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Lady Vols’ Massengale eager for comeback

By WTOP Staff

STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is preparing to welcome back a senior point guard while monitoring the status of an ailing post player.

Ariel Massengale is looking forward to returning for her senior season after missing the final 16 games of the 2013-14 season with a head injury. Massengale, who also underwent offseason surgery on her right knee, says she’s hoping to be 100 percent by the start of the school year next month.

While Massengale awaits her return, sophomore center Mercedes Russell is recovering from offseason surgery to her right foot. Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick said Russell is out kind of indefinitely right now” and was uncertain whether the injury would affect the 6-foot-6 center’s status for the start of the season.

Russell, who was rated as the nation’s top high school prospect in her class by multiple recruiting services before enrolling last year, averaged 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a freshman.

“She probably needed (surgery) at the beginning of the year,” Warlick said. “She’s a tough kid. She chose to stick it out, tough it out. I don’t think we knew how bad it was until the end of the year.”

Tennessee is seeking its first Final Four berth since its 2008 national championship season after going 29-6 and reaching a regional semifinal last year. The Lady Vols spent much of that season without Massengale, who has been Tennessee’s starting point guard since her arrival on campus.

Massengale, a 5-foot-7 senior, was playing the best basketball of her career before getting inadvertently hit in the face while chasing a loose ball in a Jan. 23 victory over Florida. She averaged 12.5 points and 5.8 assists per game and had 2.3 times as many assists as turnovers. Despite missing nearly half the season, Massengale still ranked second on the team with 31 3-pointers.

“I thought last year was definitely my year, but I believe everything happens for a reason,” Massengale said. “I learned a lot from that situation. I definitely do not take the game of basketball for granted. I know God has something in store. I don’t know what this year is going to bring, but I have a very good feeling it’s going to be something great.”

The latest injury continued a pattern for Massengale, who has a history of concussions dating back to high school. Although Massengale initially expected the latest injury to keep her out only a few weeks, her headaches continued throughout the season.

Teammates noticed the difference. They saw how the normally chatty Massengale wasn’t talking quite as much.

“It was sad to see how bad it affected her… how she’d have to turn down the TV, watch it with no sound, no lights in her room,” Harrison said. “It was kind of depressing. It was that way for a while. I’m glad she was finally able to get over it.”

Massengale says she feels much better now. She says she was reassured after visiting a specialist about her head. Warlick said the Lady Vols are “taking it slow” with Massengale, but she’s encouraged by her point guard’s progress.

That progress has Massengale eager to get back on the floor without being afraid of hurting her head again.

“I’m ready to go back out there,” Massengale said. “I don’t have any fears or worries going out there with it.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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