‘Yote Notes – Aug. 23, 2006

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS: Basketball names assistant, Softball signs nine, Baseball players off to Canada

JOE GREEN NAMED TOP MEN’S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT: The Albertson College of Idaho men's basketball program has named Joe Green its top basketball assistant coach, according to head coach Mark Owen. The 26-year-old Pocatello native was a two-time NAIA All-American for the Coyotes, leading ACI to the NAIA Division II national tournament in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He holds the school record for steals in a season and career, and is second on the all-time assists list. "Joe comes from a coaches' family and has been around the game his entire life," said Owen, who is entering his seventh-year at the helm of the Coyote ship. "As a player, he was arguably one of the better point guards in program history and makes people better around him. I know that his competitive nature will help the Coyotes day in and day out and his youth and desire has me fired up for the season." Green replaces Owen's longtime assistant, Garry Matlock, who stepped down following last season. Matlock will continue to coach the men's and women's golf teams at ACI, along with serving as the NAIA Compliance Officer for the athletic department. The Coyotes open the 2006-07 season on Thursday, Nov. 2, vs. Northwest Nazarene at the Idaho Center.

SOFTBALL ADDS NINE MORE RECRUITS: The ACI softball team completed its recruiting class for the 2007 season by signing nine more players to NAIA Letters of Intent, according to head coach Al Mendiola. The group includes a pair of junior college transfers, along with seven true freshmen - with five of the nine players hailing from Idaho. Leading the group are the JC transfers - Amy Rhoades from Dixie State and Stefanie Gonsalves from the College of the Siskiyous. Rhoades, a former All-State player at Eagle High, hit .264 with 11 RBI at Dixie last season - primarily as a second baseman. Gonsalves has been away from the game for two years, but earned All-Conference honors as an outfielder in 2004. Local products dot the true freshmen list. All-Stars Amaia Enrico and Katie Murphy helped Bishop Kelly to the 4A state title last May, while both Becky Camperud (Vallivue) and Ashley Wolff (Caldwell) each were named to the All-Southern Idaho Conference list. Rounding out the list are Lizzy Whittemore, Dani Villyard, and Mikel Willard. Whittemore, from Yarmouth, Maine, was an All-State selection last year; Villyard, from Kent, Wash., helped Kentlake High to the 4A state tournament; while Willard, from Sherwood, Ore., helped Sherwood High to the Tri-Valley League championship and a 3A state tournament berth. The group joins six other freshmen recruits, along with 19 returning lettermen, gunning to improve on an 18-25 mark last season.

CALDWELL COYOTES SET FOR GRAND FORKS INTERNATIONAL: Many current and former members of the ACI baseball team will compete for the Caldwell Coyotes at next week’s Grand Forks International, one of the premier wood bat baseball tournaments in North America. A total of 12 teams will compete in the event, including two teams consisting of primarily Lewis-Clark State players, along with a squad of primarily University of British Columbia members – all rivals of ACI. The squad will play three games – August 30 vs. the Trail (B.C.) Orioles, September 1 vs. the San Diego Stars, and September 2 vs. the Los Angeles Terror, with the top-eight teams in pool play qualifying for a single-elimination bracket. Complete coverage of the tournament can be found at www.grandforksbaseball.com.

WEBSITE TO BE UNVEILED AT THE END OF THE MONTH: Look for major changes to the ACI athletic website at the end of August, as the school will complete a complete overhaul of www.collegeofidaho.edu, including the athletics portal.

VOLLEYBALL: No. 16 ranked Lady Yotes gear up for NAIA Tournament of Champions in Salt Lake City

COMING UP: at Holiday Inn Express NAIA Tournament of Champions – Salt Lake City – Friday vs. No. 25 Westminster, Noon, Friday vs. Adams State, 4:30 p.m., Saturday vs. No. 4 National American, 11 a.m., Crossover Game, TBA.

