ASUN Conference Inducts Fourth Hall of Fame Class on Monday Night
ASUNHallofFame.org
FLORENCE, Ala. - On Monday night, the ASUN Conference inducted its fourth Hall of Fame Class in a ceremony at the University of North Alabama campus. The conference honored five former standouts in FGCU's Brooke Youngquist Sweat, Kennesaw State's Laura Tucker, Mercer's Sam Mitchell, Stetson's Dr. Taryn Lynn Morgan and Florida Atlantic's Joan Joyce.
Brooke Youngquist Sweat, FGCU, Volleyball - Full Bio
Sweat starred as a member of the FGCU Volleyball team from 2004-07 and has since become one of the world's best beach volleyball players capping her development on the sand by appearing in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She becomes the first female and only the second FGCU student-athlete overall to join the conference's hall of fame--joining current Boston Red Sox ace and inaugural class inductee Chris Sale (2015).
A four-time reigning AVP Defensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and a member of one of just two USA Beach Volleyball pairs in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. She is a 10-time worldwide winner and has more than 30 podium finishes (top three) across multiple professional tours. She finished 2017 ranked seventh in the world and is a three-time winner of AVP Tour Championships. She had a career-best FIVB World Tour finish of second in 2017, and she played in four AVP Tour stops in 2017, winning one and finishing second twice. Furthermore, she recorded fifth-place finishes in both the 2015 and 2017 FIVB World Championships, and she has 20 top-five finishes on the FIVB World Tour. In 2011, she was named the Florida Region Player of the Year.
As a member of FGCU's indoor team, Youngquist Sweat compiled 1,173 kills, 1,369 digs, 100 aces and 50 double-doubles in her career. Her kill total stood as the most in program history until 2017 when Amanda Carroll broke the record, but her kill and ace totals still rank second all-time in program history, while her dig total is fourth most – second most at the time of her graduation.
Laura Tucker, Kennesaw State, Women's Soccer - Full Bio
Tucker spent her collegiate career marauding across soccer pitches and tormenting opposing defenders and goalkeepers each time she took the field for the Owls. She is the second Kennesaw State University individual inducted into the ASUN Conference Hall of Fame, joining Softball standout Keri McKee Cortolano in last year's class.
A member of the Kennesaw State Women's Soccer program from 2003-06, Tucker is the program's all-time leading scorer with 137 points (54 goals, 29 assists) and tops KSU with 19 game-winning goals. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native was tabbed the 2006 ASUN Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection after totaling 28 points (12 goals, four assists). She assisted in leading the Owls to the ASUN Regular Season Championship and a 13-2-2 record, including an 8-0-1 mark in conference matches. During her two seasons playing in the conference, Tucker helped KSU to a 26-6-3 record and 16-2-1 league mark en route to becoming a two-time First Team All-Conference pick.
In four years at Kennesaw State, Tucker was instrumental in helping the Owls to a 63-11 (.851) record that included a 25-1 mark and the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship crown. She went on to earn Peach Belt First Team All-Conference honors and was selected Offensive Most Valuable Player at the NCAA Championship. Tucker's list of honors also includes 2004 NCAA Division I Independent Player of the Year and 2005 Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region.
Sam Mitchell, Mercer, Men's Basketball - Full Bio
One of the most highly celebrated student-athletes in Mercer University history, Sam Mitchell dominated the court in the early days of ASUN basketball. Mitchell starred for the Bears from 1981-85, leaving an everlasting mark on the program. His 1,986 career points rank second in school history and he owns the school's single-season scoring record of 774 points (1984-85). Mitchell was the ASUN Player of the Year in 1985 after leading the Bears to the conference championship & NCAA Tournament.
Mitchell holds school records for most field goals made in a career (768); field goals made in a season (294); free throws made in a season (186); and free throws attempted in a season (248). Mitchell still ranks second all-time in the ASUN single-season record books for scoring average (25.0) and field goals made (294). Mitchell becomes the third representative from Mercer selected to the ASUN Hall of Fame, joining inaugural class inductee Andrea Congreaves (2015) and his college head coach and former ASUN Commissioner Bill Bibb (2016). The Bears were original charter members of the ASUN in 1978.
