‘Yote Notes –
Sept. 1, 2004
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
COYOTE
OPEN:
The 20th
Annual Coyote Open golf tournament to benefit the Coyote Athletic Association
and Albertson College Athletics will take place September 24 at River Bend Golf
Course. Sponsors and players can be reserved by contacted Dave Hahn at
459-5835. A lot of fun and golf will be had by all that Friday afternoon
- hope to see you there.
VOLLEYBALL:
Coyotes split at LC-State Invite, start
CCC season after match with Boise State
LAST WEEK: at Holiday Inn Express Invitational, Lewiston,
Idaho – vs. Carroll (L 3-1), vs. Concordia-Irvine (L 3-0), vs. Rocky Mountain
(W 3-1), vs. Lewis-Clark State (W 3-0)
COMING UP: at Boise State, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (at Bronco
Gym); at Evergreen, Friday, 7 p.m. (PDT); at Northwest, Saturday, 7 p.m. (PDT)
GOOD PERFORMANCE AT LC-STATE
TOURNAMENT: The 2004 volleyball team
opened up the new season with ups and downs, but finished the Holiday Inn
Express Invitational with a 2-2 record.
Inconsistent hitting on Day 1 led to a pair of losses to nationally
ranked foes (Concordia-Irvine and Carroll), but solid defense and production
from the middle led to a perfect Saturday, including the second-ever victory
over Lewis-Clark State.
HITTING WISE: The Coyotes were led by senior Ashlea Thornton (Glendora,
Calif. / Cal Baptist), who recorded 50 kills in the four matches –
including 16 kills in the victory over Rocky Mountain. Middles Fran Hartman (Lakeview,
Ore. / Lakeview HS) and Katie Hogue (Sparks, Nev. / Reed HS) had
a solid tournament as well. Hartman had
17 kills in the victory over Rocky, then followed it up with an 11 kill-40
percent hitting night against Lewis-Clark State. Hogue led the team with 13 total blocks, to go along with 37
kills in her first action as a collegian.
She began her career in style, recording 13 spikes in the four-game loss
to Carroll.
BUMPING IT: Albertson passed the ball very well over the
weekend, especially new libero, Kahli Mann (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview
HS). The senior registered
double-digit digs in all four matches, including a career-high 21 digs in the
loss to Carroll.
CONFERENCE AND REGIONAL
RANKINGS: As the new season begins, the
Coyotes begin 2004 ranked No. 5 in the initial NAIA Region I poll. Heading the group is Southern Oregon (No. 12
nationally), followed by Carroll College, Montana Tech, Northwest, and
Albertson. It was even better for the
‘Yotes in the Cascade Conference preseason poll, where Albertson was second to
only Southern Oregon in the rankings.
The Lady ‘Yotes finished the 2003 regular-season in second-place for the
first time in school history.
BLOCKING AT THE NET: The success of the ‘Yotes will start at the net,
where starter Fran Hartman will be joined by a pair of budding freshmen. Hartman had a solid sophomore season,
ranking second on the team with 80 blocks to go along with 259 kills. She will be pushed by a pair of youngsters,
6-3 Anne Parker (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS) and 6-0 Katie
Hogue. The trio give Albertson a solid
blocking presence in the middle.
SETTING STARS: Running the offense on a full-time basis this
season is Erin Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle Fork HS). Last year, the sophomore split time with
Basanez in a 6-2 set, recording 720 assists, 256 digs, and 52 aces in half of
the time. A pair of young setters, Annie
Branch (Vale, Ore. / Vale HS) and Cammie Basanez (Elko,
Nev. / Elko HS), the younger sister of Amanda Basanez, will back up
Cherrington.
MULTIPLE SPIKERS: Options will be available for Mendiola at the
outside positions. Over the past few
years, Albertson has had that one “go-to” spiker for points. Heading into 2004, the field is deep and
talented – with any person in the group looking for a spot in the
rotation. Sophomore Tiffany Sower (Eagle,
Idaho / Eagle HS) had a great
rookie campaign, blasting 264 kills, while ranking second on the team with 317
digs and second in the CCC with 60 aces.
Senior Ashlea Thornton had 229 kills last season, along with a perfect
match midway through the season (nine kills in nine attacks). Mendiola has been excited over the progress
of Michelle Riordan (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS), who saw limited
action as a freshman, along with a trio of newcomers. Charity Gaston (Harrisonburg, Va. / James Madison
Univ.) heads to Albertson after spending last season at James Madison, an
NCAA Division I school, while twin sisters – Kimberly Horn (Notus,
Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) and Jennifer Horn (Notus, Idaho /
Treasure Valley CC), make the jump from Treasure Valley Community College.