NATIONAL RANKING: The Albertson College of Idaho volleyball team was ranked No. 16 in the 2006 NAIA preseason poll, released last Wednesday by the national office in Olathe, Kan. It marks just the second time in program history that the Lady Yotes have been in the NAIA preseason poll. The 2001 squad set the benchmark, beginning the year at No. 15 - the highest ranking achieved by an ACI volleyball team. Last season, the Coyotes won the Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I tournaments, followed up by a 2-2 mark at the NAIA Championships, finishing in a tie for ninth. The 27-7 team last season, which was ranked No. 24 in the final NAIA poll, along with a preseason No. 1 ranking in this year's CCC coaches' poll, helped ACI out in the latest ranking. National American (S.D.), Westminster (Utah), Southern Oregon, and Lindenwood (Mo.) were among the ACI opponents this season in the Top-25 and others receiving votes. Six others - No. 1 California Baptist, No. 3 Columbia (Mo.), Savannah A&D (Ga.), Cedarville (Ohio), Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Cornerstone (Mich.), and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) are among ranked teams the Coyotes may face in their two preseason tournaments.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: The Coyotes have been ranked in the Top-25 on four occasions in program history – the preseason and first poll of the 2001 season, the final poll during the 2005 season, and this week’s ranking.

PRESEASON OBSERVATIONS: Head coach Liz Mendiola is working on different rotations for this weekend’s NAIA Tournament of Champions. She has been impressed by the work of a trio of middle blockers – junior Katie Hogue (Sparks, Nev. / Reed HS), and freshmen Sarah Buhler (Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS) and Kristin Henning (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS), along with setter Erin Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle Park HS) and libero Catherine Everist (Portland, Ore. / Chicago State U.). “Our biggest question mark heading into the opening games is on the outside,” said the sixth-year head coach. “We have so many options out there that we need to find which combination of players works the best.”

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: The tournament, hosted by Westminster College, will be the first volleyball matches played in the Delores Dorr Eccles Center, the new state-of-the-art home of the Griffins. Two matches will be played at a time throughout the two-day event, with two four-team pools competing. Saturday afternoon, the respective pools with cross-over for a single game, based on order of finish following round-robin play.

COYOTE OPPONENTS: ACI will meet host Westminster in the tourney’s opener, a rematch of a first-round NAIA Region I tournament game from 2005 (Yotes won in four games). The Griffins (19-13 in 2005) return the nucleus of their squad, including All-Frontier Conference selections Celestial Alofipo (2.5 k/g) and Angie Johnson (3.1 k/g) – and are ranked No. 25 in the NAIA preseason poll. The two teams have met 12 times previously, with ACI holding a 12-0 all-time advantage. The second match on Friday is a meeting with NCAA Division II Adams State of Colorado. The Grizzlies (11-15 in 2005) were picked to finish fifth in the seven-team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Western Division, as they return All-RMAC hitter Tiffany Stockebrand (4.3 k/g, 2.7 d/g). It is the first meeting between the schools. The Yotes round out pool play against National American, from Rapid City, S.D. The Mavericks (38-5 in 2005) come into play ranked No. 4 in the NAIA preseason poll and return three NAIA All-Amreicans – middle blocker Leslie DaSilva, along with outside hitters Kellen Foganholi and Daniella Olivieria. Of the 12 players on their roster – ten hail from Brazil. It is the first meeting between the schools.

