Sports Briefs

Adams, Kaufman

earn honors

Eastern Washington University redshirt freshman quarterback Vernon Adams certainly has a flair for dramatic, and as a result, was selected Monday (Oct. 1) as The Sports Network co-Freshman of the Week in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, as well as the Root Sports Offensive Player of the Week awarded by the Big Sky Conference.

Despite an interception and a fumble in the fourth quarter, Adams had two touchdown passes in the final 2:19 as the No. 7 Eagles rallied for a 32-26 victory over 21st-ranked Montana Grizzlies Sept. 29 at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.

Adams completed 25-of-41 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start for EWU.

Besides Adams, wide receiver Brandon Kaufman received College Sports Madness Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week accolades and honorable mention Performer of the Week accolades in FCS by College Football Performance Awards. He had eight catches for 138 yards and two TDs against Montana.

Eagles try for first volleyball win

versus UND

Still in search of its first win of the 2012 season, the Eastern Washington University volleyball team will do its best to capitalize on some home court advantage this weekend in two tough Big Sky matchups at Reese Court.

The Eagles host North Dakota tonight (Thursday, Oct. 4) in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The following night (Oct. 5), Eastern will face two-time defending Big Sky champion and current No. 2 team in the conference, Northern Colorado. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.

Although EWU is winless on the season, the Eagles have won five sets in their last four outings, which is more than the team had won in its previous 13 matches combined.

“We have watched film and know what we need to do to compete with these teams,” EWU head coach Lisa Westlake said. “But we don’t want to put extra pressure on the team based on the opponent.”

Gray will miss NFR, finishes

17th in money

Cheney’s Ryan Gray will see his string of seven straight trips to the National Finals Rodeo come to an end after finishing No. 17 in the final Pro Rodeo bareback standings and winning $48,767.

Kaycee Field from Payson, Utah finished first with $141,639 in earnings.

Jared Keylon from Uniontown, Kan. won $54,478 was 15th.

The top 15 money winners earn spots in the NFR, set for Las Vegas, Dec. 6-15.

“I won Kansas City and third in Poway, Calif. and placed in San Bernardino but it wasn’t quite enough,” Gray said.