‘Yote Notes –
Oct. 8, 2003
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@albertson.edu
GENERAL
ATHLETICS NEWS:
BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS AND
C.A.A. INFORMATION: Many
folks are probably wondering why they have not received information regarding
the Coyote Athletic Association and season tickets for the upcoming basketball
season. The athletic department is currently looking at restructuring the
C.A.A., how it functions, and how it can not only represent the department
better, but to help C.A.A. members as well. New C.A.A. brochures are
being develops, along with the season ticket order forms, and should be in the
mail within the next two weeks. Never fear - the first home basketball
game does not take place until November 21.
THINK AHEAD FOR LAS VEGAS?: This year, the Albertson men's
basketball team will be playing two games in Las Vegas on November 7 and
8. Airfare and hotel packages are available through Caldwell Travel at
459-3602. A three-day, two-night package at The Orleans Hotel and Casino
with round-trip airfair is $421 for a single person or $621 for a
couple.
SOFTBALL STEAK AND CRAB FEED: The Albertson softball team will
be holding a Steak and Crab feed on Saturday, November 1, at the Boise Police
Clubhouse. Tickets for the event and auction are $25 and can be purchased
from a Coyote softball player or by calling head coach Kelly Gibbons at
459-5113.
GOLFERS
HEAD TO BOISE STATE: The
Albertson men's golf team will compete next week at the Bronco Round-Up at
Falcon Crest Golf Club against many of the top NCAA Division I programs from
the Northwest. The Coyotes opened up the season two weeks ago with a convincing
dual victory over Northwest Nazarene.
VOLLEYBALL (7-5, 6-3
CCC): Blocktoberfest weekend brings
Lady ‘Yotes home on five-game winning streak
LAST
WEEK: Won at Warner Pacific, 3-2; won at Cascade,
3-0; won at Eastern Oregon, 3-0.
COMING
UP: Host 8th Annual Blocktoberfest Tournament,
Friday-Saturday – Friday vs. Westminster, 9 a.m., vs. No. 16 Montana Tech, 7
p.m.; Saturday vs. Victoria, 11 a.m., vs. Montana-Western, 7 p.m.
COYOTES
ON A ROLL: The tough times of
September have turned into the happy days of October for the Albertson
volleyball team, as the Lady ‘Yotes completed a three-match road sweep through
Oregon, pulling themselves into a second-place tie in the Cascade Conference
standings at the midway point of the season.
The Coyotes won the final nine games played on the trip, with their
opponent not scoring more than 25 points in any of the games.
NEARING
RECORD TERRITORY: The Albertson win streak
has reached five-in-a-row, just two victories from equaling the school-record
of seven set back in 1999. Last season,
the Lady ‘Yotes ran off six consecutive wins at the end of the season, only to
have the streak broken at the Cascade Conference Tournament.
A RISE
IN THE REGIONAL RANKINGS: The winning ways
have also seen the ‘Yotes jump in the NAIA Region I weekly top-ten rankings, as
Albertson climbed from No. 10 to No. 7 in the latest poll. Montana Tech jumped to No. 16 in the NAIA
national poll and No. 1 in the region with weekend wins at Montana-Western and
Lewis-Clark State, while Southern Oregon dropped to No. 19 in the nation and
No. 2 in the region after a loss to Evergreen.
Carroll (No. 23 in the NAIA) is third, followed by Lewis-Clark State,
Western Baptist, and Oregon Tech. After
the Coyotes, Concordia, Montana-Western, and Evergreen round out the top-ten –
with Rocky Mountain and Northwest dropping out of this week’s rankings.
JUST
ONE-GAME OUT: The rise of the Coyotes
is just one of many strange happenings in the Cascade Conference as the
volleyball season reached the midway point.
Not one, but seven teams sit within two games of first place, with five
teams tied with Albertson in second.