POSSIBLE OPPONENTS: In Saturday’s late game, the Coyotes have the possibility of playing four different opponents. Heading that list is California Baptist, the two-time defending NAIA national champions. The Lancers (34-5 in 2005), who begin the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, return three All-Americans – Angela Willis (3.1 k/g, 1.1 b/g), Yudelka Bonilla (2.9 k/g, 4.2 d/g), and NAIA Player of the Year Verania Willis (5.5 k/g, 2.4 d/g). It is the second meeting between the teams, as ACI defeated CBU during the 2001 season. Also in Salt Lake is Olivet Nazarene of Illinois, the No. 18 ranked team in the NAIA preseason poll. The Tigers (31-14) return All-American setter Megan Gullickson (1,745 assists, 592 digs) and blocker Michelle McFadden (522 kills, 158 blocks, 401 digs) from a team that lost in the regional final. The two teams met early in the 2002 season, with ONU notching the victory. Dixie State makes the transfer from the junior college ranks to the NCAA Division II, moving into the Pacific West Conference. The Rebels (17-16 in 2005) return a pair of starters in hitter Cidney Judkins (2.8 k/g, 2.3 d/g) and setter Whitnee Webster (8.7 a/g). ACI could also face Great Falls, who return four Frontier Conference all-stars, including setter Jennifer Peterson (10.75 a/g). The Argonauts (20-10 in 2005), along with Dixie State, would be meeting ACI for the first time.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following this weekend, the Coyotes will jump headfirst into Cascade Conference play, hosting Concordia University and Corban College next weekend – as the entire CCC opens the 18-game schedule.

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.

MEN’S SOCCER: Coyotes impressive in scrimmage, open season Friday night at Whitman

COMING UP: at Whitman, Friday, 7 p.m. (PDT), scrimmage at Walla Walla CC, Saturday, 5 p.m.

LAST WEEK: scrimmage vs. North Idaho CC (W 3-0)

YOTES FARE WELL IN SCRIMMAGE: Junior Michael Delgado (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) scored two goals and true freshman Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, Japan / Ichiritu HS) assisted on two goals, as the Albertson College of Idaho men's soccer team shutout North Idaho College, 3-0, in a 90-minute scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Symms Field. The Yotes jumped ahead in the 14th minute, as off a Rob Erichson (Boise, Idaho / Walla Walla CC) goal kick, Murata headed a ball to the streaking Delgado, who blasted a 30-yard shot past keeper Seth Baker. The duo would hook up again in the second half, as Murata flicked a ball to Delgado at the top of the 18, where he tucked the one-timer in the right corner of the net. ACI scored their other goal in the 18th minute of the first half, as Mauricio Both (Cachoeira do Sul, Brazil / Nampa HS) corralled an Antonio Bautista (Homedale, Idaho / Homedale HS) pass just outside the 18 and rocket the ball in the upper left corner. The Cardinals managed nine shots, but only two were on goal - as Erichson and Jay Gentle (Boise, Idaho / Walla Walla CC) kept the junior college at bay.

NOTES FROM THE CHIEF: “This was far and away the best opening scrimmage that we have had during my three years at ACI,” said head coach Brian Smith. “We were able to get everyone we could a chance to play and allowed us to evaluate the positions. I was also impressed by the play of our first-year players in their first action at this level. However, we have to work hard in training this week to get into game-shape for the weekend matches in Washington.”

INJURY REPORT: The Yotes played the scrimmage without the services of senior All-Conference players Tyler Seaman (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) and Scott Fuller (Boise, Idaho / Cal State-Fullerton). Seaman, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery in 2004, has struggled with a nagging hamstring injury, while Fuller tweaked an ankle during the first week of practice.

YOTES PICKED SECOND IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Yotes were picked to finish second in the Cascade Conference, as the 2006 CCC preseason coaches' poll was released last week. The Coyotes, coming off a third-place finish and a 9-9 overall record from last year, earned 54 points in the balloting. Defending conference champion, Concordia, ran away with the top spot, earning 60 points and six of the seven first-place votes. Evergreen State ranked third with 51 points, and received the other first-place nod. Corban, Warner Pacific, and Northwest were tightly bunched, with Cascade voted seventh.

