From Dubai to Geneseo, basketball remains constant for freshman forward

Geneseo men’s basketball freshman forward Jordi Menkhorst is an international basketball player in a very literal sense. The 6-foot-5-inch Belgium-native, San Francisco-raised ball player knew from the tender age of eight just how prominent a role basketball would play in his life. It wasn’t until he was in high school in Dubai that Menkhorst realized his passion for basketball and its indefinite presence in his future. “I just enjoyed it,” Menkhorst said. “I used to play tennis and golf when I was younger, but I really enjoyed the team concept. I think we won that first game [in high school] and I think working together with others just gave me a really good feeling. Playing in front of the crowd, playing in front of my family; that was what made it special.”

Menkhorst may not remember much about his formal introduction to the game of basketball, but one thing is for sure: the fun he had on those San Francisco playgrounds is what continues to drive his passions today. “There’s this kid I remember,“ he said. “[His] name was Michael and he just asked me one day to start playing with him and I did for pretty much every recess after that.”

It was in Dubai at 17 years old that Menkhorst attended The Global Education Management Systems World Academy where he really created a name for himself. Scoring up to a whopping 24 points per game, Menkhorst understood the value of the game.

“When I lived in Dubai, my high school basketball coach [Greg Slosek] was an Oswego native,” Menkhorst said. “He was my high school basketball coach as well as my history teacher and when I started looking into universities, one day I spotted Geneseo.”

Menkhorst turned to Slosek for help. “I asked him for advice because he played in the SUNYAC himself,” he said. “He played for [SUNY] Brockport and [SUNY] Fredonia and he said Geneseo is a really good school from an both academic and athletic standpoint.”

With the Knights set to head into the semester break, expectations are high with players and coaches alike.

“I know we have high standards this year with getting where we want to go,” Menkhorst said. “I hope I can be a part of a very special team that goes far.”

Menkhorst follows professional basketball in his spare time. That is to be expected. His favorite player, however, is not as expected.

“My favorite basketball player is [guard] Stephen Curry from the [Golden State] Warriors … I think he’s an amazing player,” he said. “I also like [San Antonio Spurs forward] Tim Duncan in terms of what [he does] for the community as well for the game … a combination of Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan, for me, would be the perfect player.”

Menkhorst and the Knights will play in the Wendy’s College Classic on Friday Dec. 5 and Saturday Dec. 6 and play Medaille College on Monday Dec. 8 before going on the semester break.

Men’s basketball hopes to return to NCAAs

With the excitement of the upcoming season, the Geneseo men’s basketball team has been hard at work in hopes of furthering its success in the NCAA Tournament this season. “I think now that this group of guys have been a part of that … they want to strive and reach for that again,” head coach Steve Minton said. “You get that taste in your mouth—which they had—and know what it was like to sit around on selection day and wait and see if Geneseo came up on the board.”

Along with the Knights’ rigorous practices—at least 14 hours per week—the team has coupled on-court responsibility with making strides off the court toward a renewed sense of the authority each player holds in a game.

“Whether it’s, ‘I’m going to be responsible for stopping this guy from getting to the basket’ or … making good decisions and being responsible for one another and what we’re doing away from the basketball court,” Minton said.

This understanding of one player being responsible for the other four on and off the court is of great importance. Minton emphasized that this is a vital part of the team’s success.

“We want to make sure that we make that part of our culture and meet that criteria,” Minton said. “That will help us to have some success in the future.”

The team is confident that the season will be a good one. Since the 2012-2013 season, the Knights have been rapidly improving their game and getting farther and farther in the postseason.

The main goal, however, is to not only win the SUNYAC Tournament, but also to be successful at the NCAA Tournament.

“To win the SUNYAC Tournament and to get to the NCAA Tournament would be a big deal and obviously the biggest goal,” Minton said. “But we also want to keep improving so that our ultimate goal of winning the SUNYAC Tournament and getting to the NCAA Tournament can be seen for us down the road.”

Success for the Knights will go beyond teamwork and preparation.

“We want to get more shots than our opponent,” Minton said. “When you take away shot opportunities for them and create more shot opportunities for [us] … [we] can get better shots.”

Although key players in last season’s success graduated, Minton still has hope that the team can go above and beyond.

“I am very confident,” Minton said. “I like our group of guys, we’ve got a veteran group of seniors and I think that our strengths are our inside play and our perimeter shooting.”

The Knights still have a vast array of very seasoned players like senior forwards Gordon Lyons, Devon Anderson and James McKenna––all who racked up a lot of minutes in last season’s games.

Over the years, the Knights have improved incrementally in every aspect. A new and improved system of responsibility should do well in furthering their past successes.

Volleyball ends season with weekend split

At the close of its season, the Geneseo volleyball team finished with an overall record of 18-9. The team didn’t do as well as it had hoped on Saturday Nov. 1, beating St. John Fisher College 3-1, but falling to Hiram College 3-1. Hiram is one of the most competitive teams in Division III women’s volleyball, however––just being able to take a set from them was an accomplishment for the Knights.