Southern Oregon, who seemed to be running away with the title, has lost
two of their last four matches, while Northwest, who had been tied for first,
has dropped three straight. Joining the
surging ‘Yotes are Evergreen, who has won three consecutive CCC tilts, and
four-time defending champion, Concordia, who knocked off Western Baptist on
Friday night. The top-six teams in the
league advance to the CCC Tournament, with the regular-season champion serving
as the host.
BIG
RALLY AT WARNER: Albertson got the road
swing off on the right foot with a come-from-behind five-game victory at Warner
Pacific. After dropping the first two
games, the Lady ‘Yotes rallied to take Games 3 and 4, and won the clincher,
15-11. For the second time this season,
the squad had five different players record ten-or-more kills – led by Brittany Bonnett (Logandale, Nev. / Dixie State CC) with 17 spikes and 17 digs. Kristen
Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah /
Snow CC) contributed 15 kills and
four blocks, Tiffany
Sower (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) recorded 12
kills and five aces, and Amanda
Basañez (Elko, Nev. / College of Southern Idaho) recorded
her fifth triple-double with 11 kills, 34 assists, and 17 digs.
T-BIRD
SOUP: The late match surge by the Lady ‘Yotes
carried over into Saturday’s match at Cascade, inside the dark, self-proclaimed
“Thunderdome.” Not much thunder was
heard that night, as Albertson needed just 65 minutes to roll past the T-Birds,
30-14, 30-15, 30-21. The Coyotes hit a
season high 38-percent on their attacks, led by big nights from Tiffany Sower
and Kristen Bailey. Sower had a
career-high 15 kills, five aces, and a .500 attack percentage, while Bailey had
ten kills, three blocks, and a .529 attack percentage.
PERFECT
NIGHT FOR THORNTON AT THE MOUNTAIN(EERS): Junior Ashlea
Thornton (Glendale, Calif. / Cal
Baptist) was a perfect 8-for-8 in
kill attempts on Tuesday night, as the Lady ‘Yotes dominated Eastern Oregon in
three games. Despite falling just under
the ten attacks needed to set a school-record, Thornton helped Albertson to a 34-percent
hitting night in winning their 16th straight match over the Mounties. Three others – Tiffany Sower (ten kills, .500
attack percentage), Kristen Bailey (seven kills, .600 ap), and Brittany Bonnett
(eight kills, .467 ap) dominated play.
CONFERENCE
LEADERS: Despite the slow start
to the season, statistics are beginning to turn around quickly for the Lady ‘Yotes
– from a team and individual perspective.
As a team, Albertson ranks second in the league in attack percentage
(.228), aces per game (2.80), and blocks per game (1.96), while ranking third
in kills per game and assists per game.
However, taking league matches alone, the Coyotes lead the loop in
kills, assists, and aces per game.
Individually, Kristen Bailey ranks second in the league with 1.12 blocks
per game and sixth in attack percentage (.309) – but is first in blocks (1.19)
and fourth in attack percentage (.324) in league only matches. Same goes for Tiffany Sower, who leads the
CCC in aces per game (0.79) in league-only tilts, and is second overall (0.79). Others in the top ten include Brittany Bonnett
(tenth in digs per game at 2.87), Amanda Basañez (eighth in assists per game at
6.45) and Erin Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle Fork HS) (ninth in assists per game at 5.76).
BLOCKTOBERFEST
MAKES ITS EIGHTH APPEARANCE: For
the eighth consecutive season, the Coyotes will host one of the premier
volleyball tournaments in the Northwest – as Blocktoberfest 2003 begins Friday
and Saturday. The six-team tourney
features two nationally ranked programs, two more teams ranked in the regional
poll, and three former tournament champions.
A total of 12 matches will take place on the Coyotes center court, many
with regional implications. Up first
for the Coyotes is Westminster
from Salt Lake City, a member of the NAIA’s
Frontier Conference. The Griffins
(1-19) have struggled all season under first-year head coach Tasha Poduska and
are hoping for better things at Blocktoberfest – considering Westminster is
just 2-18 all-time in the tournament.