ABOUT WHITMAN: The Coyotes will open the regular-season on Friday night in Walla Walla against NCAA Division III opponent, Whitman College. The Missionaries (8-11 in 2005) are in game-shape, as head coach Mike Washington and his boys just returned from a two-week tour of England, where they went 2-1-2 against club teams. The Whits are led by junior Andy Huntington, who was a second-team All-Northwest Conference selection last year, after leading the team with five goals and two assists. It is the 12th all-time meeting between the teams, and the first meeting between Whitman and ACI since 2001 (a 1-0 by the Yotes). The Coyotes hold a 7-4 all-time series edge.

SECOND SCRIMMAGE: On Saturday, the Yotes will play their second scrimmage of the fall against Walla Walla Community College. It will be a homecoming of sorts for keepers Rob Erichson and Jay Gentle, who each received their associate degrees at Walla Walla. Last year, ACI defeated WWCC, 4-3, in a scrimmage in Caldwell.

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2006 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 lose scrimmage with North Idaho, open season Saturday at Whitman

COMING UP: at Whitman, Saturday, 7 p.m. (PDT); scrimmage at Walla Walla CC, Sunday, Noon.

LAST WEEK: scrimmage vs. North Idaho CC (L 3-1).

LADY YOTES PLAY WELL, BUT FALL TO NIC: Despite a 10-7 edge in shots and a 7-3 edge in shots on goal, the Albertson College of Idaho women's soccer team dropped their first scrimmage of 2006 to North Idaho College, 3-1, at Symms Field. Tanya Morley got the Cardinals on the board in the 28th minute, flicking home a corner kick at the far post. NIC would add an insurance goal just before half, as a ACI defensive breakdown allowed Holly Meyer to get free behind the defense, and beat freshman keeper Sadie Hughes (Courtenay, B.C. / GP Vanier SS). The Coyotes drew within 2-1 in the 65th minute, as Katie Ball (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) rifled home a shot in front of the net off a feed from Martine Troy (Ogden, Utah / Judge Memorial HS), but a McKenzie Favero goal with two minutes remaining kept ACI at bay.

WORDS FROM THE COACH: “All and all, I think we got what we wanted out of the scrimmage,” said first-year head coach Niki Taylor. “I got nearly everyone some playing time during the first half, then allowed our starters to play the second half to work on their fitness level. We had some good chances in both halves, which is encouraging. Our goal is to build on today in preparation for the weekend games.”

WHITMAN TO POSE STIFF OPENING TEST: The Coyotes open the regular season on Saturday night at NCAA Division III Whitman College. The Missionaries (10-6-3 in 2005) are coming off a solid campaign and were picked to finish fourth in the always difficult Northwest Conference. Whitman returns three All-Conference selections – including leading scorer Kristen Berndt (9 goals, 6 assists), forward Sammie Arthur (8 goals, 1 assist), and top defender Erin Frame. The two teams have met eight previous times, with ACI still looking for their first win, as Whitman has won six matches, along with two draws. The two teams last met in 2004, an 8-0 Whitman win.

SCRIMMAGE AT WALLA WALLA: The Yotes will play their second and final scrimmage of the season on Sunday at Walla Walla CC. The junior college returns just five players from last year’s squad that defeated ACI, 3-1, in Caldwell.

CROSS COUNTRY: Season Preview

COMING UP: Purple & White Race and Barbeque, August 30, 6 p.m.

LAST SEASON: The Albertson College of Idaho cross country program was on top of the Idaho running scene in 2005 – the men’s program earning a Top-10 national ranking and a berth to the NAIA Championships, with the women’s program qualifying a runner to nationals for the second-straight season. As the 2006 running campaign begins, the Coyotes have a few more question marks to answer, but know that repeat performances could land the squad back in Louisville, Ky. The men’s squad must replace seniors David Fluckiger and Jacob Haas, two of the more consistent runners on the team. Fluckiger, who was a three-time track All-American, ran at the No. 1 spot for the past two years, while Haas, who is a three-time track national qualifier, was the Yotes No. 2 runner, with both consistently running below a 26-minute 8,000-meter clip. The women must replace another all-star, Shannon Edwards, who qualified as an individual to the past two NAIA cross country championships, and holds every ACI women’s cross time records. Despite the loss at the top, head coach Pat McCurry feels that the depth of the Coyote teams could lead to success this year. Nearly 30 runners will compete for ACI this fall, beginning their third season as an intercollegiate program, giving McCurry the numbers he has needed to help score from the start.