DIGGING SPECIALISTS: A change to the collegiate volleyball rules will
help the Lady ‘Yotes this season. Since
the libero (designated defensive specialist) was instated in 2002, the person
wearing the alternate jersey was able to play defense – but not attack or
serve. This year, the libero will be
permitted to serve in one position through each rotation. This is music to the ears of Mendiola, where
Kahli Mann who has entered the rotation as a server over the last two years,
will take over the libero slot.
THREE MATCH WEEK: Albertson returns to the Valley this week for a
Wednesday match at Boise State (to be played at Bronco Gym). The Coyotes have not met the Broncos (6-24
in 2003) since 1995 and have lost all seven previous meetings. Then it is off to Evergreen and Northwest
to open up Cascade Conference play.
The Coyotes split two meetings with the Geoducks (13-13 in 2003), and
have not won in Olympia since the 2001 season.
The Eagles (2-2 in 2004) were picked fourth in the initial NAIA Region I
poll and are coming off a solid performance at The Masters Tournament in
California, where they defeated Christian Heritage and Hope International. Albertson swept the season series last
season from Northwest. (Northwest is
now known as Northwest University, not Northwest College)
MORE
INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2004
volleyball team can be found on Albertson voleyball official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm. Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can
be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball/stats/standings.htm.
MEN’S SOCCER: Coyotes
play exhibition and Alumni in preparation for 2004 season opener
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: exhibition at Treasure Valley CC, Tuesday, 5
p.m.; exhibition vs. Alumni, Saturday, 1 p.m.
NEW LEADER FOR THE COYOTES: A changing of the guard has taken place in
Caldwell, Idaho, where the Albertson College men’s soccer will see just the
third head coach take the reigns of a program beginning its third decade of
play. Following the legacy of 18-year
head coach John Calpin is one of his former players, Brian Smith, who
inherits a group that has the potential to do what only one previous Coyote
team has achieved – qualify for the NAIA national championships. Smith, a former All-District player for the
Coyotes in the early 1990s, played for Calpin, and then coached with him as
part of the Boise National Soccer Club.
As head coach of the Timberline High team in 2000, his squad – filled
with many current Coyotes, won the IDHSAA state title, showing that the rookie
collegiate coach knows what it takes to win it all.
LAST YEAR: Success has been in the ‘Yotes cards over the last
five years. Five consecutive 13-or-more
win seasons, five regional tournament berths, three regional finals, and the
2000 NAIA Region I championship have propelled Albertson to a perennial
Northwest soccer power. Last year, the
Coyotes had to fight their way into the regional tournament – winning playoff
clashes with Western Baptist and Concordia just to advance, then knocking off
Concordia again in the regional semifinals.
Nemesis Simon Fraser ended the ‘Yotes party in a tight 2-0 battle. Experience is the key for the 2004 ‘Yotes,
as nine starters return – many who have been regulars for the last three
years. Albertson must replace
midfielders Roger Aguilar, a three-year starter, who finished his sixth in
all-time assists, and Brad Thornberg, a three-time All-Conference selection.
ABO LEADS THE MIDFIELD: Directing the Coyote attack is senior Ryan Abo (Boise,
Idaho / Timberline HS), who earned NAIA All-America honors after a fabulous
2003 season. The center-mid amassed 15
assists, tying the school-record, to go along with six goals in helping
Albertson to a 15-win season. Abo is
among the top ball distributors in the entire Northwest.
SCORING DUO RETURNS: It makes it easy for Abo when two proven scorers
return on the top end. Senior Jason
Southward (Hailey, Idaho / Wood River HS) has been a goal machine
over the past three seasons, earning a trio of All-Conference awards. Southward has a career-high 20 goals and
nine assists in 2003, combining for 45 goals and 21 assists during his career. Junior Joe Chandler (Nampa, Idaho
/ Nampa HS) had a breakout seasons after a four-year hiatus – joining Abo
in the 15-assist club, to go along with 17 goals. He had his left-boot working in a playoff victory over Western
Baptist, registering a hat trick in the must-win game.
IN GOAL: The ‘Yotes biggest question mark going into last
season was in goal, after current assistant Jake Steele had finished his
All-America career. Never fear, as Ryan
Huber (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) cast aside the naysayers, recording
five shutouts and a 1.46 GAA. At one
point during the season, the junior blanked opponents for over 300 consecutive
minutes and made a save on a penalty kick late in Albertson’s 2-1 home victory
over Concordia.
