Paul Williams is a junior guard on the University of Dayton men’s basketball team. He has started 21 out of the 23 games this season, and ranks third on the team with 8.9 points per game because of 43.3 percent three-point shooting.

After being injured in a loss at Duquesne University on Sunday, Jan. 30, Williams appeared off the bench in UD’s 63-61 victory over St. Bonaventure University on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at UD Arena. He scored four points and collected three rebounds in 23 hard-nosed minutes, bringing the Flyers to an even 4-4 in Atlantic 10 Conference play this season.

Dayton returns to A-10 action this weekend in Philadelphia with a road date at La Salle University on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m.

Flyer News: How do you feel after this St. Bonaventure victory and what does this mean for the team?

Paul Williams: “This is a huge win. You know, this puts us back at even now and we start the second half on the road, and La Salle is a great team so we just got to get ready to play them.”

FN: What did you see differently in the second half defensively against the Bonnies?

PW: “It wasn’t just in the second half, I think we got pressure on them in the first half so they moved over to the second half and they started get going. After that, the bench came in and gave us a good lift, so I was happy about that.”

FN: And in that second half, it seemed there were some key shots from you, redshirt junior Josh Parker and others off the bench. Were you getting more confidence as the game continued?

PW: “You know we have to come in and be ready, no matter who starts. Whoever comes in, we have to help because you know what they say, it is more than five players every game so we got to come in and do the best we can.”

FN: What did you see overall that this team can take moving forward?

PW: “We just got to get better. You know, this isn’t going to happen overnight so we just got to come in and work tomorrow, then Saturday is game time. So hopefully we take more than two steps forward before Saturday.”

FN: Looking at the second half of the A-10 schedule, what are you looking forward to in terms of team improvements?

PW: “Ah nothing, we just got buy in, do what we do, and most importantly, we just have to compete. You know, I think we don’t just to go get out there playing, but we got to compete, play hard, and play Dayton basketball.”

Claire Dreyer is a freshman on the University of Dayton women’s tennis team. She was one of the most highly touted recruits in Flyers program history, and began the spring season as the No. 1 slotted player in the rotation.

After transitioning to the collegiate style of play in the fall, Dreyer then struggled in the team’s loss to begin the spring against nationally ranked Miami University Saturday, Jan. 22. She then showed her promise in UD’s next match, earning an 8-6 doubles victory alongside freshman Maureen Stevens, and then winning her individual contest in straight sets against Ball State University on Saturday, Jan. 29, at Five Seasons Sports Complex in Dayton.

The women’s tennis team continues play on the road against Butler University on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

Flyer News: First off, how do you think you played against Ball State University?

Claire Dreyer: “Today, I thought that I played pretty well, I mean the girl [her opponent] was definitely a good player, but I just stayed consistent and was focused. But I think that we’re going to get a victory today, and that means a lot to the team because we just need some momentum to get us going. We have so much talent and I’m just really excited.”

FN: How do you think the initial team doubles victory triggered the remaining performances?

CD: “Oh my gosh, like all that momentum, going in with a doubles point is so important just to like get the momentum going like I said. But it just gets everybody happy and just like positive.”

FN: As a freshman, do you think you got some butterflies out of your system with the big win today?

CD: “Yeah for sure, I was like so nervous. Especially our other match against Miami, I was like freaking out. But it’s so fun to be out here with everybody, everybody’s just so nice.”

FN: What are you looking forward to most with the remainder of the season with this victory in hand?

CD: “I think just staying positive and I want everyone to believe that we can win, because we are so talented as a team and I just think we can do so well and I’m excited to see where we’re going to go.”

Julie Kirkland is a sophomore on the University of Dayton women’s tennis team. As a freshman last year for the Flyers, she was named the team’s Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 14 doubles victories and 11 individual wins.

Previously slotted as UD’s No. 1 player, Kirkland is taking a back seat to a more talented group of contributors for the 2010-2011 season. The spring schedule began with a tough victory to nationally ranked Miami University, but Dayton responded with a convincing 6-1 victory over Ball State University on Saturday, Jan. 29, at Five Seasons Sports Complex in Dayton.

The women’s tennis team continues play on the road against Butler University on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

Flyer News: For you, what was it like to start off with the good doubles play and ride that momentum toward an overall victory against Ball State?

Julie Kirkland: “It was really neat actually because I’ve never played [doubles] with Kelly [O’Connell, senior]. I’ve always been, I played like No. 1 doubles last year so I’m further down the lineup [now], but it was a really good match and I was really pumped to get into it even though I’m a little sick. So we pulled it out and it was good.”

