Three members of the Hangstefer family from Signal Mountain will help lead the United States deaf tennis contingent in the 2014 Dresse and Maere Cups competition starting Monday at Chattanooga's Champions Club. It runs through Saturday. Emily Hangstefer, who played for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is part of the world's No. 1-ranked deaf women's doubles tandem with Laura Chapman of Columbus, Ga. They won the gold medal at the 2013 Deaflympic Games last year in Sofia, Bulgaria. Daniel Hangstefer, who played No. 1 for Lipscomb University and is the head men's and women's coach for Metro State University, was a silver medalist in mixed doubles in the Sofia Deaflympics. He's in the Dresse Cup men's tournament. Sister Katie Hangstefer Mancebo is the Maere Cup team captain for the USA. The former Wofford College and Covenant coach is now the Converse College head coach. Thirteen countries will be represented in the event for athletes with hearing losses of at least 55 decibels in their better ear. The countries winning their pools will advance to semifinals.
Golf
• Covenant College has hired former University of Memphis golfer Jack Belote as its head men's and women's golf coach, succeeding David Conrady. "Jack is a great hire for our golf team," Covenant athletic director Kyle Taylor said in a school release. "He has a tremendous and successful golf background as a player. He understands the game and will assist our players with course management and the mental side of the game. Jack also has the spiritual maturity and desire to disciple our student-athletes and see them grow in their faith and as men and women. ... I think he has a very high ceiling as a college coach, and I'm thrilled that he is getting his start at Covenant College." Belote was a four-year standout for Memphis and helped lead the Tigers to the program's first NCAA championship tournament as a senior in 2012. He was an All-Conference USA second-team selection in 2011 and first-teamer in 2012, and he also was a two-time conference all-academic honoree and Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholar. He was a Memphis assistant coach in 2012-13 and more recently worked at the Audubon course in Memphis as a clubhouse supervisor and assistant professional. "I love golf and love helping young men and women reach their goals," Belote said. "I want players to walk away better golfers, with winning mindsets, and as responsible men and women."
• Chad Wilson of Calhoun is tied for 15th at 142 after Friday's second round of the Georgia Amateur golf tournament at the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. Kelby Burton of Evans leads at 136.
Volleyball
• Cassidy Ingram from Brandon (Fla.) High School signed scholarship papers Thursday to join the Tennessee Temple University volleyball team this season. She's a 5-foot-8 left-side hitter who also considered Trinity College in Florida and the NCAA Division II member West Alabama but liked Chattanooga and Temple's friendly atmosphere as well as the plans for the new campus on the Woodland Park Baptist Church property. "I just thought I was at home. I didn't feel like just a number," Ingram said. "Everybody was just so nice when I came in. And I definitely like being able to interact with other Christians while I'm at school." She has taken advanced placement and honors classes and is a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society. TTU coach Mary Willis said Ingram is "very similar" to senior outside hitter Lydia Vick in a lot of ways and can challenge for starting time this fall or taking over Ingram's spot next year.
Soccer
• The Chattanooga Football Club Academy under-14 girls are 1-0-1 in the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup tournament in Greenville, S.C., after a 2-1 win Friday against PSC U-14 Orange from Illinois. CFC plays today against Freedom from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., which lost 3-0 to the California team the CFC tied Thursday.