MEN’S PREVIEW: On the men’s side, the Yotes expect juniors Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) and Jesse Chlebeck (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS) to run at the front of the pack. Hopper is coming off an outstanding outdoor track season – reaching the finals of the 1,500-meter race at the NAIA Championships, and looks to continue that into the fall. Chlebeck was a very consistent runner in 2005, running at or below the 26-minute mark. A mix of recruits and veterans will fill out the remaining scoring positions. Sam Hardy (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) burst on the scene as a freshman, running in the Yotes No. 5 position most of the year and will improve with a year under his belt. Other returners, including sophomores Oliver Rosales (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) and Cory Kneip (Shoshone, Idaho / Shoshone HS), and senior Chris Rifer (Portland, Ore. / Sunset HS), will be in the mix. McCurry is excited about freshmen Geoff Williams (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) and Mike Tobiason (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS), who each have the potential to run in the scoring flight.

COMMENTS ON THE MEN: “There are a lot of variables this season,” said McCurry. “The guys only have three really experienced runners – so we have some question marks. However, the key is development as the season rolls on. We will not be an outstanding team in September, but by November, we should be hitting our stride.”

WOMEN’S PREVIEW: The loss of Edwards will hurt the women’s program, however, McCurry feels that the 2006 bunch could score better in the Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I race. Seniors Natalie Hatch (Emmett, Idaho / Willamette U.) and Amy Coulter (Boise, Idaho / Willamette U.) will lead the pack, each bringing two years of collegiate racing experience – and both expected to run sub 20-minute 5,000-meters. Behind the duo, ACI returns their No. 4 runner, Genny Gerke (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS), along with Lauren Plymire (Beaverton, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.), who did not run cross last fall. Two freshmen should also be major players – Chantel Varland (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) and Molli Lee-Painter (Moscow, Idaho / Moscow HS), who each had outstanding prep careers.

COMMENTS ON THE WOMEN: “We will definitely score better in each meet,” said McCurry on his women’s team. “We will have our deepest team to date and will be much better this year in the No. 4 and No. 5 positions.”

NEW ASSISTANT COACH: The Yotes will have a new assistant coach for cross country and track this year, as Mike Anderson heads to Caldwell. Anderson comes to ACI from Ilwaco High in Washington State where he coached cross country and track for four years. His highlights included placing third in both the boys and girls 2A state championships in 2005, along with coaching the 2A state 800-meter champion in 2003. Anderson also spent one season as assistant coach at Taft High in Lincoln City, Ore. A graduate of Eastern Oregon University, Anderson was an NAIA All-American in cross country during the 2000 season and currently runs for the Eastside Track Club. "Mike couples a passion for the sport with a wealth of knowledge on training and racing," said McCurry. "He was one of the most focused racers I've ever been around and I'm looking forward to him passing some of that on to our kids."

SCHEDULE AND BARBEQUE: The Coyotes will race in five meets prior to the Cascade Conference/NAIA Region I Championships, hosted this year at Eastern Oregon. On three occasions, ACI will run in Idaho – at the Northwest Nazarene Invite and Idaho State Open in September, along with the Lewis-Clark State Invitational in October. They will also host the 1st Annual Purple & White Race and Barbeque on August 30 on the ACI campus (near the Village Apartments). Both the men’s and women’s teams will race alumni teams over a 3,000-meter course, beginning at 6:15 p.m., with a barbeque to follow (cost $5.00). For more information, contact head coach Pat McCurry at 459-5085.

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information on the 2006 cross country team, including meet-by-meet results and top times, can be found on the ACI cross country official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm.