Sept. 26, 2014 Sophomore Will Bellamy joined the Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications staff as a student assistant not long after arriving at Homewood in August 2013. An experienced writer, he will bolster the efforts of the office with a preview of each weekend's events (please note that this is not intended to be an exhaustive in-depth preview of every game or event. Rather, it provides a quick overview for fans with key links and things to look for. Key games, especially those against nationally-ranked teams or those with playoff implications, will lead the column each week). Football
The Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg football teams will break new ground this weekend when they face off in the first game ever to feature two nationally ranked Centennial Conference squads.
The Blue Jays (3-0 overall, 2-0 in CC competition) and Mules (3-0, 2-0) are ranked 12th and 23rd, respectively, in the AFCA Division III poll. Both teams feature offenses that put up flurries of points in the blink of an eye and defenses that routinely swarm opposing backfields.
In order to remain undefeated, the Jays will have to keep the Mules guessing with a combination of passes by quarterback Braden Anderson and rushes by running backs Stuart Walters and Brandon Cherry. They will also have to find a way to contain Muhlenberg quarterback Nick Palladino, who has picked apart opposing defenses so far this season.
The game, which will take place at Muhlenberg, is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. ET.
Live stats at Muhlenberg
Live video at Muhlenberg
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/muhlenberg/
Volleyball
The Johns Hopkins volleyball team got off to a strong start against Centennial Conference competition with a sweep of Washington College on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays (9-8, 1-0 CC) will look to keep the ball rolling this Saturday, when the Mules (14-2, 2-0 CC) pay a visit to Goldfarb Gymnasium.
JHU will have to continue to dominate the point of attack and serve the ball well if it is to emerge victorious and take another early step towards a conference title. Match time is 1:00 p.m. ET.
Live video versus Muhlenberg
http://www.hopkinssports.com/allaccess/?media=462158
Men's & Women's Soccer
Soccer fans are in for a fun weekend as the Johns Hopkins men's and women's soccer teams are scheduled to play back-to-back matches at Homewood Field on Saturday.
The women will take on Muhlenberg (6-1-1, 2-0-0 CC) at 1:00 p.m. ET and the men will face Swarthmore (6-1-1, 0-1-0 CC) at 4:00 p.m. ET. Both the men (4-2-1, 0-1-0 CC) and the women (7-2-0, 1-0-0 CC) are expected to be in the running for Centennial Conference titles at the end of the year and can improve their chances with successful outings this weekend.
At half time of the men's game the 1994 Blue Jay men's soccer sqyad, which finished as the NCAA Runner-up, will be honored.
Live stats versus Muhlenberg
Live video versus Muhlenberg
http://www.hopkinssports.com/collegesportslive/?media=462153
Live stats versus Swarthmore
Live video versus Swarthmore
http://www.hopkinssports.com/collegesportslive/?media=462149
Field Hockey
The Johns Hopkins field hockey team will look to remain undefeated in Centennial Conference play when it travels to Muhlenberg this Friday.
Knocking off the Mules, however, will not be an easy attack for the Blue Jays (4-4, 0-1.) Muhlenberg (4-2, 0-1) has repeatedly shown itself to be a dominant defensive squad, shutting out two opponents and holding another three to one goal apiece.
The ability of JHU to move the ball efficiently and capitalize on open shot attempts could very well decide the outcome of the match.
The matchup is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.
Live stats at Muhlenberg
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/fhlive/xlive.htm
Live video at Muhlenberg
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/muhlenberg/
Cross Country
The Johns Hopkins men's and women's cross country teams are slated to compete in the annual "Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown" this Friday.
The women's race will begin at 3:00 pm ET at Franklin Park, the historic cross country course in Jamaica Plains, MA. The invitational features five teams ranked in the top 25 in Division I, including top-ranked Michigan. The men's race will follow at 3:30 pm and also features a host of nationally ranked Division I squads, including third-ranked Oregon.
Live video of Battle in Beantown
http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/251682-Battle-in-Beantown-2014
Men's Tennis
The Johns Hopkins men's tennis team will head to Fredericksburg, VA, this weekend for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Southeast Regional tournament.
The event will run from Saturday to Monday and gives the Blue Jays their first dose of competition this fall. Sophomore Michael Buxbaum earned the number one seed in singles, while he and classmate Emerson Walsh are the number one seed in doubles. Also seeded in the singles championship are seniors Ben Hwang (4th) and Tanner Brown (6th), junior Nick Garcia (9th) and sophomore Jeremy Dubin (9th). Seeded in the doubles draw are Brown and freshman Justin Kang (5th) and Garcia and senior Noah Joachim (7th).
Last season, Buxbaum and Walsh won ITA Southeast Doubles title, while Garcia and Joachim finished as the runner-up. In addition, Hwang finished as the runner-up in the singles championship.
For more information on the tournament, including the draws and results, visit: http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=159630
Women's Lacrosse
The Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team will host its annual Alumni Game at Homewood Field and play a preseason match against Notre Dame in Towson (Notre Dame Prep) on Saturday.