“The girls definitely overall played well against Fisher,” head coach Jennifer Salmon said. “They had a little bit of a flat … we lost a set against Fisher, but then were able to rebound and win three, which is nice. I think defensively we played really well. Aggressive serving helped us.”

The foundation of the team is tricky to pinpoint, considering there are so many factors to the team’s improvement over the previous season. The strength of that foundation, however, is undeniable. “The foundation that they laid and the groundwork is solid,” Salmon said. “I am looking forward to building on it.”

Even though the team didn’t make it to the postseason, Salmon and the team remain positive. The team is focused on the vast array of improvements it has made as a whole.

“We have a lot to be proud of and have a lot to remember this season by,” Salmon said. “If our curve goes at the same rate, it’s going to be a dominant year [next season].”

Even though the end result was not ideal, Salmon emphasized how proud she was of her team.

“Although our season has come to an end, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to coach this amazing group of young women,” she said. “The joy I feel watching the team of wonderful individuals create a special bond and truly love, value and care for each other is an invaluable experience that I will always cherish.”

The team has undoubtedly worked hard to have accomplished what it has this season. It will be interesting to see if the group can maintain some of its momentum and get back into the postseason next year.

“The strides made, accomplishments achieved, records obtained and memories created––this year will forever be in our hearts,” Salmon said.

Volleyball eliminated from playoffs despite hot start

The Geneseo volleyball team suffered quite the letdown on Saturday Oct. 25, coming up short against some of the best teams in SUNYAC. “[We’re] disappointed. Very disappointed,” head coach Jennifer Salmon said. “We had a couple of losses going into Saturday Oct. 25 that were crucial because we relied heavily on that day with the top two teams in the conference we were playing against.”

Starting on Oct. 24, the Knights played against three different schools and although they lost the matches, they showed vast improvements. The inconsistency of the team, however, is something that the players are continuing to work on. That proved to be a major vulnerability throughout the three games.

“I saw some really great volleyball from the girls—it just wasn’t consistent enough,” Salmon said. “There were some key errors … key moments that lost us a set, then a match, but I saw some great things as well.”

Although the team performed impressively, the losses ended their chances of going to the playoffs.

The team is positive nonetheless. Even though the squad won’t be playing in the SUNYAC tournament, there are still a few big matches coming up that will ultimately aid the team in its fine-tuning efforts.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Salmon said. “We’re turning a negative to a positive as we approach these last few matches with the aggressive mindset of wanting to end on a high note with a few wins.”

A bad weekend does not make a bad team. The Knights went from 13 wins in the 2013 season to 17 wins three-quarters of the way through this season.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s not bad,” Salmon said.

The metamorphosis of the team has been quite extraordinary, and it only brings wonder as to what the Knights will bring to the table next season.

“We’re a very young team, I keep reminding myself of that,” Salmon said. “Even though we have a few juniors on the roster, they’re technically sophomores [by eligibility]… this team only has a year and a half of college experience under their belt. That’s so exciting for the future.”

The volleyball team is continuing to make improvements to better themselves in their positions, on and off the court.

“We have to be able to move on and take that disappointment into a productive mentality moving forward for the last three matches of the season, which I know the girls can do,” Salmon said.

Volleyball confident heading into pool play

The Geneseo volleyball team has been successful by any standard this season. Still, there is work to be done. “We’ve been doing a lot of fine-tuning in regards to specific skills and specific things we need to execute a lot better,” head coach Jennifer Salmon said. “We’ve had the time to work on those.”

In SUNYAC pool play on Oct. 2, the women’s volleyball team will be playing two top teams: SUNY Fredonia and SUNY New Paltz. Still, the team’s confidence is as strong as ever.

“I feel like we can be 5-2 going into Saturday [after we play SUNY Oswego on Friday Oct 24],” Salmon said.

Accompanied by its “Ohana” motto, the team’s confidence is critical in determining its success. With only two new team members, the Knights were able to develop an intense chemistry with one another on and off the court.

Although they are going up against the top two teams in the conference, the team remains unfazed. Salmon is ready to to see how the girls match up.

“I’m excited about the Fredonia and New Paltz matches because they’re both really good competition,” she said. “I feel like we can compete and win one at least, if not two.”

Compared to last season, the Knights are a completely different team. At this point last year, Geneseo was already out of contention for a SUNYAC title.

“Going into the last weekend of Oct. 25 in 2013 we were 1-5,” Salmon said. “Now, we’re 4-2.”

Rather than letting nerves descend on the team, members have been buzzing with excitement. The Knights will face off with St. John Fisher College and Hiram College––a top team in the Ohio region––on Nov. 1.

All in all, the team is proving to be a force to be reckoned with as they continue to blaze a trail to redemption from two subpar seasons.

“The girls have continued to stay motivated and have been working really hard,” Salmon said.

Knights win two in opening weekend

The Geneseo volleyball team continued to leave competitors in the dust as the Knights went 2-1 in their first SUNYAC games of the season. The most important moment in the SUNYAC pool play wasn’t the loss against Buffalo State—the most important moment is deeply rooted in the Knights win against SUNY Plattsburgh. The last time Geneseo played Plattsburgh, the Knights lost 3-1.

