Early Season Update - December 2, 2015

We are seven games into the season and with a record of 6-1, I could not be happier...unless of course we were 7-0! In all seriousness, I am very pleased to be heading into conference play this week with some confidence and a six game winning streak. I hope we can continue to play hard and compete every night.

We have had a tough schedule to start the season and the players have really responded to the challenge. We have been able to score points from a few different positions which will certainly help us as we grind through the season.

Congratulations are in order to Alexis Wright as she eclipsed the 1,000 rebound mark and put herself in the record books as she became the all time leading rebounder in school history as she bypassed Kathy Beck DeKorte at 1,016. Alexis joins Kathy as the only 2 players in Moravian history with 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 points...and counting.

It is a pleasure to coach this year's edition of Greyhound basketball. We are a mix of experience with 6 seniors along with Alexis (who is a 5th year graduate student), 2 juniors and 8 sophomores and freshmen combined. I encourage you to come out and see us play if you have not already. It will be a fun group to watch.

Thanks again for all your support on and off the court. Happy holidays to all and I look forward to seeing you at a game soon! 

Coach Spirk

Midseason Update - December 15, 2014

Happy Holidays to all and may your new year be healthy as well joyful. The women’s basketball players and coaches thank you for your continued support on and off the court over the past year. We are thankful for our fans near and far, our alumni who we are so proud of and all of you who help make the lives of our student athletes a top notch experience.

The season has been filled with many highs and very few lows to date. We have already defeated Muhlenberg and DeSales for bragging rights in the Lehigh Valley, so one goal in our season is complete! We are currently 5-4 with one game to play before we head into our winter break. We will go full throttle once the holidays are over, returning to play our conference schedule on January 3rd.

The team is learning and growing with each practice and game. We have a brand new starting five on the court from last season. Our captains and most experienced players, Alexis and Alesha, are working to help mold the younger players. With their leadership, we hope to make a play-off run in the Landmark Conference when we approach February. Our league is strong and well balanced, so we have our work cut out for us, but I am expecting the team to accept the challenge.

I hope to see many of you at a game. I also know that those of you who cannot make a game will be following us via Live Stream, Facebook and beyond! Thank you again for your continued support. 

Coach Spirk

A New Year is Upon Us - September 13, 2013

It is hard to believe the new school year is upon us.  Everyone here at Moravian is in full swing.  Fall sport teams are competing and the women’s basketball team is preparing.  The team is lifting and conditioning with Spencer Brown and his staff 4 days a week, playing pick up whenever they can and working on their individual game.

We have a great group of student athletes: 5 seniors, 1 junior, 6 sophomores and 7 freshmen.  We have a Senior Resident Advisor, 2 RA’s, 2 Presidents and a Vice –President  of Clubs on campus, overall team GPA 3.45 from last semester, as well as a team dedicated to community service.  We have already completed one service project this semester with another one coming up soon.

We are excited with the addition of Kelly McLean Rindock, ’03, to our coaching staff.  Kelly is a former 1,000 point scorer who is a proven professional in the financial world and a committed alumnus to the college.  She will add enthusiasm and knowledge to our staff while giving the staff a loyal “posts” coach!

The first day of practice begins on October 16th and we are in extensive season preparation.  I hope you can make it out to a game this year; we plan on putting out a polished, exciting team who will compete for the Landmark Championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.  We start the season with a tough tournament in Texas and return to hit the ground running with a full slate of non-conference games before tangling with Landmark foes.

I hope you can come out and support the team this year.  We will not disappoint you! 

Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to drop me a note anytime.  I would love to hear from you. 

Coach Spirk

Heading to Springfield, New Jersey for Pink Zone Clinic - February 4, 2013

Coming off a tough loss at Juniata and getting back to Moravian late, about 1:30 a.m., most players and coaches would have slept in, waiting for the Super Bowl or perhaps just relaxing the day away. Well, because I am blessed to have fantastic assistant coaches and terrific players, one of my assistants, Sara Steinman and a few of my players, Emily MacDonnell, Ericka Blair, Danielle Brogan and Laura Jordan joined me to make the trek to Springfield, NJ for a clinic.

We spent a total of 7 hours today giving back. The clinic was amazing with over 120 boys and girls attending, high school players from Dayton helping, various coaches from Dayton HS and many of Coach Sara's family and friends pitching in to make it one of the best clinics I have been a part of. Not only did we teach these young future basketball all stars, but we also raised over $3,000.00 for a cause that we all want to assist with, breast cancer research. I am proud to be part of a great program.

Coach Spirk

Looking at the Start of 2012-13 Season - December 10, 2012

I am always amazed how players and coaches start the season as individuals, and within a few weeks function as a team.  This year’s edition of Moravian Women’s Basketball gelled immediately and we are off to a pretty good start.  It is hard to believe we are already through a third of our season.   With an 8-0 record, the team, while ready for a break for the holidays, wants to keep the momentum going and hopefully make some noise in the Landmark Conference and beyond.

We have a nice mix of youth and experience, led by our captains, Amanda Kreuder and Katie O’Rourke. They, along with the upperclassmen, have helped to teach and mold 9 new freshmen. This leadership has led to solid play while continuing the tradition of Moravian basketball.  Our work ethic is terrific at practice and so far we have been able to produce that effort in the games.  The team still has much to learn and much to improve on, but as long as we stay focused, work hard and play as a team, we will continue to be successful.

I want to wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season.  Thank you for your continued support, on and off the court.  I look forward to seeing each of you at a game soon.

Coach Spirk

A Look Back at 2011-12 - April 24, 2012

We opened up our season playing 5 straight NCAA teams from a year ago, 3 of those returned to the big dance this year.  8 of our 12 losses were to NCAA teams this past season.  The tough schedule proved to test us every game, but in the end, we garnered 17 wins, ultimately losing in the ECAC championship game. 

This year’s team was as dynamic, close knit, coachable and successful on and off the court of any team I have coached over the past 25 years.  The credit goes to all 15 players who figured out a way to win, but also figured out how to get along and appreciate each other on and off the court.  Our 3 seniors were outstanding, Cassie Phillips, Hilary Murray and Ally Blair.  They all led by example by coming to practice to work every day.  They also paved the way for their teammates to succeed in the future.

My personal highlights from the season, in no particular order:  our summer trip to Prague, Vienna and Munich – in one word, awesome!  This is where we grew up and became a team.  The flash mob to kick off Midnight Madness – I still watch the video once in a while!  Ally Blair garnered a triple double (points, rebounds and blocked shots) against Elizabethtown.  We witnessed history.  Our trip to watch Seton Hall and Notre Dame – team bonding and also watched a Final Four team – the level of play by ND was amazing.  We visited the hospital and sang carols to the patients, great experience. We won the Starters tournament.  The entire Play4Kay week, leading up to the Pink game – alumni game and then the social afterwards – we are all so fortunate.  And our run in the ECAC tournament, all at home, was exciting.  I hated to see the season end.

I am grateful for all the support this team receives in the stands, as well as the support monetarily.  I am also thankful for my tremendous staff, Amy Endler, Dan Tannous, Melissa Torba and Sara Steinman.  They are dedicated, hardworking and committed to the success of Moravian women’s basketball.  Most of all I am appreciative of the 15 players who made a commitment on October 15th to each other and the coaches.  They bonded as the season went on and played their hearts out till the last game. 

Good luck to the seniors, Ally, Hilary and Cassie and I look forward to 2012-13!

Enjoy the summer.  Coach Spirk

Coaches' Corner