Yote Notes – October 22, 2008

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

 

IDAHO STAMPEDE TO HOLD INTRA-SQUAD GAME IN ACTIVITIES CENTER: The Idaho Stampede are teaming up with The College of Idaho for an inter-squad scrimmage on November 19 at 7 p.m. at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center in Caldwell – with all proceeds raised to benefit the Coyote Men’s Basketball Team.  For the Idaho Stampede, this will be the last day of the 2008 training camp.  Head coach, Bryan Gates will then have to cut his team down to the final roster after the game.  “This is a great way to gauge where our draft picks are,” said Gates.  “We are thrilled to be able to play on the court where Coach Owen and Coach Holly have created a positive and winning environment.”  Tickets for the inter-squad game are just $5.  They can be purchased at the Idaho Stampede office, at The C of I Ticket Office in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, or by phone at 459-5681.  Fans may also purchase tickets at the door on the game-day.  All major credit cards are accepted but cash is encouraged.  “We are very excited to be participating in a fundraiser for the College of Idaho,” said Stampede President and General Manager, Steve Brandes.  “The Idaho Stampede are open to any and all opportunities to contribute back to the Treasure Valley.”  Fans will have the chance to get autographs from the Stampede players, Rumble, and Spirit dance team after the game.

 

COYOTE SOFTBALL TO SELL T-SHIRTS AND BRACELETS FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The College of Idaho softball team will be selling t-shirts and bracelets over the upcoming weeks to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Lady Yotes will be selling white t-shirts with a pink ribbon on them for $18.00, along with pink bracelets for $2.00 -  a combo pack of the two will only cost $16.00.  The money raised will be donated to help breast cancer research.  For more information or to purchase a t-shirt or bracelet, contact head coach Al Mendiola at amendiola@collegeofidaho.edu or at 208-459-5113.

 

COYOTE MEN PICKED FIFTH IN CCC MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL: The College of Idaho was picked fifth out of 11 teams as the Cascade Conference coaches announced their 2008-09 Preseason Poll, released this evening by the league office in Portland, Ore.  Defending NAIA Division II champions, Oregon Tech, claimed eight first-place votes to take the top spot, while 2007-08 CCC champion Eastern Oregon took the other three first-place votes and was second.  Evergreen State and Warner Pacific were tied for third, just four voter points ahead of the Coyotes.  OIT returns four starters from its national title team - but must replace NAIA Player of the Year, Ryan Fiegi.  Eastern returns three starters, including All-CCC forward Paul Carollo, from a team that advanced to the second-round of the NAIA Tournament.  Evergreen State returns a talented group - led by Nate Menefee, who led the CCC in scoring last season, while WP must replace all five starters from last year.  The Coyotes, who finished 13-18 last year, return three starters and have a talented group of newcomers that look to vault the squad back into the upper echelon of the league.

 

CHAMP, MCGEE NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-CCC TEAM: A pair of College of Idaho men's basketball players were named today to the 15-player Preseason All-Cascade Conference Team, released this morning by the league office in Portland, Ore.  Senior Bryan Champ and junior Craig McGee were honored by the 11-team league in balloting among the coaches.  Champ is coming off a banner season in which the Boise native earned his second-straight CCC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  The guard led the NAIA Division II with 100 steals overall, while averaging 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals per game.  McGee returns to the line-up after missing the majority of the 2007-08 season with a hand injury that forced him to redshirt.  In limited time last season, the Boise native averaged 17 points per game for the Yotes.  He was an honorable mention All-CCC selection as a sophomore.  Oregon Tech led the way with four players on the team (Christian Cavanaugh, Jguwon Hogges, Josh Wetzler, and Brian Parnell), while Eastern Oregon (Paul Carollo, Kris Groce), Concordia (Desmond Meray and Alex Tiefenthaler), Evergreen State (Nate Menefee and Nick Moore), and the Yotes all had two selections.  Menefee, the leading scorer in the loop last year, was named CCC Preseason Player of the Year.  The Coyotes open the season Nov. 7-8 at the Quinn Classic in La Grande, Ore. - meeting Lewis-Clark State and Montana Tech.

 

 

MEN’S SOCCER (11-2-1, 10-0 CCC): Coyotes to put 10-game win streak on line in Meridian against #24 Concordia and Cascade

 

LAST WEEK:. vs. Warner Pacific (W 2-1), vs. Corban (W 1-0)

 

COMING UP: vs. No. 24 Concordia, Friday, 3 p.m.; vs. Cascade, Saturday, 3 p.m – both games played at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex in Meridian.

 

FINAL HOME GAMES MOVED TO BOISE: Despite three weeks of good weather, the aftereffects of the combination of two matches and two thunderstorms on Oct. 4 still render Symms Field, the home pitch of the Coyotes, unusable.  Therefore, the Yotes will move their final two regular-season matches to Ada County, playing at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex in Meridian – and expect a large turnout at both matches.  Last week, the team played their matches at Syringa Middle School in Caldwell – but the pitch is unavailable this weekend due to the IDHSAA 4A State Tournament.

