Sports Briefs

Unbeaten in ‘Sky play, EWU volleyball

hosts Sacramento State, Portland State

Currently riding a five-match winning streak and off to its best start to Big Sky Conference play in six seasons, the Eastern Washington University volleyball team hosts Sacramento State and Portland State in league counters this week.

EWU squares off with the Hornets on Thursday, Oct. 8, before facing the Vikings on Saturday, Oct. 10. Both matches are set to start at 6 p.m.

Eastern (9-6, 4-0 BSC) earned a pair of conference victories this past week, topping Southern Utah in four sets on the road and sweeping Idaho at Reese Court. The Eagles’ triumph over the Vandals was its first win over UI since Sept. 30, 2009.

One of only two undefeated teams left in the Big Sky, EWU’s current stretch of five straight wins dates back to its victory over Corban in its final nonconference match on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Sacramento State (16-3, 3-1 BSC) owns league victories over Southern Utah, Northern Arizona and Weber State, with its lone loss coming on the road at preseason favorite Idaho State. Portland State (5-11, 1-3 BSC) enters the week having lost five of its last six matches.

———

Defending champ EWU picked third

In what could again be a tightly-contested race in the Big Sky Conference, the defending champion Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team has been picked to finish third by both the coaches and media in preseason polls released Oct. 1 by the league.

Eastern had 99 points in the coaches poll to trail preseason favorites Weber State (114) and Montana (113). Both the Wildcats and Grizzlies received six first-place votes. With 183 points in the media poll, EWU trailed preseason favorite Montana (220) and WSU (194). Montana captured 14 of the 19 first-place votes, with the Eagles receiving one and the Wildcats two.

“We are eager to get on the court and show what this team can do,” Eastern head coach Jim Hayford said. His team began practice for the 2015-16 season Oct. 5. The Eagles open the season on Nov. 13 at Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference.

The Eagles closed a monumental 2014-15 campaign with a 26-9 record overall after finishing 14-4 in the Big Sky Conference to share the regular season title with Montana.

Although senior forward Venky Jois is the lone starter back for EWU, Eastern returns four other letterwinners.

———

EWU women sixth in preseason poll

The Eastern Washington University women’s basketball team has been picked to finish sixth by the media and ninth by the league’s coaches in the 2015-16 Big Sky Conference Preseason Polls, the conference office announced Wednesday, Sept. 30.

EWU received two first-place votes and 95 points from the media while garnering 54 points from the Big Sky’s coaches.

“I’ve never put a whole lot of stock in preseason polls,” EWU head coach Wendy Schuller said. “We’ve got two of the best players in the conference back in Hayley and Delaney Hodgins, and we have a number of other talented players.”

Montana was the preseason favorite in both polls, while North Dakota and Sacramento State were picked second and third in both polls, respectively.

Montana got 10 of 12 first-place votes from the coaches and received six first-place votes from the media. North Dakota got three first-place votes from the media while Sacramento State received a pair of first-place votes.

———

EWU wins sixth straight in soccer

Sophomore Chloe Williams scored what would be the game-winner with just three minutes left Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, lifting the Eastern Washington University soccer team past Idaho State, 3-2, in Pocatello.

The victory, EWU’s sixth straight, completed a perfect 2-0 start to Big Sky Conference play for just the second time in school history and the first time since the 2009 season.

Eastern improves to 8-1-1 overall and 2-0 in league play while Idaho State falls to 1-9-1 overall and 0-2 in conference matches with the defeat. The Eagles welcome Sacramento State to Cheney for their Big Sky home opener this Friday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

The Eagles twice held a one-goal advantage on the day, the first coming after freshman Allison Raniere’s goal in the ninth minute followed by a strike from freshman Jenny Chavez in the 57th minute.

“It was a great weekend for us, and for our athletic department as a whole,” head coach Chad Bodnar said. “Winning two on the road to start conference play is something we’re very proud of.”

Eastern picked up its fifth consecutive victory Sept. 25, earning a 2-1 road win over Weber State in its Big Sky Conference opener.

Freshman Allison Raniere put Eastern on the board in the 11th minute. The game-winner would come in the 58th minute as freshman Jenny Chavez  fired a shot into the lower left corner.

———

Eastern volleyball sweeps home matches

Fresh off two home sweeps to start Big Sky Conference play, the Eastern Washington University volleyball team continues league play with a road match at Southern Utah followed by a tilt with rival Idaho at Reese Court.

EWU will square off with Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah, tonight, Oct. 1, before hosting the Vandals on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m..

Eastern (7-6, 2-0 BSC) was one of just three conference teams to record two victories on the opening weekend of league play. The Eagles recorded emphatic sweeps of North Dakota and Northern Colorado, respectively, flashing signs that this group may be peaking at the right time.

Freshman Jessica Gilbert had an impressive run of play last week, averaging 3.67 kills per set while hitting .429 for the two matches. She set a new season high with 13 kills against UND on Thursday, Sept. 24, before recording a season-best 10 digs versus the Bears on Saturday, Sept. 26.

———

EWU to induct new Hall of Fame Class

With all the injuries the Eastern Washington University football team has endured already this season, it’s fitting that Dean Adams will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame on the day of its next game.

The former Eastern football/track and field standout and longtime University of Oregon athletic trainer will be among the seven individuals and one team honored when the 15th induction of the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame takes place Oct. 10.