Albertson has won all ten previous matches since 1995. Friday’s late match is probably the
tournament’s marquee match-up, as Albertson takes on No. 16 ranked Montana Tech. The
Orediggers (18-6) have been on fire, winning their last nine matches in a row,
dating back to a tournament at Rocky Mountain in early September – thanks to
big play from Janalee Stokken (3.04 k/g) and Marrin Audet (2.80 k/g). Montana Tech has a 9-11 record in five
previous Blocktoberfest’s, including a 1-3 record last year. Albertson has won the past two matches with Tech and holds a 6-2
all-time advantage over the Diggers.
Saturday, Albertson opens up play against Victoria, the lone Canadian NAIA
volleyball program. The Vikes (0-8
against NAIA teams) have struggled against NAIA clubs this season, but have won
3-of-4 matches against lower division Canadian programs. It is Victoria’s second appearance at
Blocktoberfest (0-1 all-time against the Coyotes), having dropped all four
matches in 2001, and withdrawing from last season’s tournament due to illness. Rounding out the Albertson opponents in the
tournament is 1996 and 2001 Blocktoberfest champ Montana-Western. The Bulldogs (7-13) are rebuilding this
season after a banner 2002 that left them two wins away from advancing to the
NAIA Tournament. Western has already
defeated the Lady ‘Yotes once this season, a marathon five-game match in the
season opener for Albertson. UMW has
won 12-of-14 tournament matches in previous Blocktoberfest appearances – and won
six consecutive matches against the Coyotes.
Western holds a 8-2 all-time advantage in the series. Also in the tournament, but not playing the ‘Yotes,
is seven-time NJCAA National Champion, the College of Southern Idaho,
the 2002 Blocktoberfest champs. The
Eagles (34-3) won all four matches they played in last year’s tournament.
TOURNAMENT
INFORMATION: Gates open to
Blocktoberfest 2003 at 8 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, with admission
prices at $8.00 per day or $15.00 for a tournament pass. All seating at the J.A. Albertson Activities
Center is general admission.
RAFFLE
FOR QUILT: The Coyote volleyball
team is holding a raffle for an 86-square inch quilt to be drawn on May 9,
2004. The original design “Crown
Jubilee” will be present at all home matches and is valued at over $800. Tickets are just one dollar each, or six
tickets for five dollars – and can be purchased at all home volleyball matches,
or by calling coach Liz Mendiola at 459-5858.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson women’s volleyball program, head to the
official site Lady ‘Yote volleyball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm. Each night, scores and updated standings are
posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson volleyball website
at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball/stats/standings.htm.
MEN’S SOCCER (6-3, 4-2
CCC): Conference title hopes start
with key home weekend against Concordia and Cascade
LAST
WEEK: Lost at Western Baptist, 1-0; defeated
Warner Pacific, 3-0.
COMING
UP: vs. Concordia, Friday, 3:30 p.m.; vs.
Cascade, Saturday, 1 p.m.; vs. Walla Walla, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
ROAD
SPLIT LEADS TO LOGJAM IN LOOP RACE: Things
got even tighter over the weekend in the nip-and-tuck Cascade Conference men’s
soccer race, as no fewer than five teams are within two games of first
place. The Coyotes had a chance to
claim a portion of the top spot, but a weekend split – a 1-0 loss at Western
Baptist and a 3-0 win at Warner Pacific, dropped the squad into a tie for
second with Warner, a game and a half behind Concordia (who knocked off Cascade
on Tuesday). Both Western and Evergreen
sit in the wings with identical 3-2-1 records.
Northwest and Cascade have all but been eliminated from the playoff
race.
WHAT’S
AT STAKE: A spot in the Cascade Conference Tournament and an
easier ride to the NAIA Regional. The
top-four teams in the league will battle for a guaranteed spot in the regional,
to be hosted by either Simon Fraser or Westminster. The CCC regular-season champion gains a spot in the regional,
along with the CCC Tournament champion. The other two berths (CCC teams and
independents) are selected based on Longo rating in games before Oct. 31 (if
the CCC regular season and tournament champ are the same, three berths are
selected from Longo). Currently,
Albertson boasts a 202.7 rating in the Longo, much higher than the 192.8 they
had in 2002 in earning an at-large bid to the regional, where they lost 5-0 to
Simon Fraser. However, Simon Fraser
(216.6), Western Baptist (211.5), Westminster (210.9), and Concordia (205.9)
all have higher current Longos, while Warner Pacific (165.9) and Evergreen
(162.5) would have no chance in advancing to regionals without a league berth.