 

DIRECTIONS TO CAPITALS COMPLEX: To get to the Capitals Complex from Caldwell – take I-84 east to Exit 46 (Eagle Road) and turn right..  Proceed for three miles, turning left at Lake Hazel Road – you will see the complex at the bottom of the hill on your left side.

 

BAUTISTA LEADING THE NAIA: With another goal last weekend, Antonio Bautista (Homedale, Idaho / Homedale HS) now leads the Cascade Conference with 16 goals on the season – while leading the NAIA with his seven game-winning scores.  Bautista also has five multi-goal games on the season – tops in the league.

 

TOP SCORING SEASONS: Eight times in C of I history has a men’s soccer player scored more than 15 goals in a season – led by the 23 goals scored by Matt Blazek in 1998.  Derek Jordan (22 goals in 1989) is second on the list, followed by Coe Michaelson (21 goals in 2001), Jason Southward (20 goals in 2003), Blazek (18 goals in 1997), Jared Larsen (18 goals in 1999), Larsen (17 goals in 2000), and Joe Chandler (17 goals in 2003).

 

YOTES RIDING A TEN-GAME WIN STREAK: With the wins at Syringa Middle School over Warner Pacific and Corban, The C of I extended its winning streak to ten – including six road wins, the second-longest win streak in program history.  What is unique about the streak is that it extends a longstanding record for the Coyotes in terms of win streaks.  Since the 1999 season, spanning ten seasons, the Yotes have recorded a win streak of five-or-more games each year.  In 2005 and 2007, they had a five-game win streak; in 1999 and 2004, they had a six-game win streak; in 2002 and 2003, they had a seven-game win streak, in 2000 and 2006, they had an eight-game win streak; and in 2001, the Yotes recorded their school-record 11-game win streak.

 

DEFENSE IS THE KEY: In the ten wins, the Coyotes never trailed in any of the games – in fact, had multi-goal leads in seven of the ten games.  Overall, in the Yotes 11 wins (and the one draw), the squad has allowed one or fewer goals – while in the two losses, The C of I has allowed two-or-more goals.

 

C OF I CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH: With 30 points, the Coyotes have secured their first postseason berth since the 2006 season – and along with it at least one home playoff game.  The Yotes have secured a bye into the CCC Semifinals – where they will host a game, and can secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs if they finish as the top-rated team in the final CCC coaches poll.  The C of I has qualified for the postseason on 12 occasions (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008) and boasts a 10-13 playoff record.  The Yotes won the 1989 District II title, the 2000 NAIA Region I title, and the 2000 and 2003 CCC Tournament titles – while advancing to their lone NAIA Tournament in 2000 (losing to Mobile (Ala.), 4-2).

 

SPIELMAN STEPS UP: On Saturday, Trevor Spielman (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Idaho Falls HS) made his first start of the season in goal and made it count – pitching a shutout in the 1-0 win over Corban.  The freshman came in relief on Friday against Warner Pacific and turned away a penalty kick – eventually picking up his first win at the college level.

 

BOTH CONTRIBUTES: The Yotes also got a key contribution from midfielder Mauricio Both (Cacheoira de Sul, Brazil / Nampa HS), who recorded an assist on both of the game-winning goals over the weekend.  The senior, who has been hampered by injuries all season, was instrumental in ball possession in both games – finding the open player to help the Yotes to victory.

 

ABOUT CONCORDIA: The top spot in the CCC Tournament will be on the line Friday, as Concordia meets the Coyotes in Meridian.  The Cavaliers (11-4-1, 8-1 CCC) have won or shared every league title since the Yotes took home the outright crown in 2001 and are ranked No. 24 in this week’s NAIA poll.  Dan Birkey’s bunch has allowed just 14 goals this season – leading the league in goals against average, including a 1-1 tie against then No. 1 ranked Azusa Pacific.  Bryan Iotte (9 goals, 7 assists), Joey Graham (7 goals, 1 assist), and Tyler Camp (5 goals, 5 assists) lead the CU offense, while All-CCC keeper Garrett Staples (0.95 GAA) is stellar in the net.  It is the 41st meeting all-time between the rivals, with the series at a deadlock, with both teams winning 20 matches, with one tie.

 

ABOUT CASCADE: The Yotes close out the regular-season against the No. 2 team in the CCC South, Cascade.  The Thunderbirds (10-6, 6-4) have already secured a home first-round playoff game against the No. 3 team from the CCC North, and head into the weekend winners of six of their last seven matches – outscoring their opponents 11-0 in their last three games.  Cascade is led by Wondi Ali (13 goals, 3 assists), the second-leading scoring in the league, along with Fernando Montiel (7 goals, 5 assists).  Keeper Efrain Vargas has helped the team record three straight shutouts and six shutouts overall.  The Yotes won the first meeting this season between the teams, 2-1, in Portland, and holds a 27-5 all-time series edge.

