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ATHLETIC NEWS: CAA Dinner set for Wednesday night
CAA
DINNER COMING UP: The next Coyote Athletic Association dinner is scheduled
for next Wednesday night, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the
Simplot Dining Hall on the ACI campus.
All Coyote fans and supporters are encouraged to attend the
all-you-can-eat dinner, which costs $8.00.
To RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.
SWIMMING: Coyotes have banner weekend at
Northwest Invitational
LAST WEEK: at Northwest Invitational,
YOTES IMPRESSIVE AT NORTHWEST
INVITATIONAL: The
Albertson College of Idaho swim teams made a definite splash at the 2006
Northwest Invitational, hosted by Pacific Lutheran, as the men’s team took home
three titles, while overall, two relays and two individuals met NAIA automatic qualifying
times for the National Championships in March.
The sixth-place finish for the men and the eighth-place finish for the
women were the highest by the Yotes in their three seasons of competing in the
meet, with the women’s overall point total their highest-ever.
GREEN HAS MONSTER MEET: Sprinter John Green (
SAVELL ALSO QUALIFIES: Breaststroke specialist Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) notched
another NAIA qualifying time at the Invite, taking fourth-place in the
200-breaststroke, just missing her own school record in a time of 2:39.11 The sophomore also set a new school record in
the 200-medley, placing seventh in 2:25.11.
MEN’S RELAY REMAINS PERFECT: The men’s 200-freestyle relay team
continued is dominating season, winning their race for the fourth consecutive
meet – dropping their time to a season-best 1:31.24. The quartet of John Green, Blake Bower (
ANOTHER WOMEN’S RELAY TO NATIONALS: The women’s team also saw another
relay team qualify for nationals, as the 400-free relay set a school record in
a time of 4:05.88. The team of Elizabeth Peters (
SCHOOL RECORDS FALL: Seven other school records fell at
the Invitational – along with two near misses for NAIA qualifying times. Freshman Ashlee
Byrnes (
TOP NAIA TIMES: A total of three individuals and six
relays are among this week’s NAIA Top-20 times.
Alphonsina Savell
ranks No. 12 in the NAIA in both the 100-breast and 200-breast, with John Green
ranking 17th in the 50-free. The women’s
200-free relay team is No. 7, with both the 200-medley and 400-free relays
posting the 11th-fastest time in the nation.
The men’s 200-free relay is sixth nationally, the 400-free relay is
seventh, with the 200-medley relay in ninth.
Two other national qualifiers – Green in the 100-free, and Elizabeth
Peters in the 50-free, are not among the Top-20.
OFF UNTIL JANUARY: The Coyotes will take the Holidays
off, resting until their final two meets of the year – a home dual vs. Pacific
Lutheran, and helping the Caldwell Swim Club host the Caldwell Invitational in
February.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (6-1): Yotes
poised to enter NAIA Division II national poll after winning I-84 Cup on Friday
COMING UP: Idle until Dec. 16 at
Montana-Western, 8 p.m.
LAST
WEEK: vs. No. 23
RADIO: All regular-season men’s basketball
games will be broadcast live in the
INTERNET BROADCAST: All Coyote games can be heard live
on the Internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/audio/YoteSports.asx., with all games archived online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/2006Radio.htm.
YOTES POISED TO MOVE INTO NATIONAL
POLL: With a 6-1
start to the 2006-07 season, the Coyotes are on the
verge of cracking the NAIA Division II Top-25 poll in the first rankings of the
regular-season. If ACI finds its way
into the poll, it will be the 16-straight season that the Yotes have been
ranked in the poll – all 16-years that the NAIA Division II has been in
existence.
CONFERENCE COACHES POLL: Coinciding with the national poll is
the first Cascade Conference Top-6 coaches’ poll, released earlier today. Unbeaten Oregon Tech took seven of the ten
first-place votes, while another unbeaten, Warner Pacific, took one of the
remaining first-place votes, sitting in second-place. The Yotes took the remaining two first-place
votes, but were third-place in the balloting.
Rounding out the top-six were Northwest, Eastern Oregon, and
ACI REGAINS I-84 CUP: Using a late 13-0 run to take
control of the game, the Coyotes regained control of the I-84 Cup traveling
trophy, defeating
MCGEE SHINES IN WIN: Leading the charge for the Yotes
was Craig McGee (
CHAMP TIES CAREER HIGH: Another sophomore helped the ACI
attack, as Bryan Champ (
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES: A total of 12 of the 14 players on
the Coyote roster saw action in the Eastern game, with 11 of them scoring –
including the first career points from guard Casey Oliver (Pocatello,
Idaho / Coll. of Southern Idaho)and true freshman Tucker Long (Pocatello, Idaho
/ Century HS).