The induction breakfast and ceremony will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Pence Union Building. The public is invited to attend and the cost is $20 per person. Guests must register via a link available at http://www.goeags.com/hallfame/hallfame. Inductees will also be honored at halftime of EWU’s football game against Cal Poly later that day (kickoff is at 1:05 p.m.), as well as Eastern’s volleyball game that evening against Portland State at 6 p.m.

Basketball scoring and rebounding machines Randy Buss (1969-72) and Kathleen Nygaard-Kaut (2000-04) will be honored, as well as a trio of athletes from the 1960’s. They include Adams, baseball player/contributor Gary Glasgow and gymnast/contributor Randy Carruthers.

Ruth Van Kuren and her late husband Lawson Van Kuren will be recognized for their 40 years of involvement with EWU.

———

West earns national honors

Just seven starts into his Eastern Washington University football career and junior quarterback Jordan West has already made quite a name for himself on a national stage.

After setting a school record for passing efficiency rating in EWU’s 55-50 win over then 11th-ranked Montana State last week, the junior from Maple Valley, Wash., has been selected by STATS as its FCS co-National Offensive Player of the Week. The 2012 graduate of Liberty High School has also been honored with the same award by College Sports Madness and is this week’s Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

West completed 21 of 24 passes (88 percent) for a career-high 410 yards and six touchdowns. His efficiency rating of 313.5 broke the previous school record of 310.4 set exactly 23 years ago to the day by Mark Tenneson against Sonoma State in 1992. Tenneson was 10-of-14 for 265 yards and four touchdowns in that game.

———

Eastern opens volleyball season at home

For the Eastern Washington University volleyball team, a new season starts now.

EWU opens Big Sky Conference play at home this week, facing off with North Dakota on Thursday, Sept. 24, before taking on Northern Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Eagles’ match versus UND will start at 6 p.m. while Saturday’s tilt is set for a noon start time.

Eastern (5-6) concluded its nonconference schedule with a convincing sweep of Corban last Thursday, Sept. 17, at Reese Court. EWU’s five nonconference wins are the most in a season since 2009 when it notched six non-league victories.

The Eagles will go the rest of the season without head coach Wade Benson on the sideline after he announced he was stepping down from his post last Wednesday, Sept. 16, citing fatigue of extensive travel and the demands associated with leading the program. Associate head coach Michael King will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the year.

———

EWU soccer opens Big Sky play on road

After four consecutive road wins, the Eastern Washington University soccer team is looking for a fifth this Friday, Sept. 24, when they head to Utah to play in their first Big Sky Conference match of the season against Weber State. They continue the start to their league schedule on Sunday, Sept. 27, against Idaho State. Kickoff for each game is at 2 p.m. and noon, respectively.

After last week’s win against UIC (Sept. 16), Eastern has now recorded four consecutive wins for the first time in program history and are 6-1-1 heading into conference play.

“I think that just shows the players’ grit and determination,” said Bodnar of his team’s 9 consecutive road wins this season.

EWU women open season on road

The Eastern Washington University women’s basketball team kicks off its 2014-15 season with a road game at Utah Valley this Friday, Nov. 14, in Orem, Utah.

EWU returns four starters from last year’s team that won 16 games and finished in fourth place in the Big Sky Conference, earning a trip to the league tournament for a fifth consecutive season.

This season is the start of head coach Wendy Schuller’s 14th season leading the Eastern program. Already EWU’s all-time NCAA Division I wins leader, she became the program’s longest-tenured Division I head coach last season, surpassing Eastern Bill Smithpeters, who led the Eagles for 12 years from 1982-83 to 1993-94.

The Eagles return home Tuesday, Nov. 18 to face Wichita State at 6 p.m.

———

EWU volleyball chases playoff spot

as regular season closes at home

Still in the running for a spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, the Eastern Washington University women’s volleyball team will close out its regular season with a pair of league matches this week at Reese Court.

Eastern opens the week against Northern Colorado, Thursday, Nov. 13, followed by North Dakota, Saturday, Nov. 15. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.

Despite suffering defeats at Northern Arizona and Idaho this past week, EWU (9-18, 5-9 BSC) remains in the hunt for one of the eight bids to the upcoming conference tournament. The Eagles are tied for eighth place in the league standings with Southern Utah.

Montana and Portland State are the other two teams best positioned to make the tournament as they currently sit tied for sixth.

Idaho State has clinched the right to host the tournament while North Dakota, Idaho, Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado have secured berths.

———

Eagles fall 3-2 in soccer playoff

Facing a two-goal deficit late in its first appearance at the Big Sky Conference Tournament in five seasons, the sixth-seeded Eastern Washington University women’s soccer team saw its comeback effort fall just short as No. 3 Northern Arizona hung on to win, 3-2, Thursday, Nov. 6, at Montana’s South Campus Stadium.

Northern Arizona followed with 2-1 wins over Portland State, Nov. 7 and punched their ticket to the NCAA College Cup with a 2-1 win in the Big Sky Conference Championship over Idaho State, Sunday.

The Eagles’ Cassie Black tied the contest 1-1 in the 20th sminute. NAU would score the next two goals before Savannah Hoekstra connected for Eastern in the 83rd minute to close it to 3-2.

The Eagles seemed poised to complete their comeback, getting a handful of looks at NAU’s goal along with a dangerous free kick at the top of the Lumberjacks’ box.

“When we met at the end of the match, I thanked the seniors for helping us build a platform,” head coach Chad Bodnar said. “They won eight games this year, and we were in every single game this season.”

Eastern sees its season come to an end, finishing with an overall record of 8-9, good for the second-most wins in single-season history and the highest number of victories since 2009.