FN: What does this win mean for the team after the difficult loss to Miami last week?

JK: “Yeah, last week was kind of rough, but I think we recovered and it was so getting our nerves out because we have a lot of new freshmen on the team so we’re getting used to that. But this match was way better.”

FN: You aren’t a freshman anymore either, so what’s that experience like for you to not be one of the newest kids on the team?

JK: “A lot different, I can definitely say that. I guess I’m kind of used to the coach more, and we have 7 a.m. practices so I’m used to that. But I feel like I’m more of a role model since I’m older, I feel like I’m kind of setting an example and goals for them.”

FN: You were the team MVP in 2010, what can do you do help out the rest of the team members with a different role this season?

JK: “I think mainly just trying to keep everyone together as a team. Because last year we kind of lacked that, it was cool playing No. 1, but then again, we didn’t really have the team aspect and everyone kind of did their own thing. So this year it doesn’t matter where I play, I just want to, since I’m older, make it more of a team thing.”

FN: Has that mentality helped out so far?

JK: “Yeah definitely, and we are even hanging out outside of tennis, so that didn’t happen last year.”

Devin Searcy is a starting senior forward for the University of Dayton men’s basketball team. He is currently averaging 4.4 points per contest and ranks third on the team with 4.6 rebounds in his 17.0 minutes per game.

Searcy began the year with a bang as he scored a career-high 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in UD’s season-opening victory against Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. Since that point, Searcy’s production has cooled down as Dayton’s schedule has increased with difficulty into the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule.

After a tough loss to the University of Richmond at UD Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 25, the Flyers travel to Duquesne University for another pivotal A-10 battle Sunday, Jan. 29. UD currently owns a 3-3 record in the conference while the surprising Dukes are undefeated and tied with Xavier University for the conference lead.

Flyer News: What do you think your team can take from this Richmond loss going forward?

Devin Searcy: “Just we got to get back on track in practice really. We just got to come together and learn from this top to bottom really, even us older guys who tend to take things for granted and think things will just fall into place. We got to go out there every day and earn it, and that starts in practice and the other stuff away from the court. We need to prepare and do whatever is necessary and prepare to beat Duquesne, they are 6-0 so we just got to get ready for that.”

FN: Was this a tough week for you guys after the week of relaxation leading up to the Fordham University game on Saturday, Jan. 22?

DS: “I wouldn’t say it was a tough week, I’d say we had some pretty good practices but we just got to bring it every day, you know, instead of picking and choosing. And that lies within our leadership positions, I mean the quicker we can get with things like that, the better team we will be.”

FN: Those second half offensive rebounds seemed like a staple of your game, is that something you pride yourself on?

DS: “Yeah I mean, that’s just effort really, you don’t have to be the most skilled person to get rebounds, you just try to go after them with everything you got and if you get them, you get them, but if you don’t, at least you tried.”

FN: Talking about Duquesne and your rivalry with them over the last few years, what’s on your mind about them?

DS: “Only thing you need to say is they [are] 6-0 [and] No. 1 in the league. And we know what we have to do and we just have to prepare and get ready to get it done.”

Josh Parker is a redshirt junior on the University of Dayton men’s basketball team, and he scored a career-high 27 points in UD’s 91-57 victory over Fordham University on Saturday, Jan. 22. He made eight three pointers, one away from the school record, and helped the team improve to 3-2 in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

Parker transferred from Drake University following his sophomore year and was forced to sit out the entire 2009-2010 season due to NCAA regulations. He currently leads all bench players with 8.6 points in 18.8 minutes per game, along with 2.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds.

Flyer News: Have you ever had a streak like that in a game?

Josh Parker: “Ah no, I felt like the basket was a big ocean tonight and everybody kept finding me. Josh Benson was getting big rebounds, Juwan Staten was passing me the ball, and everybody [helped like] Devin Oliver off the bench and Brandon Spearman stepped up big and [Chris] Wright of course. So it was good, and I’m glad we got the win, but now it’s time to focus on the game Tuesday.”

FN: How critical is it for you guys to be energetic again Tuesday, Jan. 25, at home against the University of Richmond?

JP: “It’s just now taking in this win and getting prepared for Richmond and we’ve got to come in ready to win and ready to get prepared, and play a great game Tuesday. We are looking forward to it and now it’s time to get back to work.”

FN: What did it mean for you to have a new career-high as a Dayton Flyer?

JP: “It felt good man, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my coaches were telling me, ‘If you’ve got the shot, take it.’ So I was just out there and getting confidence, and like I said, just continue to go out there and feel good and I had confidence and my teammates had confidence in me, so it felt good.”