REGIONAL
RANKINGS: Albertson did get a
boost in the regional rankings, as the Coyotes moved up one notch to No. 2 in
the latest grouping of NAIA Region I teams.
Simon Fraser leads the group (No. 15 in the NAIA national poll), followed
by the ‘Yotes. Concordia, Evergreen,
and Warner Pacific round out the top-five.
LATE
GOAL LIFTS WESTERN: Those in attendance last
Friday afternoon in Salem saw a nearly even match between Albertson and Western
Baptist. After the ‘Yotes barely missed
a chance in the first half – a Jason
Southward (Hailey, Idaho / Wood
River HS) shot was cleared at the
goal line by a Warrior defender, Western scored in the 77th minute
on a Scott Marshall goal to take a 1-0 lead.
Albertson would keep the pressure on – as Joe Chandler (Nampa, Idaho /
University of Utah) blasted a shot that the
Western keeper deflected away, preserving the win. It was the second year in a row that the Warriors have knocked
off the Coyotes in Salem.
‘YOTES
MARKING GURU: Despite losing the match
at Western, head coach John
Calpin was exuberant about the play of his sweeper, Drake Jakovac (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS). The junior All-American was charged with the
duty of keeping two-time Cascade Conference Player-of-the-Year, Patrick Daka,
in check. Looking at the numbers,
Jakovac did that – as Daka took just one shot on the afternoon – a 35-yard
blast that had no chance of finding the net.
It was only the third time this season that the Western standout had been
held without a point.
HUBER
OUTSTANDING AT WARNER: After a solid
afternoon against Western, keeper Ryan
Huber (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle
HS) shook off the loss and took it to Warner
Pacific on Saturday. The Knights
peppered the goal for 90 minutes, but Huber was stellar, turning back the seven
shots on goal to pick up his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win. Albertson got on the board in the first
half, as Dustin Crim (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) flicked home a Ryan Abo (Boise, Idaho /
Timberline HS) cross. The ‘Yotes would add two goals in the second
half – one on a Warner Pacific own goal, the other on a sweet right-footed
blast from Joe Chandler, off a cross from Jason Southward.
CALPIN
HALFWAY TO 200: With his team 6-3
through the first nine matches of the 2003 season, 18th year head coach John
Calpin is just six wins away from the 200 mark in his illustrious career. The native of York, England, has amassed a
mark of 194-117-16 in his Albertson career (including three seasons as head
coach of the women’s program).
LEAGUE
LEADERS: Through the midway
portion of the season, the ‘Yotes as a team rank No. 1 in the Cascade
Conference in assists per game, goals allowed, and goals against average. Individually, Ryan Abo leads the league in
assists and assists per game, while keeper Ryan Huber ranks second in goals
against average. Jason Southward ranks
in the top-four in shots per game, points per game, and goals per game, while
Joe Chandler ranks seventh in points per game and eighth in shots per game. Brad
Thornburg (Yreka, Calif. / Yreka
HS) rounds out the group by ranking ninth in
goals per game and tenth in shots per game.
CONCORDIA-ALBERTSON,
PART TWO: The top spot in the
Cascade Conference standings will be on the line on Friday, as Albertson
entertains league leader Concordia at Symms Field.
The Cavaliers (9-6, 6-1) are coming off an easy 9-0 victory over Cascade
on Tuesday and look to complete a season sweep of the Coyotes. Dan Birkey’s club scored four second half
goals in a 5-2 rout of Albertson in late September, evening the all-time series
at 14-14-1. Injuries have plagued the
Cavs this season – although freshman Joey Graham (nine goals) has picked up the
pace, as has all-star Joe Beytebiere (six goals, four assists). A revolving door between the posts thanks to
injury has left Jeremy Wells, a key defender, in goal – but he has responded
with two consecutive shutouts.
