Avery Munden, Matt Hemstock Named Athletes of the Week
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. – Richard Bland College freshman women's volleyball standout Avery Munden/Chesterfield and freshman men's golf standout Matt Hemstock/Midlothian have been named the Athletics Department's Athletes of the Week for the period October 16-22.
Munden started four matches, playing in 11 sets with 25 digs, 20 kills, one block and two service aces in contests against Lenoir (N.C.) (Oct. 16), Bryant & Stratton (Oct. 17), Surry (N.C.) (Oct. 20) and Wake Tech (N.C.) (Oct. 20). She completed the season with 74 digs, 31 kills, two blocks, one assist and six services aces, while playing in 42 sets during 17 matches. Avery is a 2017 graduate of nearby Matoaca High School where she played volleyball.
Hemstock posted a 36-hole score of 75-74--149 to tie for 19th among 101 golfers at 68th VSGA Intercollegiate Championship (Oct. 16-17) at the Stonehenge Golf & Country Club in Richmond. His scores were collegiate-bests for both 18 holes (74) and 36 holes (149). Through four tournaments and nine rounds, Hemstock averaged 79.89 with the one Top 20 finish and posted three consecutive rounds in the 70's to complete the fall. Matt is a 2017 graduate of Clover Hill High School where he played golf.
Please see below for a brief Q&A on each Athlete of the Week selection. Athletes of the Week are chosen by members of the Richard Bland Athletics Department.
Q: How does it feel to be named Richard Bland Athlete of the Week?
AM: I feel honored. I've been dealing with a few injuries and I've just had to deal with the pain, so I've been pushing myself harder than I thought I could.
MH: I feel surprised and happy. I have been working extremely hard on my game since I arrived at Richard Bland with the help of my Coach (Bart Reiten), and getting this award makes me feel that whatever I'm doing, it's going in the right direction. Last week, I felt that I played to the standard I should be playing to, and it was my best 18 and 36 hole scores, and highest finish, so I knew there would be some chance at getting this award.
Q: How did you get started in your sport and how long have you played?
AM: I started playing on my middle school team in the sixth grade, and started playing travel in the eighth grade.
MH: My dad helped me get into the sport of golf. Every weekend, we would go to the country club and see him play, and seeing him play when I was young sparked my interest for the game. At the age of five, he bought me my first set of golf clubs and the rest is history. I have been playing golf for about 13 years now.
Q: What do you like most about your team?
AM: I like how easy it was to make friends on the team. We have all made close friends throughout the season, and I have made three or four really close friends.
MH: I like the chemistry we have. Off the course, we're supportive and always trying to push each other educationally whilst having fun, but as soon as we step onto the course, we all know we must take care of business and do our part for ourselves and for the college.
Q: Who is your funniest teammate/why?
AM: Cassi Jencik. She always knows what to say to make me laugh and cheer me up if I am in a bad mood.
MH: My (twin) brother Alex. We are constantly going back and forth with each other off the course. We probably joke around a little too much, but on the good side, he is my biggest competitor and at every tournament we try to better each other's scores.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals/superstitions?
AM: I go to the athletic training room to get taped up before warmups, and during them, I say a little prayer to myself.
MH: Our team usually goes out for food, to either Starbucks or Chick-fil-A.
Q: What is your favorite place on campus/why?
AM: I tend to spend a lot of time in the athletic training room, not only because I'm always injured, but there's always other student-athletes there.
MH: The residence halls. I enjoy the company of the different people, and everyone living in them are always smiling and aware that I'm on the golf team. They constantly ask questions about either golf or when our next tournament is scheduled.
Q: What is your favorite class/professor/why?
AM: Psychology with Dr. Tiffany Birdsong, Assistant Professor of Psychology. She is a great teacher and I love learning about the topics that we talk about. It has given me an interest in psychology and possibly as a career.
MH: Psychology with Dr. Birdsong. I enjoy the difficulty of the class and it constantly tests me and helps me open my eyes to the psychological issues people have that we cannot see. Her class is very enjoyable, she makes the difficult topic fun and easy to understand, and just in general, she makes the class a joy to be in.