcoming several new members into the Highlanders' family, and expanding the duties of others so that we can continue to build on the promise of our recent success.
Â
We also continue to raise funds for our Bears' Den Project, and are actively pursuing plans to roll out the Nutrition Station component for this season. If you would like to take a tour of the facility, and learn more about our vision for the space, please contact Director of Development Krysta Plato at 951-827-6823.
Â
The Chancellor's Staff & Faculty Picnic was held on September 12, and we enjoyed seeing those of you who work at UC Riverside out and about on campus. This is always a great event for the university, and our coaches and administrators love the opportunity to mingle with the rest of our campus community.
Hopefully you had the opportunity to stop by our table, and pick up information about this season's All-Sports pass, which allows faculty and staff to attend all of our home regular season athletics events for just $50 each.
We also have a number of other exciting ticketing options this season, including special discounts for alumni. You can find out about these and all of our other promotions by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at 951-827-4653.
In addition to seeing you at our various athletics events this season, I hope you will be able to join us on the evening of Thursday, September 21. On that date, UC Riverside Athletics and Loft 84 partner to celebrate the start of the athletics season, and expand upon our relationship with the downtown Riverside area. Our Meet A Highlander, Be A Highlander event at Loft 84 runs from 5:30–7:30 pm, and you may register to attend by visiting gohighlanders.com/MeetAHighlander.
Â
Less than a week later, on September 27, we host our annual Welcome Back Picnic, as the entirety of our student athlete contingent returns for the start of school. This year we have added a "Cannonball" contest to the festivities, as members of each of our 17 teams will vie for bragging rights at the SRC South pool. Be on the lookout for plenty of social media posting from that event.
Â
Our student-athletes will also be taking part in the fourth annual Highlander Health Fair in early October. Hosted by our Sports Medicine Clinic in conjunction with The Well, the Highlander Health Fair partners with on- and off-campus entities to provide student-athletes with information and resources on mental health, nutrition, sexual violence awareness, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs, physical and dental health, time management, and other areas relevant to their short- and long-term health.
Â
It is a busy start to the 2017-18 season, but we can't wait to see you again at an upcoming UC Riverside Athletics event. Please be sure to stop by and say hello.
Â
Until next time …
Â
All the best, and Go Highlanders!
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