FN: Did tonight’s style of play fit your game?

JP: “Yeah definitely, you know, I love a fast-paced game, and once we defend, we can rebound and then we can run. And that’s our game and it started on the defensive end, so it’s just great we’ve got athletes that can play defense and rebound and can play our game and run, so it’s just great it worked out for us.”

FN: The team attempted 17 threes in each half, was that a sign of a few heat checks at the end for you?

JP: “Yeah, it was just the confidence of my coaches to keep telling me, ‘If you’ve got a shot, go ahead and knock it down.’ And my teammates had confidence in me and it was just flowing and I felt like the basket was a big ocean for me tonight, so now we’ve got the win and just got to get ready for focusing on Tuesday because we know it’s going to be a big game.”

FN: How meaningful was this victory for the team?

JP: “You know, it was big after the Xavier [University] game we wanted to come out strong, and we worked hard in practice and we trusted each other that we knew we had to come out with energy and that’s what we did tonight. They [Fordham] are a great team, they are well-coached and they are going to be great, so it’s just a blessing that we got the win tonight and we just got to continue to work hard and be prepared for the next game.”

Jerica DeWolfe was a senior midfielder for the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference champion University of Dayton women’s soccer team. The A-10’s Midfielder of the Year, DeWolfe helped lead the Flyers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past season.

She started all but one of the team’s 23 games and finished second with 18 points (six goals and six assists). UD finished with a 19-3-1 record this year and she will be graduating alongside goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers, defender Ali Giner, midfielder Tori Oelschlager, and midfielder/forward Kelly Blumenschein.

Flyer News: What was in your mindset starting this season as a senior in leading this team?

Jerica DeWolfe: I think I thought a lot about the fact that I’ve been playing since I was four years old and I’ve just been working for so long and to know that this year was the end of my soccer career was very bittersweet for me. I couldn’t end my soccer career not being proud for [how] I was performing so I didn’t want to end my season with the team or anything I wasn’t proud of or I couldn’t being confident that I didn’t put in a very strong effort.

FN: How would you describe your overall senior year with the Flyers?

JW: The girls will tell you, when we won the A-10 championship, I couldn’t stop thanking people and I was just a babbling fool and I just was crying. That’s just because we had had some troubles in the semis and the final was a rough match, and I felt that I’m getting old. I was getting old during the whole entire thing, I was bruised from head to toe, and finally, my knee was giving me trouble. And then the last match was just a battle for the whole entire time – we were up and then we were down, we were up and then we were down – I just couldn’t have been more happy with the way things turned out and just like more proud of the effort that we all put into it.

FN: What does it mean to you to be recognized by the A-10 as the Midfielder of the Year?

JW: That’s awesome, and I’m sure it has a lot to do with the fact that our team is doing so well, so obviously it has a lot to do with everybody and thanks to them. Soccer is always like there is always a lot of adversity and a ton of struggles and everything, so it is nice to kind of be recognized amidst all of the stuff that goes on with everything. It felt good finally to have someone recognize that you are talent. And I always talk about when I’m older that it is going to be a struggle to convince my kids that I was once like half decent at soccer, so this will help I guess [in] being able to say, ‘no really I did, I did do good things.’

FN: How cool is it for you to look back upon your four years at Dayton with the program being in a much better position for the future?

JW: Absolutely yeah, I think, I don’t know, I just think that our class was kind of a catalyst to the whole entire thing and the class above us. I think we were all, and I think our class had a discipline and a kind of like tenacity and a kind of dedication that was very unique. We all take a great deal of pride in the way we play and we don’t allow distractions to kind of take away from what we are doing. And I just am thinking about the freshman and the way they are here, them not maybe having as much playing time as they would like or whatever, but they are now at a school that the standard is to be winning the A-10 every year and then to be going to the NCAA. So I can’t imagine what they are thinking and that must be very exciting for them.

Lisa Rodgers was the senior goalkeeper for the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference champion University of Dayton women’s soccer team. After missing the majority of the 2009 season with a major knee injury, Rodgers bounced back in 2010 to help lead the Flyers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

In her 17 games played this season, Rodgers allowed just nine goals while recording 12 shutouts en route to a 15-1-1 record behind the net. That final overtime loss came via a 4-2 penalty kick defeat against Ohio State University on Sunday, Nov. 14 in Columbus, Ohio.

