NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb University Athletics announced on Wednesday the addition of four inductees into the department's Hall of Fame. The 2021 honorees are: Ann Mullins (Volleyball), Alex Kelly Samuels (Volleyball), Jake Pease House (Volleyball) and Andy Lane (Meritorious Service).
"This year's Hall of Fame class is certainly one those 'on whose shoulders we are standing'. The years and years of volleyball excellence that Lipscomb has enjoyed had a lot of its roots in the years that these three wore the purple and gold. The grit, determination and competitiveness that Jake, Alex and Ann showed helped elevate the performances of their teammates and the program as a whole, and even a decade later, these three are still a big part of the standard against which all following teams and performances might be measured.
"And certainly anyone even remotely familiar with Lipscomb Athletics over the past 30 years knows of all of the contributions that Andy Lane made to help the Lipscomb program to the place it is today. Andy's love for the university, constant promotion of our programs, above-and-beyond work ethic and passion to connect people within and outside of the Lipscomb community has exemplified what is meant when one talks about 'meritorious service' to the Athletics Department. There is no chance that Lipscomb would possess the place it does on the athletics stage or that so many student athletes would have enjoyed the life-changing experience that they have here without the efforts of Andy Lane."
Ann Mullins – Volleyball (2005-07)
- ASUN Hall of Fame selection in 2019, the first-ever Bison to be inducted
- Helped the Bisons claim their first ASUN Championship title in 2007 after going 20-12
- Registered 1,969 career digs in only three seasons, which are the most in program history and the 2nd most in ASUN history
- Only player in top-18 of the ASUN record books to have played less than four seasons on the career digs list
- 3-time All-Atlantic Sun selection, including being named the Libero of the Year in 2005
- Holds the conference record for digs per set in a league season (2006; 6.41), most digs in a three-set ASUN Championship match (33), most digs in a four-set match (43)
Alex Kelly Samuels – Volleyball (2007-10)
- ASUN Hall of Fame selection in 2020
- Guided the Bisons to three Atlantic Sun championship titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances
- Landed on the First Team All-Conference team three times (2008-10) while also being named Player of the Year twice (2008-09)
- Twice named to the AVCA Honorable Mention All-America Team (2009-10)
- 3-time ASUN All-Academic Team selection
- Her 1,746 career kills still rank 3rd in conference history and 2nd in Lipscomb history, only trailing Carlyle Nusbaum by five
- During her tenure, Lipscomb went 93-34 overall and 54-7 in conference matches, including a 30-0 Atlantic Sun mark over her last two seasons
- 61 of the 93 wins came in three-set matches
Jake Pease House – Volleyball (2007-10)
- Will be inducted into ASUN Hall of Fame in October amongst the Class of 2021
- 2010 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year
- 2007 AVCA South Region and Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year – the first for both in program history
- One of only 14 players in league history to be named First Team All-Conference three times and one of just three to earn four All-Tournament Team selections
- 2-time Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP
- Was a member of three A-SUN Championship and three NCAA Tournament teams
- During her tenure, Lipscomb went 93-34 overall and 54-7 in conference matches, including a 30-0 A-SUN mark over her last two seasons
- 61 of the 93 wins came in three-set matches
- Ranks top-10 for both assists (3rd; 5159) and assists per set (7th; 11.39) in the conference record book
- Her assists, assists per set and service attempts (1,718) all rank first in program history at Lipscomb
Andy Lane – Meritorious Service (1984-2020)
- Graduated from Lipscomb in 1987 and spent the next 33 years working with Athletics until retiring in 2020
- Served as the school's assistant Sports Information Director from 1987-91 before being promoted to Director of Sports Information and Media Relations in 1991
- During his time, Lane helped Lipscomb garner national exposure with ESPN, CNN and Sports Illustrated among a number of other national media outlets
- Served as Conference Information Director for the TCAC and National President of the NAIA District Information Officers
- Promoted to Assistant Director of Marketing in 1994 and the Director of the Bison Booster Club
- From 1999-2005, he served as Associate Director of Athletics for Administration where he was responsible for fundraising
- During the transition to NCAA Division I status, Andy served as one of the directors of the Lipscomb Operation Division I Steering Committee. Under Andy's leadership Bison Club membership, Season Ticket and Corporate Sponsorship programs sales reached all-time highs
- Responsible for securing the major financial gifts for Softball's Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium and Baseball's Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium
- From 2005-2009 he moved into event management where he served as Assistant Director of Athletics directing game management of Lipscomb's 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate spots. Additional duties included promotion and implementation of the Bison Club, Season Ticket programs, Bison Radio Network and A-Sun Television along with oversight of Summer Camps. He also served as Tournament Director for numerous Lipscomb-hosted events
- From 1987-1991, he served as assistant Baseball Coach under the legendary Ken Dugan. Andy's group of recruits helped lead the Bisons to the District 24 Championship and the NAIA National Playoffs.
- In 1995, Lane helped launch the Lipscomb Softball program, serving as Head Coach from 1995-99 and again from 2003-05 as the first skipper in the program's DI era. He finished as the program's winningest coach, averaging 32 wins per season, including school records of 49, 46 and 45 wins from 1997-99.
- Led the program to four Conference Championships and two National Tournament appearances, while producing 31 All-Conference and 17 All-Region selections and and six All-Americans. Lane also produced 36 All-Conference and National Scholar Athletes.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Noon in the George Shinn Event Center on the Lipscomb Campus. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased HERE. Tables of eight may be reserved for $200. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact Shelby McCreary by phone (615-966-5855) or by email (Shelby.McCreary@lipscomb.edu).