The loss against Buffalo was a tough one. Despite the Bengals having a record of 9-7 going into the game against Geneseo, it was a hard-fought match,

“Each set was close,” head coach Jennifer Salmon said. “It was kind of like back and forth, competitive match for sure. It was a good kind of wake-up call for us in regards to what specifically we need to work on to prepare for our next three conference matchups.”

It’s definitely a good idea for the Knights to prepare for their upcoming games––this is a team that went from a 13-19 record last season to a very impressive 15-3 start this year. As the squad continues to work, a key will be its humble approach when playing the game.

“We have a lot of time to work on things,” Salmon said. “One thing I’d like to work on is endurance. I think we did get fatigued toward the end of that Buffalo State match, so we’re going to work on fitness in regards to being able to outlast our opponents.”

Although the Knights do not have a game for another couple of weeks, they are still hard at work improving the skills they have honed over this season.

“There’s always specific skills that we can improve on,” Salmon said. “I feel like you’re never perfect in any skill.”

Salmon is excited to continue the so-far successful season.

“We didn’t perform as well as we hoped to against Buffalo, but I am happy overall with the weekend,” she said. “I felt like it was a really good opening week for us.”

Volleyball prepares for start of SUNYAC play

To the untrained eye, or relying on stats alone, the Geneseo women’s volleyball team seems consistent, confident and committed, yet unrecognizable. With only two new members of the team, the majority of the Knights are returning athletes. So the question that naturally comes to mind is: what changed? Head coach Jennifer Salmon and junior defensive specialist Jia Sha believe that it cannot be pinpointed to one thing. Winning three of four games played Sept. 19 through Saturday Sept. 20, Geneseo was not deterred. Instead, the team took the experience from its one loss and applied it to the next two victories.

“We’re very good at composing ourselves, getting the job done and picking each other up,” Sha said. “The dynamic of the team is just helpful. It’s positive and easy to work around.”

The family aspect of the team is something that Salmon recognizes as a key contributor in the team’s success. “Our motto is ‘ohana,’ which means family and nobody gets left behind or forgotten,” Salmon said. “We’re all about being a family. I think that [is] … the reason why we are so successful this year.”

With the SUNYAC games quickly approaching, the team is buzzing with excitement. On Friday Sept. 26 and Saturday Sept. 27, the Knights will square off with SUNY Plattsburgh, SUNY Brockport and Buffalo State and Sha said they are thrilled to be able to see how they match up against each team.

“I’m really confident and excited to see how we face against everyone,” Sha said. “We’ve played teams this year that we lost to last year and we utterly defeated them, so this year I feel like it’s a brand new team.”

The Knights remain unfazed with an improved skillset and an appetite for success. They welcome the challenge the upcoming conference games will bring.

“If the other team gets a four point run, we don’t freak out and think that all hope is lost,” Sha said. “We pick ourselves up and … get the work done. We work harder… we don’t give up and we lay our hearts on the court and we strive to win as a team and win as a family.”

The Knights are definitely a new team with a new, winning attitude. Of course, it needs to continue in SUNYAC play for the team to truly be successful.

“This is the first weekend to show SUNYAC all about what Geneseo volleyball has evolved into,” Sha said. “I think that’s the whole essence of this weekend. Not showing off, but showing up.”

Volleyball remains positive after first loss

After an 18-year National Hockey League career, center Saku Koivu has decided to hang up the skates for good. His career consisted of two All-Star Game selections as well as being tied for the longest reigning captain in Montreal Canadiens history. He was also the first European-born player to ever lead the Habs onto the ice. He wore the C on his chest for Montreal for 14 years.

Koivu’s accomplishments, how mrever, are eclipsed by what was one of the most trying times in Canadiens history. Prior to the 2001-02 season, Koivu was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was expected to miss the entire season undergoing treatment.

In one of the Canadiens last games of season on April 9, 2002, Koivu laced up his skates and took the ice as the captain. He received an eight-minute standing ovation in the Belle Centre without a dry eye in the house. Koivu took the opening faceoff despite being on the roster as the 4th-line center.

In the 2002-03 season, Koivu posted a career-high 71 points (21 goals, 50 assists) and had nearly the best season of his career. Not only did he overcome cancer, he went one step further and put together one of the greatest campaigns in NHL history. That season is one of the most inspiring stories in sports history.

Koivu achieved more than just remission in his NHL career. He played in over 1,000 games, scored over 250 goals and had over 575 assists. Koivu wasn’t a typical, one-dimensional scorer that hockey frequently sees today. His game was a circle of assets—he kept an arsenal of skills and maneuvers to peak the potential of his game. In his prime, Koivu’s ice knowledge was as good as anyone’s in the league. His intangibles brought a winning atmosphere that brought the Habs together in the 2000s. Although he retired as an Anaheim Duck, Koivu will always be remembered as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Number 11 will go down in history as one of the most inspiring men to play the game. His dedication, admiration and selflessness brought him a lucrative and exciting career as an NHL player. Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, what Koivu accomplished on and off the ice is deserving of the utmost respect.