WINNING THE BALLS IN THE
MIDDLE: Controlling the midfield has
been one of the Coyote strongholds in the last decade. Although the club will miss two of their
2003 starters this season, plenty of returnees will fill the void. Two-year starter John Mitchell (Boise,
Idaho / Boise State) has been a consistent performer during his career –
scoring two goals and assisting on 18 others in 40 games. Senior John Reinschmidt (Mountain
Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS) has been an off-and-on starter during his
time with the Coyotes, recording five goals last season. Senior Dustin Crim (Boise, Idaho /
Borah HS) and junior Tyler Seaman (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) were
key reserves in 2003, combining for five goals and eight assists. Transfer, Mitch White (Boise,
Idaho / Gonzaga U.), a NCAA Division I transfer and former All-Idaho
selection as a prep, will help the group.
ANCHORING THE DEFENSE: In front of the net is a great cast of characters
– probably the strongest part of the Coyote team. Two-time All-American Drake Jakovac (Boise, Idaho /
Timberline HS) anchors the defense, usually drawing the marking assignment
of the opposition’s top scoring threat.
Jakovac is a tough, gritty player that typically wins a majority of
50-50 balls. Also returning on the back
line are starters Brad Brooks (Meridian, Idaho / Meridian HS) and
Skiff Larson (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS), who handle the
flanks. The defense will be helped by
the addition of transfer Scott Fuller (Boise, Idaho / Cal-State
Fullerton), who was a part-time starter last season at NCAA Division I
Cal-State Fullerton.
THE SCHEDULE: The 2004 schedule does not vary from the norm, as
once again, Albertson opens up the season by playing two games at the Westminster
College Tournament in Salt Lake City.
The final game of the weekend against the host Griffins is typically a
key regional match-up. Albertson will
play only one other non-conference match-up, an October date at Walla Walla
College.
LOOKING AT THE CASCADE
CONFERENCE: The 12-game Cascade Conference
slate should be the most balanced in years.
Two-time defending regular-season champ, Concordia, will be gunning for
the Coyote team that defeated them in both the CCC and regional playoffs. Both Warner Pacific and Evergreen have
high-scoring returning players, and have high expectations. Western Baptist must replace their all-time
leading scorer in Patrick Daka, but are always solid. Both Cascade and Northwest must rebound after dismal 2003
seasons.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Albertson begins the 2004 season in a tie for No.
31 in the NAIA preseason poll. The
Coyotes, ranked No. 3 in the initial Region I poll, received eight votes from
the national pollsters. Simon Fraser
begins the season ranked No. 12, while Concordia starts the season No. 25. Westminster and Warner Pacific round out the
regional poll.
THE EXHIBITIONS: The Coyotes open up the 2004 season with an
exhibition match on Tuesday at Treasure Valley Community College in
Ontario. The Chukars (7-3-6 in 2003)
were in the middle of the pack in the NWAACC last season and should provide
Albertson with 90 solid minutes of action.
Saturday is the annual Alumni Game – with former Coyotes from the early
1990s coming back to don the Purple and Gold.
MORE INFORMATION:
Updated information and statistics on the 2004 men’s soccer team can be found
on Albertson men’s soccer official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm. Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can
be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/msoccer/stats/standings.htm.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: Lady
‘Yotes swept at Les Schwab Classic, head to Walla Walla for two games
LAST WEEK: at Les Schwab Classic, Nampa – vs. Central
Washington (L 5-0), vs. Northwest Nazarene (L 3-0), vs. Eastern Oregon (L 2-1).
COMING UP: at Whitman, Wednesday, 5 p.m. (PDT); exhibition
at Walla Walla CC, Thursday, 5 p.m. (PDT)
COYOTES STRUGGLE IN SEASON
OPENING TOURNAMENT: If you put the a
picture of the 2003 Albertson women’s soccer team next to the one that took the
field last Thursday at the Les Schwab Classic at Northwest Nazarene and it
would be difficult to find any similarities.
Only four players off of last season’s 6-7-1 club were in uniform as the
Lady ‘Yotes began the new campaign, as 12 new players donned the Purple and
Gold for the first time. The rebuilding
process was evident, as Albertson dropped a 5-0 decision to Central Washington,
a 3-0 decision to NNU, and a 2-1 loss to Eastern Oregon. But progress was made, according to head
coach Aisha Reed. “We played
better and better as the tournament went on.
