Monarch Brew 12/15: Bowling Time!

Monarchs Set To Take on Hilltoppers on Monday in Charlotte

Author

Monarch Brew Crew
December 15, 2023

TGIF Monarchs! Now seems like a perfect time to kick off a little early holiday celebrations, right?

Who’s really doing work the final couple weeks of the year, anyway?

Ok ok, we know some of you are, but why not take a long weekend and join the bowl celebrations in Charlotte with the ODU Fam!

What all do we have stirring in today’s edition of the Brew? Check it out!

🏈 Let’s Go Bowling
📈 Chart Climbers
🇺🇸 Power Pair
👑 And much, much more!

🏈 LET’S GO BOWLING!

It’s finally here!

After the thrilling end to the 2023 regular season and a second bowl berth in three seasons, the ODU football squad will close out this chapter at Monday’s Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

The matchup is a familiar one for the Monarchs as they take on Western Kentucky, a program that ODU has played seven times previously as a former Conference USA opponent.

Kickoff is set for THIS MONDAY, 2:30 pm on ESPN at Jerry Richardson Stadium on the campus of UNC Charlotte.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Chart Climbers. Move over T-Swift, we got some new chart climbers in town.

The undefeated Lady Monarchs are climbing the polls, moving to #10 in the latest Mid-Major Poll released this week.

After 10 days off, ODU jumps right back into the fire with two of the toughest tests of the season in the span of four days with a road trip to arch rival VCU, who is 9-1 this year, and then a visit from #3 NC State to Chartway Arena on Wednesday.

Now 6️⃣ weeks into the 2023-24 season, ODU is one of just 18 programs that remain undefeated in Division I women’s basketball and just one of 4️⃣ outside of the Power 5 that sit with an unblemished record.

Their success has stemmed from an unrelenting defensive effort as they lead the country in scoring defense (46.1 ppg) and opponent three-point defense (18.6-percent), as well as fourth in overall opponent field-goal percentage (32.1-percent).

🔼 Power Pair. “Mar-rique” or “Zand de Bru”?

Ok ok, maybe we they don’t need a nickname like some of the classic power duos throughout history, but we can tell you they are among the best as Marlon de Bruijne and Frederique Zandbergen both earned All-American status this week.

The ODU field hockey duo earned Third-Team All-American status from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

It’s Zandbergen’s first All-American accolade and adds to her already accolade filled year with BIG EAST First Team All-Conference, BIG EAST All-Tournament Teamand named to the NFHCA All South Region First Team, on her 2023 resume already.

de Bruijne wrapped her illustrious ODU career with a third All-American recognition to go along with the BIG EAST First Team All-Conference, BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, and NFHCA First Team All-South Region honors she received earlier this fall.

🤔 MONARCH TRIVIA

The 2023 regular season for ODU’s football program was not for the faint of heart.

The final two weeks of the season, when the Monarchs needed wins to earn a bowl bid, ODU used the final play of the game in both contests to pick up the victory.

How many one-score games have the Monarchs played in 2023?

Think you got it?

Scroll down to the bottom of this email and see if you had the right answer!

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📅 WHAT’S ON TAP

Sunday, December 17
🏀 Women’s Basketball at VCU @ 1pm
🏊 Swimming at Open Water Championships (Miami, Fla.)

Monday, December 18
Famous Toastery Bowl - Jerry Richardson Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
🏀 Football vs. Western Kentucky @ 2:30pm l ESPN

Wednesday, December 20
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. N.C. State @ 6:30pm

Thursday, December 21
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. TCU (Diamond Head Classic - Honolulu) @ 5pm

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 10.

10 of ODU’s 12 games in 2023 were one-score games. All eight of their conference matchups were decided by one score.

Since 2000, the Monarchs are the first FBS team to play 10 one-score games in a 12 game season. Texas had 10 one-score games in 2018 and Northern Illinois had 10 in 2021, but they played 14 total games.

🦁 Enjoy the weekend, y’all!