Albertson has not defeated Concordia in Caldwell since the 2000 season,
a 6-1, when the Cavaliers were ranked No. 12 in the NAIA.
NOTE
TIME CHANGE: The game time to
Friday’s key tilt between the Coyotes and Cavaliers has been moved to 3:30
p.m., instead of the originally scheduled 4 p.m. start time.
TWO
OTHER HOME GAMES ON THE DOCKET: Albertson
continues its three-game homestand on Saturday, with an afternoon tilt with CCC
cellar-dweller Cascade. The
T-Birds (0-9-1, 0-6-1) have scored just two goals all season, with opponents
averaging over five scores a game.
Former player, now head coach Micah Saxman has a completely retooled team
than the ones that defeated Albertson in the 2001 CCC Tournament. To make matters worse, starting keeper T.J.
Samuelu will have to sit out the game against the ‘Yotes due to an ejection
against Concordia on Tuesday. Albertson
has won three straight in the series,
including a 4-0 shutout in Portland this season, and holds an 18-4 all-time
edge. Tuesday, a much improved Walla Walla College team makes its second trip ever to Caldwell. The Wolves (4-4), a Seventh-Day Adventist
school who participates in the NCCAA, dropped their previous two matches with
the ‘Yotes by a combined 22-1 score.
This year, Walla Walla has scoured the NAIA’s California Pacific
Conference for wins over Cal-Maritime, Simpson, and Cal-State Monterey Bay –
led by forward LynRoy Coleman.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information
regarding the Albertson men’s soccer program, head to the official site Coyote
Soccer: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm. Each night, scores and updated standings are
posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson men’s soccer
website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/msoccer/stats/standings.htm.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (5-4, 4-2 CCC): Lady ‘Yotes closing in on playoff berth with
weekend games at Cascade and Warner
LAST WEEK: Lost at Utah Valley State, 7-0; won at Eastern
Oregon, 1-0.
COMING UP: at Cascade, Friday, 4 p.m. (PDT); at Warner
Pacific, Saturday, 1 p.m. (PDT)
‘YOTES EARN KEY CONFERENCE
WIN: After back-to-back shutout
losses, the Albertson women’s soccer program was in search not only for a win,
but a goal in their road match with Eastern Oregon on Tuesday. They got both when junior striker Adria
Carley (Emmett, Idaho / Emmett HS) drove a ball past the Mountaineer
keeper off a nice pass from freshman Allison Rupert (Boise, Idaho /
Capital HS) in the 67th minute to give the Lady ‘Yotes a 1-0 lead they
would never relinquish. The win gives
Albertson a key season sweep of Eastern, running their unbeaten streak against
their CCC rivals to 11 games.
REED TOPS THE LIST: With the victory on Tuesday, head coach Aisha
Reed picked up her 15th victory as chief of the women’s soccer program –
the most wins by any Lady ‘Yote soccer coach in school history. Current men’s coach John Calpin picked up 14
of his 194 career wins as coach of the women’s program from 1989-91. Reed, a former Albertson player and alum, is
the sixth women’s soccer coach since the program began in 1989 and has picked
up 23-percent of the all-time wins for the program.
DEFENSE SHINES AGAIN: What made the victory against Eastern Oregon stand
was a great collective effort by the 11 ladies on the field. Seniors Shaila Goodman (La
Crescenta, Calif. / Boise State), Kristi Dalsoglio (Boise, Idaho
/ Meridian HS), Katie Rupert (Boise, Idaho / North Idaho CC),
and Brittany Cross (Washougal, Wash. / Washougal HS), along with
true freshman Ali Jakubowski (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) applied
the defensive pressure to the Mountaineers.
Sophomore keeper Danielle Dorsch (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) turned
away the seven shots on goal that Eastern managed to pick up her third career
shutouts – all against the Mountaineers.
