82 sports The QUEE NS Courier • OCTOBER 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com TAILGATING COURT DREAMS ‘A celebration of us’ QC HOSTS HOMECOMING TAILGATE PARTY BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] The City University of New York’s Queens College has taken another step in honoring its past athletic achievers and bolstering its athletic department. The school hosted the first-ever Homecoming Tailgate party on Sunday, October 20, to pay tribute to past athletes and allow them to connect with current players. Dozens of fans and student athletes past and present representing the men’s and women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, women’s fencing, softball, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams attended the event, which featured food, music and games. There was also a scrimmage soccer match with past and current female soccer players. “It’s just a celebration of us,” said China Jude, athletic director of Queens College. “It’s just a way to hang out. There is no agenda. Just eat, enjoy fellowship and have fun.” The event was the culmination of homecoming weekend, which included the annual men’s and women’s basketball season kick-off event, MidKnight Madness, on October 18, and the second annual Hall of Fame Induction dinner on October 19. MidKight Madness attracted nearly 1,000 fans for a night of food, music, events and free giveaways. And some past athletes that attended the Hall of Fame dinner also stopped by the tailgate party the next day to connect with current players. “It’s lovely to see the growth of Queens College,” said Gail Marquis, a Queens College alum who played on the first United States basketball women’s Dozens of fans and athletes past and presents embraced the Queens College athletic department with the first-ever Homecoming Tailgate party. Olympic team in 1976. “We never had a tailgate party before.” Following years of just the MidKnight Madness celebration, school officials said the Hall of Fame Induction dinner and now the Homecoming Tailgate party makes a full weekend of activities to promote and further appreciate the Queens College athletic department. THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre “It’s definitely a positive step,” said Carl Christian, a Queens College alum and the current head coach of the men’s soccer team. “It’s vital in terms of development and building a strong foundation not only in terms of competitive teams, but in terms of having tradition and history and respect for what’s come before.” PLAYER IS A DREAM ON THE COURT BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] Anja Malesevic came to the U.S. in search of the American Dream, but she turned out to be the fantasy of every volleyball team. Malesevic, who emigrated from Serbia in August, is finishing her senior year of high school at Benjamin Cardozo and is making waves as one of the city’s top volleyball players this season. Following a victory against Francis Lewis on October 21, the Lady Judges are undefeated 8-0, and Malesevic leads the city in kills with 95 in seven matches. The next player has just 73. “She’s a tremendous player,” said head coach Daniel Scarola. “She’s well-rounded in her skills and she hits really hard. She’s been a great gift to have.” Scarola said he was informed that Malesevic, a long, sturdy outside hitter, was coming to the school over the summer. Since she grew up playing volleyball in Serbia, when the coach met her he instantly knew she was a great player. “I was like ‘wow, the height, the athletic ability, it was just what we needed,” Scarola said. When Malesevic first came to the country she said she had to overcome some challenges, such as the separation from her family and friends and using English as a primary language. But she had no problems fitting in with the team. “They were just so excited,” Malesevic said. “They wanted to know how tall I am and they accepted me from the first day.” Malesevic, who towers over most of her teammates, is 6’2”. Her ability to spike the ball is a lethal weapon for the other players, who frequently look to feed her the ball for kills. One of Cardozo’s key players, senior setter Zhan Cheng Yin, who had 20 assists in the game, leads the league in assists, 149, primarily because of Malesevic’s success. Last year Yin had just 115 for the entire season. With Malesevic, the Lady Judges are once again competitive and in the hunt for their seventh PSAL City Championship. “I feel great helping these girls, this coach and this school,” Malesevic said. “It’s a huge step in my life. But I really like it here.” THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Anja Malesevic has become one of the leading volleyball players in the city.
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