Peace athletics opens the 2009-10 academic year this week, with cross country, soccer and volleyball teams engaging in their first competitions of the year. Please come out and support your Pacers!

The cross country squad opens its season on Tuesday, in a meet versus Meredith's Avenging Angels.

Under the new leadership of Head Coach Jerry Nuesell, the cross country team looks to one of its largest teams in school history with seven runners.

"The season promises to be very competitive with the addition of several new runners to accompany two returning student-athletes who did a fantastic job of representing Peace last season," Nuesell said. "In short, Peace College cross country will be surprising a lot of folks this season."

Support the team by attending its meet, which begins at 5 p.m. at Meredith.

The Pacer soccer team also opens its season on Tuesday, playing at Salem College. Third-year Head Soccer Coach Kelly McEleney welcomes eight new players to her returning roster of seven. Leadership from her core of four senior veteran letter-winners, Haley Bright, Jennifer Gilbert, Randal McLean, and Harlonda Smith, will help lead this group.

They are joined by returning junior keeper Sherry Revels and sophomore defenders Courtney Butler and Elizabeth Gaskins. Senior Mary Caitlin Smith, who returns to the field this fall, and newcomer Brittany Lynn, a fifth-year senior and former Pacer basketball player, add to the team's intercollegiate experience.

Volleyball opens its fall season at Guilford College on Wednesday. Peace is tied 5-5 with the Quakers during the last five years of non-league play. Seniors Elizabeth Evanoff and Megan Melchiorre will lead the team. Sophomore standouts Amber Lowe and Leah Chandler will be joined by juniors Lynnette Monroe and Brandi Pinnell as the experienced Pacers. The team is led by new Head Coach Kevin Daniels.

"With six returners from last year's squad, and a host of new faces, I am very ambitious for the upcoming season," Daniels says. "This year's squad brings a lot of height to the lineup. I am hoping that will translate into an exciting offensive attack and a very impressive defensive front."

Please turn out and support your Pacers!

Five members of the Peace College cross country team. From left, Allison Gilmore, Stephanie West, Kathryn Gilbert, Bethany Vance and Tiffany Noble. Not pictured: Guadalupe Rostro and Marina Maddox.

 The Peace Pacers soccer team. Back row, from left: Randal McLean, Sherry Revels, Brittany Lynn, Jessica Boyd and Courtney Butler. Middle row, from left: Mary Caitlin Smith, Elizabeth Gaskins, Mary Katherine Clark, Devin Gravgaard and Haley Bright.

Front row, from left: Jennifer Gilbert, Harlonda Smith, Jeanna Buck and Melissa Moran.

The Peace Pacers volleyball team. Front row, from left: Olivia Griffin, Maggie Wright and Kayla Schuller. Second row: Brandi Pinnell, Megan Melchiorre, Lynnette Monroe and Amber Lowe. Third row: Leah Chandler, Alexandra Parker and Bree Crook. Back row: Gina Lyons, Elizabeth Evanoff, Alleah Pretlow and Kaitlyn Craven.