Rodgers was named one of four UD representatives on the A-10 First Team All-Conference this past season. She is one of five seniors graduating from the squad this year alongside defender Ali Giner, midfielder Tori Oelschlager, midfielder Jerica DeWolfe and midfielder/forward Kelly Blumenschein.

(Interview recorded on Sunday, Nov. 14)

Flyer News: As a senior, how was it for you to make it back to the NCAA Tournament and have the success that you did?

Lisa Rodgers: It felt really good, it’s becoming a staple for the program and it was not more of a surprise, it was more of an expectation.

FN: What has it meant for you to be able to play some of the NCAA’s best schools in the tournament?

LR: It’s really exciting because we actually compare very well to them and our conference doesn’t really give ourselves justice, I would say, so it’s always good to play a powerhouse.

FN: What were you feeling today heading into the overtime and penalty kicks against Ohio State?

LR: I was feeling pretty confident that our girls were going to pull it out in the PK’s, but it just didn’t happen today. But I give credit to Ohio State, they finished well and they executed.

FN: Head coach Mike Tucker talked the world of your performance in that contest, what did it mean for you to be able to play them again this season?

LR: I mean, it was tough, but we competed very well and everyone left everything on the field, so I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my teammates.

(Interview recorded on Monday, Dec. 6)

FN: Coming back from your injury last season, what did it mean for you to be able to contribute much more to the team this year?

LR: It was just really great to get back out there, and to be able to contribute to the team’s success on the field. And it was just really nice to be able to help my teammates out and to get to where we did.

FN: Did you think based on your success against OSU and Virginia Tech University that UD could stop any team in the country? What does that mean for the program?

LR: Yeah, I think we can pretty much compete with pretty much anyone out there with the players that we have. And it would be nice to see, I mean next year they have a tougher schedule than this years’, so they will be able to better compare themselves than this year.

FN: When do you plan on graduating and do you have any future soccer plans?

LR: I plan on graduating in the spring, and no, I plan on going to grad school for physical therapy.

FN: Any final thoughts on your UD career?

LR: I couldn’t have asked anymore from the Flyer program, it was a great experience for me over the past four years. And I would just like to thank all of my teammates and coaches, and it was just been a great experience.

Senior thrower Mallory Barnes became the first ever track and field All-American at the University of Dayton last season. She was named the Atlantic 10 Conference’s Most Outstanding Field Performer last season with titles in the shot put and the hammer throw, and her sixth place weight throw finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships gave her the national nod.

The Flyers began the 2010-2011 season with the Oiler Opener in Findlay, Ohio on Friday, Dec. 3. It was a well balanced performance by UD with sixth athletes placing in the top three in their respective events, and the schedule resumes with the Bowling Green State University Team Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Flyer News: What are your expectations for the team as a whole this season?

Mallory Barnes: This year I have high expectations for the season. I expect for every person to exceed their own expectations as well as what others expect from them. There are a number of people on the team that have the ability to compete at the national level both indoor and outdoor. As a captain, my goal for the team is to win the A-10 championship title both indoor and outdoor, in addition to having more people compete at the national level. I have full confidence that with the talent that we have on the team this year, these goals are very attainable. In addition to having a successful year, I really want each and every person to enjoy themselves, have fun, learn a great deal, and embrace the opportunity to make bonds and lasting friendships with girls on the team as I have done over the past four years.

FN: What areas do you expect to see the most improvement in this year?

MB: I expect to improve in both the weight and shot put. I don’t think there will be a vast difference in how much I improve compared to the two. At this point in my career getting my technique as close to perfect as possible is what is going to show the most improvement. There are small changes in technique that can make a large difference in both events because throwing is such a technical event. As long as I practice hard every day and focus on what I need to improve on, hopefully everything will fall into place. In addition to that, lifting and strength conditioning is an important part of the sport as well.  I hope to continue to improve in the weight room and get stronger, and hopefully that will transcend into the actually throwing events. Specifically, I would like to improve on the speed of my turns in the weight throw as well as explosion, and the better explosion in the shot put.

FN: Personally, you are coming off an unbelievable season, as you were the first NCAA All-American in UD history. Does this add a little more pressure for this season, or are you comfortable in what you can achieve this year?

MB: I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish this past year.  It wasn’t expected at all but I continue to remind myself of how blessed I’ve been, along with the wonderful opportunities I have been able to take advantage of. Being the first NCAA All-American in UD history doesn’t add pressure for the season. I say this because I thrive in being able to do something that will change UD’s history and add to the Track and Field program here at UD. I know people expect a lot out of me this year and I appreciate that because it pushes me to stay focused and work hard. Regardless of what happens this season, I am so proud of what I have been able to accomplish. Anything I am able to accomplish from this point on is “icing on the cake.” I am confident that with all the hard work, resources (coaching staff, and teammates), and commitment that I have, I will be able to match if not exceed expectations of myself and others. I have always had a “go get em” attitude and that will continue to help me through this season.