His NBA career began in 1989 as a free agent with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played three seasons before being picked up by the Indiana Pacers. He returned to the Timberwolves in 1995, where he is credited with helping develop the career of rookie sensation Kevin Garnett. During his NBA career, Mitchell appeared in 994 regular season games and 59 postseason contests. He averaged 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He ranks second all-time in Timberwolves history behind only Garnett in games played with 757 and second with 7,161 points, 1,773 free throws made, 2,664 field goals made, 3,030 rebounds and 449 steals.
Following his playing days, Mitchell embarked on a successful coaching career in the NBA, serving as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets and New Jersey Nets. He became the sixth head coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2005 and served in that role until 2008. Mitchell was chosen the 2006-07 NBA Coach of the Year after leading Toronto to its first-ever Atlantic Division title and a franchise-tying record 47 wins.
Dr. Taryn Lynn Morgan, Stetson, Women's Tennis & Volleyball - Full Bio
A two-sport star at Stetson University, Taryn (Lynn) Morgan lettered all four years in both Tennis and Volleyball for the Hatters, while also excelling in academics. Her career on the tennis courts was highlighted by her 1999 campaign in which Taryn finished the year with a 26-0 record at No. 1 singles to earn ASUN Player of the Year accolades and guided Stetson to 16 victories.
Her win streak stretched to 47, which still stands as the longest in program history by a wide margin of 26. Taryn finished her career with an 85-9 record in singles. As a doubles player, Lynn holds the school record for best doubles winning percentage (.895; 18-3). Her accolades extended past the tennis courts as she earned CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team honors in 2000. As a volleyball student-athlete, Taryn collected 310 kills. 827 digs, 59 blocks and 85 aces in her career and still owns the program record for aces in a single match with 11. Stetson's best season with Lynn on the squad came in her freshman season when the Hatters totaled 17 victories.
Following her time at Stetson University, Morgan continued her academic career at the University of Florida as she obtained her Masters of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a specialization in Sport Psychology. From there, the former Hatter star graduated with a PhD in Education from the University of Tennessee also specializing in Sports Psychology. Inducted into the Stetson University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, Dr. Morgan currently works as the Director of Athletic and Personal Development at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. With IMG, Morgan has consulted with numerous junior, collegiate, and professional/Olympic athletes and teams.
Joan Joyce, Florida Atlantic, Softball & Women's Golf - Full Bio
Joyce is the only head coach Florida Atlantic softball has had in its 24-year history. Under Joyce the program's accomplishments are unparalleled: eight-consecutive ASUN Championships (1997-2004)--nine in all (2006)--and eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1997-2004)--11 in all (2006, 2015, 2016). She created FAU's softball program from scratch, and the result was an impressive 33-18 record in year one.
In all, Joyce has coached 25 First Team All-Conference selections and 27 Second Team honorees. Joyce coached four ASUN Players of the Year, with ASUN Hall of Famer Nicole Myers receiving the honor three times and Alana Klaus being recognized in the inaugural 1995 campaign. She has also coached an ASUN Pitcher of the Year in Candice Freel and twice, the conference Freshman of the Year.
Outside FAU, Joyce has been involved both as a coach and as a player at the highest levels of softball. Her coaching experience includes a four-year stint in the women's professional softball ranks, winning the World Series in each of those seasons. She has also coached and played softball with many of the nation's top collegiate coaches. A member of the National Amateur Softball Hall of Fame, Joyce holds a career pitching record of 753 wins and 42 losses. Included in her totals are 150 no-hit, no-run games and 50 perfect games. At the plate she posted a career batting average of .324. Joyce counts striking out Ted Williams in 1961 as one of her most notable achievements. Joyce's duties at FAU have not been limited to softball and administration. From 1996-2014 she was head coach of the women's golf team.
Much like the softball team, Joyce led the golf team on a continual path of improvement. She coached three ASUN Golfers of the Year in Cecilie Lundgreen (1997), Jessica Polus (2002) and Natalia Navarro (2004) and one Freshman of the Year, Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn (2005). A multi-sport athlete, Joyce has been inducted into 11 Halls of Fame including the NFCA Hall of Fame, Florida Sports Hall of Fame, and is just one of a handful of Americans who have been inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.
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