END OF A SCORING DROUGHT: The winning goal by Adria Carley ended a long
scoring slump for the Lady ‘Yotes, dating all the way back to their match with
Evergreen on Sept. 26. In fact,
Albertson went 284 minutes and 11 seconds in between goals. The goal also broke another streak – the
Coyotes went the first eight matches of the season without scoring first. The previous four victories had each been
come-from-behind wins.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: Jockeying for position for possible at-large
selections for the NAIA Region I Tournament have begun as this week’s top-five
poll was released. Leading the list, as
they have all season, was Concordia, who dropped from No. 3 to No. 4 in the
NAIA national poll after a 0-0 tie with Evergreen. Simon Fraser checks in a No. 2 in the region, having climbed from
No. 14 to No. 12 in the national poll.
Carroll (Mont.) is No. 3, picking up 16 votes in the national poll, with
Western Baptist and Southern Oregon rounding out the top-five.
WHAT ITS LIKE TO PLAY AGAINST
A D-I: Last weekend, the soccer bunch
took a field trip to Orem, Utah for a pair of friendly’s against Dixie State CC
and Utah Valley State. Although the
match against Dixie State did not count (community college member), it was a
good test prior to the battle with UVSC – a first-year NCAA Division I team. The Wolverines did not disappoint, scoring a
goal in the first minute of the game en route to a 7-0 win. However, despite the size, speed, and
quickness advantage, Albertson held their own throughout – getting two solid
shots on goal, and keeper Danielle Dorsch turning away a career-high 18 balls.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Five different Lady ‘Yote players find themselves
among the Cascade Conference top-ten in statistical categories. Senior Alyssa Latham (Walla Walla,
Wash. / Walla Walla CC) ranks third in the loop in assists per game, fourth
in total assists, and ninth in shots per game.
Both Kristi Dalsoglio and Katie Rupert are tied for seventh in the
league in assists per game, Adria Carley is third in game-winning goals, and
Danielle Dorsch is fourth in saves per game.
OFF TO PORTLAND, LOOKING FOR
WINS IN THE ROSE CITY: The Lady ‘Yotes can
help their own cause this weekend on their second to last road swing of the
season. A must-win match Friday at Cascade
looms before the club, knowing a victory and two Evergreen losses equal the
playoffs. The hapless Thunderbirds
(0-8, 0-5 CCC) have scored just three goals all season long, while giving up a
staggering 67 – an average of over eight goals a match. Second-year head coach Don Miller hasn’t had
much to work with, considering he is the only head coach to return throughout
his department from the 2002-03 school year.
Wendy Hernandez has scored two of the three T-Bird goals, while
midfielder Jessica Johnson is a solid player.
Albertson swept the series with Cascade last year, and owns a 6-4
all-time series advantage. A tougher
task for the team occurs Saturday at Warner Pacific, a much better team
than their overall record. The Knights
(3-7, 3-3) have defeated Cascade twice and knocked off Oregon Tech – and played
Concordia, Western Baptist, and Puget Sound (No. 9 in the NCAA Division III)
close. Forward Holly Tillett (9 goals,
1 assist) is second in the league in goals per game and is a returning
All-Conference selection. The two teams
battled twice last season – the first meetings ever between the schools, with
Albertson winning 4-1 in Caldwell, and Warner winning 2-1 in Portland.
MORE
INFORMATION ON THE LADY ‘YOTES: For
game stories, statistics, and information regarding the Albertson women’s
soccer program, head to the official site Lady ‘Yote Soccer: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm. Each night, scores and updated standings are
posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson women’s soccer
website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wsoccer/stats/standings.htm.
SHARE THE POSSIBILITIES AT
ALBERTSON COLLEGE: Refer a student! Just complete the referral form on the web site: http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/alumni/alumni_relations/Referral.htm or contact Charlene Brown , Assistant
Director of Admission, cbrown@albertson.edu,
phone (208) 459-5689.
- ALBERTSON -