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS: Despite ranking dead-last in four
CCC team categories (opponents scoring average, opponents
field goal percentage, opponents three-point percentage, and rebound margin),
ACI is 6-1 on the season. The Yotes lead
the nation in turnover margin (+14.7), and rank second in the nation in steals
per game (16.1) and three-pointers made per game (12.3) – while forcing 29
turnovers a game. Individually, Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) leads the
league in steals per game (3.3) and is third in three-pointers made per game
(2.6), with Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) leading
the league in three-pointers made per game (4.3) and is third in scoring
average (19.3). Three others are in the
league’s top-five in stat categories – Brandon
Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend
CC) is second in free throw percentage (.909), Bryan Champ is second in steals
per game (2.4), and Donnel Garner (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral HS) is third in steals per game
(2.2).
TAKING THE WEEK OFF: It doesn’t happen often, but the
Coyotes will take this week off from competition, preparing for the upcoming
finals week on the ACI campus. The next action for
the Yotes will be a week from Saturday, when the club heads to
MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and
information regarding the ACI men’s basketball program, head to the official
site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3-4): Lady
Yotes host Northwest Nazarene after ending long losing streak to Eastern
COMING
UP: vs. Northwest Nazarene, Tuesday, 7 p.m.; at Aramark
Holiday Classic, La Grande, Ore. – Friday vs. Whitworth, 5:30 p.m. (PST);
Saturday vs. No. 6 Montana-Western, 5:30 p.m. (PST)
LAST
WEEK: vs.
INTERNET
BROADCAST: Tuesday’s game with Northwest Nazarene will be
carried live on the Internet via the ACI athletic website. Mike Safford will have the play-by-play,
beginning at 6:55 p.m. tomorrow night.
In addition, all women’s basketball CCC road games will be broadcast
live in the
LIVE
STATS: Live Stats will be available this weekend when the Lady Yotes head to La
Grande for the Aramark Classic. Head to the
LADY YOTES END STREAK VS. EASTERN: Fueled by
a 13-3 run over the final five minutes of the contest, the Lady Yotes ended a
nine-game losing streak to
CLARK
MONEY IN THE WIN: Leading the charge for the Yotes was guard Whitney
Clark (
MORE ON
THE GAME: The Coyotes got solid games from Jori
Grady (
WEEKLY
CONFERENCE POLL: The first Cascade Conference coaches’ poll was
released today, as the ten league coaches vote on a Top-6 that helps determine
the NAIA Division II national poll.
Oregon Tech took the top spot, followed closely by Warner Pacific and
the Lady Yotes. Rounding out the group
were Corban,
CANYON
COUNTY SHOWDOWN: Tuesday
night, Canyon County will have its eyes on the J.A. Albertson Activities Center,
as ACI and Northwest Nazarene meet on the hardwood for the only time
this year in women’s basketball. The two
teams have played every year since the Lady Yotes brought back women’s
basketball, with the exception of the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. The series has been lopsided, as NNU has won
16-of-20 games between the teams – including all 11 meetings in
LAST YEAR’S GAME: Behind the 23 point, ten rebound
effort of Danielle Dwello, NNU took home the 2005-06 Battle of Canyon County, 79-58, over ACI in the
ABOUT
THE CRUSADERS: The NCAA Division II Crusaders (3-1) have yet to
venture outside their homecourt this season –
notching wins over Hawaii-Hilo, Northern State, and Great Falls, dropping a
tight game with UC-San Diego. The are
led by returning starters Danielle Dwello (14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
and Mallory Whipple (3.8 ppg, 4.6 apg)
– along with Ahlee Thomas (13.5 ppg,
4.6 rpg) and Janae Olds
(10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg), who
were reserves last season. The Crusaders
have struggled from outside the arc this season (.294), but lead the Great
Northwest Athletic Conference in free throw percentage (.794).
ONE FINAL TOURNAMENT: The Yotes will close out their
non-conference schedule this weekend, heading to La Grande for the Aramark Classic at
AMONG
THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in steals per
game (18.7), turnover margin (+7.1), and turnovers forced per game (30.9). Individually, Christon
Vander Esch (Grangeville,
Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) leads the league in steals per game (3.7) and
offensive rebounds per game (4.0), ranking fifth in the CCC in rebounds (7.7)
and blocks per game (0.9). Denise Hill
ranks second in the loop in defensive rebounds (6.7) and third in total
rebounds per game (8.6), while Whitney Clark is third in free throw percentage
(.841) and fourth in scoring average (14.4).
Rounding out the group is Jori Grady, who is
fifth in the loop in steals per game (2.7), and Savannah Ames (
SUCCESS
IN THE
FOR MORE
INFORMATION: For
up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the ACI women’s
basketball team, head to the official website for the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
VOLLEYBALL (35-4): Season Recap
LAST
WEEK: at NAIA Championships,
BEST SEASON EVER: A ninth-place finish at the NAIA
Volleyball Championships was just the tip of the iceberg for the Albertson
College of Idaho volleyball team in 2006 – a year that rewrote the record books
on the
RECORDS SMASHED BY COYOTES: As a team, the Yotes established
nine single-season records and one CCC record during the 2006 season. As a team, ACI destroyed the school-records
for kills per game (15.97), assists (1,897), assists per game (14.82), aces (301), total blocks (674), blocks per game (2.89),
overall wins (35), consecutive wins (22), and total attendance (5,155). The Lady Yotes saw their two biggest crowds
in program history on back to back nights during the NAIA Region I Tournament, as
525 fans saw ACI top
STREAKS HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR: Despite the two losses at the NAIA
Championships, the 2007 Coyotes will have a pair of streaks alive when the new
season begins. ACI has a school-record 25-consecutive
match win streak at home on the line, dating back to the 2005 season. They also have won 45-consecutive matches
against teams not ranked in the national poll (or others’ receiving votes) – as
all four matches at the national tourney were against ranked foes.
CHERRINGTON, HOGUE HONORED: A pair of Coyotes earned accolades
from the NAIA following the national tournament. Setter Erin
Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle
Park HS) became the first Coyote ever named to the NAIA Championships
All-Tournament Team – after ranking fourth among all setters in assists per
game. The senior also became the second
player in school history to earn Second-Team NAIA All-America honors – as she
was one of three setters named on the first two teams combined. Also honored was blocker Katie Hogue (
YOTES COPE WITH MIDWESTERN STORM: The trip back to
BACK TO BACK WINS TO OPEN
TOURNAMENT: ACI
opened up Thursday with a pair of victories over nationally-ranked, beginning
with a four-game victory over No. 25 ranked Cedarville (
YOTES FALL TO TOP-FIVE TEAMS: The Coyotes closed out the NAIA
Championships with straight-set losses to No. 4 Cal Baptist and No. 5
Columbia. Thursday night, ACI struggled
offensive against the Lancers, dropping a 30-21, 30-25, 30-20 match – ending their
school-record win streak at 22. 2005 NAIA
Player of the Year, Verania Willis, led the CBU
charge, as the
SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS: A total of 14 new entries on the
single-season Top-10 list occurred over the last four months. Katie Hogue made the biggest dent, recording
four marks – setting a new record for hitting percentage in a season (.371),
recording the second-best marks for aces (62) and blocks (155), while ranking
third in blocks per game (1.31). Erin
Cherrington set a new standard for assists per game in a season (13.74) –
recording the third-highest total of assists (1,662) in a season. Also on the list was Kristin Henning, who
sits in the No. 5 spot for blocks per game (1.23), No. 6 in total blocks (136),
and No. 8 in hitting percentage (.338), along with Kathryn Ely, who is tenth in
both kills (408), and kills per game (3.46).
Rounding out the list is Catherine Everist,
who had the most prolific defensive season in school history – setting new
school records for digs (790) and dig average (6.32), along with ranking No. 8
on the aces (57) list.
CAREER RECORDS: A total of seven players on the 2006
roster find themselves on the ACI career Top-10 list. Erin Cherington has
her name on five of the charts – holding the all-time record for assists
(5,253) and assist average (11.44), ranking second all-time in aces (191), and
fourth in both digs (1,120) and games played (459). Katie Hogue is ranked in three categoies – second all-time in blocks (410), while ranking
sixth in both kills (1,021) and aces (132).
Anne Parker is fifth all-time in blocks (302) and tenth in kills (727),
with Tiffany Sower
(Eagle,
END OF THE ROAD FOR THE SENIORS: The NAIA Championships were the
final matches for a trio of seniors on the roster. Erin Cherrington, Michelle Riordan (Nampa,
Idaho / Skyview HS), and Aubrey Nielsen (Twin Falls,
Idaho / Walla Walla CC) ended their playing
careers last week, helping the Yotes to a combined 62-11 record over the last
two years.
COMPLETE HONOR ROLL: The accolades of the 2006 Coyote
volleyball team are staggering, as ACI has dominated awards in Northwest NAIA
volleyball – the following is the complete Lady Yote honor list:
Erin Cherrington – seven-time CCC Setter of the Week,
seven-time NAIA Region I Setter of the Week, NAIA National Setter of the Week
(Sept. 26), Best of the Best All-Tournament Team, All-CCC, CCC Player of the
Year, All-NAIA Region I, NAIA Region I Player of the Year, NAIA Championships
All-Tournament Team, Second-Team NAIA All-American
Katie Hogue – two-time CCC Player of the Week,
two-time NAIA Region I Player of the Week, All-CCC, All-NAIA Region I, Third-Team NAIA All-American
Catherine Everist– five-time CCC Libero of the Week,
five-time NAIA Region I Libero of the Week, honorable mention All-CCC
Anne Parker – All-CCC, honorable mention
All-NAIA Region I
Kristin Henning – CCC Freshman of the Year
Aubrey Nielsen – Daktronics
NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete
Liz Mendiola – CCC Coach of the Year, NAIA
Region I Coach of the Year
HOME SWEET HOME: Under Mendiola, the Lady Yotes are 66-12
in the
MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics
on the 2006 volleyball team can be found on ACI volleyball 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.
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