(The above exchange took place through e-mail. For more information on Barnes’s All-American performance last year, check out this Flyer News article from staff writer Marissa Malson.)

Jack Pearson is a junior defender on the University of Dayton men’s soccer team. UD concluded its regular season Sunday, Nov. 7, with a final record of 7-8-3 and an Atlantic 10 Conference record of 3-4-2, just falling shy of reaching the postseason conference tournament.

The young Flyers featured only three seniors during the 2010 season, and Pearson will be one of only two incoming seniors for next year alongside redshirt junior goalkeeper Tyler Picard.

Flyer News: How do you think the team performed according to your expectations this year?

Jack Pearson: It’s very disappointing, and I’m hoping that this is the worst season I have with the Flyers. I’ve already won two championships, so hopefully next year we are a lot better, and we can look back at this year because we were on a learning curve, that’s how I see it.

FN: What has it meant to you to play alongside the team’s three seniors?

JP: I mean, Tommy [Watkins] has been a great friend since I was a freshman, and he was a sophomore; he really helped me playing faster during the games, and on the back line over the last years, he is a fantastic defender. Oskar [Kretzinger] came in late at the beginning of the preseason, and he really helped on the field. He was an aerial threat, he helped defensively in breaking up plays, and I mean, Oskar had a good season.

FN: Where do you think the team stands right now with the 19 new players that joined this season?

JP: Yeah it’s definitely important for the freshmen to see how important it is not to get their heads down and learn that this was just a little rough. They will see that there is a learning curve and next year, the freshmen this year will be sophomores. So they will step up, and it’s their responsibility on the field to definitely improve dramatically. They will need to be the role models into the future in order to be successful and win championships.

FN: UD certainly struggled offensively this season, but what do you think will be some of the main focus points to improve upon for next year?

JP: Yeah definitely, I mean, Tommy was our leading goal scorer with three goals. If you don’t score goals, you don’t win games, it is as simple as that. So that was definitely our style this year, and something that we desperately need to improve, whether Coach brings in a new striker next year, or the people develop next spring. But basically, if we are going to have any type of success, we need to put the ball in the back of the net. I think that’s the No. 1 target for next year.

Patrice Lalor is a junior guard on the University of Dayton women’s basketball team. Thanks to her career-high 25 points Sunday, Nov. 21, the Flyers won on the road at the University of Minnesota to win this past weekend’s Minnesota Subway Classic.

UD also won Saturday, Nov. 20 against the University of South Dakota to snap a season-opening two-game losing streak. Lalor was one of the major differences throughout the weekend, as she averaged 14.5 points on 48 percent shooting in 24.0 minutes during the two contests. Dayton star junior forward Justine Raterman was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Lalor also was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Flyers continue their season against the University of Illinois-Chicago Saturday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. at UD Arena.

Flyer News: How would you rate your performance against Minnesota?

Patrice Lalor: I think I was more aggressive like my coaches have been telling me to don’t stop, keep attacking and don’t settle. Today and yesterday, over the entire tournament, I just attacked and I was more aggressive helping the team out so I can open up more shots for everyone else.

FN: Do you think that you are becoming more comfortable with this year’s new offensive system?

PL: Yeah, yeah I do, I think I am getting it now a little better like running the offensive game a little better so I can open up more shots for others and create [offensively]. So yeah I think I am definitely getting more comfortable.

FN: How is the team as a whole responding to the new offense in recovering from the two losses that started the season?

PL: I think we are getting it now. Like our first two losses were tough, and now I think we realize that we have a target on our back so we are playing like they are coming to get us. And we are getting the offense too. We are scoring and just doing what the coaches said; just score in transition and that’s what we are doing. And I think we are realizing that we are not the underdogs anymore.

FN: How important was it for the team to earn these two wins this past weekend?

PL: Yeah I mean these were two huge wins for us, our first of the season, and I think we needed that confidence that we are good, that we can beat teams and I think these two wins were huge for us to get that confidence going and to continue it throughout the season.

FN: What is the next step the team must take in order to keep this confidence going into the upcoming non-conference games?

PL: I think we have to take these two wins as momentum and keep playing like how we are playing. We know that we can beat every team we play, and play with an edge like we have a chip on our shoulder and just go after it every single game.