I feel that the players are growing more and more comfortable with each
other after 270 minutes of action. It
is unfortunate that we did not win a game.”
LACK OF DEPTH HURTS: One thing that plagued the Lady ‘Yotes during the
tournament was the lack of depth. Only
two starters return from last season and nine freshmen were in the rotation
over the weekend. However, with only 14
players in uniform, conditioning was definitely a concern. Temperatures reached 90 degrees or more in
all three games – giving an advantage to the opponents with larger rosters and
more substitutes. Albertson was
outscored 6-0 in the second half of the three games, including a 38-12 shot
advantage for the Coyote opponents.
EMERGING STAR UP FRONT: One
person who made an impact during her first three games as a college player was
striker Jaime Peoples (Kuna, Idaho / Kuna HS). The true freshman and 2003 Southern Idaho
Conference Player-of-the-Year was the most consistent offensive threat during
the three game stretch, taking eight shots, with three of them on goal. Peoples converted the first goal of the
season for the Coyotes against Eastern Oregon, hopefully the first of many,
according to Reed. "Jaime Peoples will definitely be an
impact player," she said in an interview with the Idaho Press Tribune.
"She definitely has the work ethic and drive to want to put the ball in
the net and work hard out there all the time." Peoples follows in the footsteps of All-Cascade Conference performers
Becky Robertson (27 goals in two seasons) and Alyssa Latham (16 goals in two
seasons).
THE NEW KEEPER AND OLD KEEPER: One of
the returners for the Lady ‘Yotes this season is Danielle Dorsch (Boise,
Idaho / Capital HS). A two-year
starter in goal, Dorsch will see considerable time outside the net this season
as an attacker on the offensive end.
The change was prevalent against Eastern, when she fed a through-ball to
Jaime Peoples for the lone goal scored by Albertson. Taking over in goal this season is transfer Candice Frank (Sandy,
Utah / Rocky Mountain College), who is the younger sister of former Coyote
men’s soccer player, Conrad Frank. The
junior did not see much action during her two seasons at fellow NAIA school,
Rocky Mountain, but played all 270 minutes in goal during the weekend
tournament. Despite giving up ten goals
in the three games, she also was peppered with 65 shots, making 30 saves.
A YOUNG DEFENSE: Albertson lost their entire 2003 back line to
graduation – including All-CCC performers Kristi Dalsoglio, Brittany Cross, and
Shaila Goodman, while a part-time starter from last year, Ali Jakubowski (Caldwell,
Idaho / Caldwell HS) will miss the season due to injury. A pair of true freshmen will anchor the back
this season – Laura Fink (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) and Katie
Ball (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS), and Reed likes their
competitiveness. "Those players are definitely going
to be strong and solid in the back and give us a consistency, a good game every
time.”
IN
THE MIDDLE: The
Coyotes return a pair of starters in the midfield, including center-mid Allison Rupert (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS), who started every game as a freshman,
scoring three goals and adding two assists.
Also in the midfield is Adele Johnson (Riverton, Utah / Waterford
HS), who
steadily improved during her rookie season.
Two other youngsters, freshmen Leah Roach (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) and JaymeLynn Andersen (Buhl, Idaho / Buhl HS) will see playing time in the middle.
ON
THE TOP END: Finishing
will be a crucial task for the ‘Yotes this season, considering their top
returning scorer, Adria
Carley (Emmett,
Idaho / Emmett HS),
will be redshirting. Along with the
aforementioned Jaime Peoples, the Coyotes are hoping for success from junior
transfer Lindsay
Russell (Idaho
Falls, Idaho / Idaho State Univ.) and Lynnette Jacome (Mountain Home, Idaho /
Mountain Home HS),
a reserve with the Coyotes last year.
OFF TO WALLA WALLA: The
Coyotes final preseason tune ups take place this Wednesday and Thursday, as
Albertson travels to Walla Walla, Wash. to meet Whitman College and Walla
Walla CC. Whitman was picked to
finish fourth in the Northwest Conference and is an NCAA Division III club. The Missionaries (10-9 in 2003) return a
pair of All-Conference selections in forward Sammie Arthur (11 goals, three
assists) and midfielder Katey Schmitz (one goal, six assists). The ‘Yotes will then play an exhibition
match against the junior college – something they did in Caldwell during the
2001 season, which netting a pair of solid recruits.
MORE INFORMATION:
Updated information and statistics on the 2004 women’s soccer team can be found
on Albertson women’s soccer official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm. Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can
be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wsoccer/stats/standings.htm.
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ALBERTSON -