The Anderson University football team defeated Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Bluffton University on Saturday at Salzman Stadium in Bluffton, Ohio.

All four Raven touchdowns were scored by defensive players and the visitors held the Beavers to 105 total yards of offense and a field goal. AU tallied 307 total yards, including a season-high 194 on the ground.

The three points allowed were the fewest by an AU defense since they defeated DePauw 35-3 in 1993.

Starting middle linebacker Ryan Hildenbrand scored on three 1-yard TD runs in the second half – all from the AU offense’s “heavy” formation on the goalline. The final score came on a 14-yard fumble return by defensive end Jathan Wilsey (pictured at left). Hildenbrand finished with six yards on five carries on offense and added eight tackles on defense, including four for a loss.

John Sims led the ground game with a career-high 103 yards on 28 carries. Quarterback Jacob Walker added 35 yards on seven carries, including a key 35-yard run on the first possession of the second half to set up the first score of the game for either team.

Walker finished 7-of-15 for 113 yards in the game, including completing his final six pass attempts.

Free safety Nic Jackson was the leading receiver with three catches for 71 yards, including a key 57-yard reception to set up the Ravens second touchdown. Jackson also returned a punt and kickoff and added a tackle on special teams.

The Ravens also converted 9-of-15 third downs in the game compared to just 1-of-15 for the Beavers.

Luke Hurst led the defense with 11 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss as the Ravens recorded a season-high 15 behind the line of scrimmage. Leonard Wells finished with seven tackles, a blocked punt and a sack and Charlie Holcomb and Todd Taylor added six stops each from their linebacker positions.

AU (1-7, 1-4 HCAC) hosts Rose-Hulman on Saturday at Macholtz Stadium for Senior Day. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast at 1:30 p.m.

The Anderson University volleyball team split four games at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Bloomington, Ill.

The Ravens defeated Augustana in five games (25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8), but lost to Wartburg in five games (20-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 16-14) on Friday night and defeated Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday in five games (20-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-18, 15-10), but lost to Chicago in three games (25-19, 27-25, 25-18).

Carol Weatherford was named to the All-Tournament team, leading the Ravens with 43 kills, 26 blocks and 16 service points.

Kate McCollum had 35 kills, 36 service points, 57 digs, three service aces and Tara Roberts had 38 kills, 24 service points, 91 assists, eight blocks and four service aces. Caitlin Morency had 114 digs, 38 service points, four service aces and Taylor Cox added 95 assists and 49 digs.

Allee Donaghy added 50 digs, 16 service points and Molly DiRuzza and Sydnie Garber chipped in with five blocks each.

AU (15-14, 3-4 HCAC) travels to Manchester on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the regular season finale.

The Anderson University men’s cross country team finished second at the nine-team Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kirk Saunders led the Ravens with a seventh place finish in a time of 26:58 and was named the Freshman of the Year as well as to the All-Conference team.

Taylor Holmes (8th, 27:03), Bill Digman (9th, 27:03) and Jake Wyatt (10th, 27:15) were also named All-Conference and Jeff Vibbert (20th, 28:22) was named HM All-Conference.

Other AU finishers were Eric Linn (22nd, 28:27), Andrew Abbott (27th, 28:46), Matt Dougherty (33rd, 28:56), Emby Duncan (34th, 29:01), Drew Beaty (36th, 29:14), Matt St. Amour (38th, 29:22), Marc St. Amour (47th, 29:41), Kyle Schmidt (56th, 30:18) and Dan Malloy (62nd, 30:50).

Manchester won the meet with 21 points, followed by Anderson (53), Franklin (74), Rose-Hulman (79), Defiance (147), Hanover (183), Mt. St. Joe (inc.), Bluffton (inc.) and Transyvlania (inc.).

For complete meet results go to: http://www.runningtime.net/Races/XCHeartland2009/MenOver.htm

The Anderson University women’s cross country team finished fifth at the nine-team Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Erica Moffitt led the Ravens with an eighth place finish in a time of 24:43 and was named All-Conference. Ashley Bordner was named HM All-Conference after finishing 17th in a time of 25:16.

Other AU finishers were Candace DeLong (24th, 26:07), Courtney Clevenger (33rd, 26:56), Ashley Casterline (38th, 27:11), Kristen Reiff (39th, 27:21), Kayla Miller (50th, 27:58) and Laura Sussman (67th, 30:07).

Manchester won the championship with 38 points, followed by Franklin (44), Rose-Hulman (70), Hanover (114), Anderson (117), Defiance (155), Transylvania (161), Bluffton (219) and Mt. St. Joseph 274).

For complete meet results go to:  http://www.runningtime.net/Races/XCHeartland2009/WomenOver.htm

Community Hospital Anderson recently announced that it is partnering with the Anderson University School of Nursing to enhance medication training and practices. Community Hospital Anderson, along with the Community Hospital Anderson Foundation, will provide the AU School of Nursing with the Pyxis® MedStation® System. The Pyxis® MedStation® System represents the very latest in automated medication management.

The Anderson University volleyball team defeated Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Rose-Hulman in four games on Wednesday night at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium for Senior Night. The Ravens won by scores of 25-23, 25-20, 19-25 and 25-17.

Carol Weatherford led the Ravens with 19 kills, five service points, five digs and three blocks. Kate McCollum had 13 kills, 10 digs, six service points, four blocks and Tara Robers had 23 assists, 13 digs, nine kills and seven service points.

Stephanie Weinman had eight kills, eight digs, three blocks and Caitlin Morency added 23 digs, 15 service points and two aces. Taylor Cox added 30 assists, eight digs and Allee Donaghy chipped in with 12 digs and 12 service points.

With the victory, the Ravens also qualified for the HCAC post-season tournament on Nov. 7-8 at the regular season champion. The top six teams qualify for the conference tournament.

AU (13-12, 3-4 HCAC) plays Wartburg at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational on Friday at 5 p.m.

The Anderson University men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference pre-season coaches poll on Wednesday.

Defending champion Transylvania was selected to finish first with 70 points and four first-place votes. Defiance was second with 59 points and two first-place votes followed by Anderson with 56 points and three first-place votes.

Hanover was fourth (52 points) followed by Franklin (48), Manchester (43), Rose-Hulman (34), Bluffton (26) and Mt. St. Joseph (17).

AU finished last season with a 15-12 overall record and a 7-9 mark in the HCAC, losing in the tournament semifinal round to eventual champion Transylvania.

AU opens the season at Alma College on Nov. 16. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast at 7:30 p.m. They also play an exhibition game against IUPUI on Nov. 2 at Conseco Fieldhouse at 8 p.m.

Imagine performing in a theatrical monologue. Imagine writing, directing, and choreographing this spectacle. Then, imagine that your character is a famous literary figure whose works have been heavily-studied for over a century. Finally, imagine performing it so well that you are asked to speak in a public program marking the 150th anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s defense speeches of John Brown.

At first glance, a crowded room full of more than fifty young adults eagerly trading pieces of candy might not seem like a lesson in business. At the kick-off meeting of the Madison County Young Professionals Group (MCYPG), however, that is exactly what it was. The exercise was used as a hands-on demonstration of networking and set the stage for an evening of entertaining and educational experiences.

My time in the Anderson University DBA program enriched my Christian experience without diluting the academic focus or challenge. I left the program having made some really good friends. I became aware of other church backgrounds from my cohort members, and I had a greater appreciation for the body of Christ.

- John DeFoggi, Consultant, Business Process & Technology Management