 

CONFERENCE/NAIA RANKINGS: The seventh CCC Coaches Poll of the regular-season was released on Monday, with the Yotes jumping one spot to No. 2 in the Top-5 ranking for the first time this season.  Concordia is in the No. 1 spot, with Warner Pacific falling to No. 3 after their loss to the Yotes., while the CCC did not rank a No. 4 or 5 team.  In the latest NAIA Top-25 poll, only Concordia, at No. 24 was in the tabulation – while neither The C of I, nor WP received voter points.  The CCC poll is released on Monday mornings, while the NAIA poll is released on Tuesday afternoons.

 

GAME RECAP: C OF I 2, WARNER PACIFIC 1: Antonio Bautista scored his fifth-consecutive game-winning goal, pouncing on a rebound in the 77th minute and slotting it home, as The C of I, playing a man down for the final 32 minutes, topped Warner Pacific, 2-1, Friday at Syringa Middle School.  Mauricio Both started the counter-attack with a run up the middle, with his drive from 35-yards blocked by Knights keeper Ted Latta.  However, Bautista collected the ball to the left of the goal and found the net for the 16th time this season, lifting the Yotes to their ninth-straight win.  The Yotes jumped in front in the third minute, as Bautista crossed a ball over the middle of the WP defense, finding Emir Kobic (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) at the left corner of the 18, where he flicked the ball into the right corner of the net.  The hosts nearly made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, as Latta blocked a Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, Japan / Int’l Secondary School) free kick, with the Coyotes pounding the rebound into the net - but were called for offsides, negating the goal.  Things got interesting in the second half, as C of I keeper Aaron Reynolds (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) misplayed a ball in the six-yard box - tackling a WP player to stop a goal, earning an automatic ejection.  However, back-up keeper Trevor Spielman made a diving save of Luis Galvan's ensuing penalty kick - keeping the Yotes in front.  With the man advantage, the Knights were finally able to crack the Coyotes zone, as Chris Price one-timed a shot off a Galvan pass in the 60th minute to even the score.  The game was pretty even, with WP holding a 15-10 edge in shots and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal - but the Yotes holding a 6-4 margin in corner kicks, including five during the 11-vs-10 period.

 

GAME RECAP: C OF I 1, CORBAN 0: Brian Weiss laced a one-time blast into the upper right corner of the goal with just under ten minutes remaining, helping The C of I to their tenth-consecutive victory, stopping Corban College, 1-0, Saturday at Syringa Middle School.  After multiple missed opportunities throughout the match, the Yotes (11-2-1, 10-0-0 CCC) finally cashed in the 81st minute.  Following a throw-in, Mauricio Both switched the ball from the left to right side of the field, finding the foot of Weiss.  The defender launched the 25-yard rocket past keeper Aaron Franklin for his first goal since the 2005 season.  The Coyotes had a commanding 26-7 edge in total shots, including a 9-1 edge in shots on goal - but were turned away time and time again by Franklin.  In the 41st minute, Antonio Bautista broke free from the Warriors (4-10-1, 2-7-0) defense, but his 1-on-1 attempt rolled just wide right.  In the 64th minute, Jesus Lopez (Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS) headed a ball that was punched out by Franklin to the foot of Both - but his shot from inside the six-yard box missed wide.  Garga Caserta (Aracatuba, Brazil / North Idaho CC) nearly got the Yotes on the board in the 79th minute, as Franklin had to make a diving save on his 30-yard liner to the near post.  The Warriors best opportunities came in the final minutes, as Yote keeper Trevor Spielman had to make a leaping save on a Fernando Karczeski shot - while having to turn away a trio of long throw-ins deep in The C of I zone to notch the shutout.

 

FINAL HOME GAME FOR SENIORS: Saturday’s match marks the final regular-season home game for six C of I seniors.  Playing in their final games for the Yotes are Garga Caserta, Brian Weiss, Mauricio Both, Scott Thompson (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS), Derek Erstad (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS), and Alex Penrod (Las Vegas, Nev. / Cimarron-Memorial HS).  Of the six, five of the players have been with the team for four seasons.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote men’s soccer program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm.

 

VOLLEYBALL (15-7, 12-2 CCC): Lady Yotes climb back into Top-25, set for crucial road trip to Oregon – facing Corban and Concordia

 

LAST WEEK: vs. No. 25 Oregon Tech (W 3-0), vs. No. 21 Southern Oregon (W 3-0)

 

COMING UP: at Corban, Friday, 7 p.m. (PT); at Concordia, Saturday, 7 p.m. (PT)

 

DIG FOR THE CURE: The C of I volleyball team will be holding their first “Dig For The Cure” night on Oct. 31, when the Lady Yotes host Northwest University.  In conjunction with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Coyote players will be soliciting donations for each dig the team records during the match – with the money raised supporting Breast Cancer Research.  Overall, 200 teams – including squads from Clemson, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, LSU, Maryland, Notre Dame, and Stanford, will be joining the Yotes to try and raise $375,000 this October, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The Yotes, who will be wearing pink during the night, ask that fans also show their pride by wearing pink to the match.  For more information, or to make a donation, contact head coach Liz Mendiola at lmendiola@collegeofidaho.edu or by phone at 208-459-5858.

 

YOTES SWEEP NATIONALLY RANKED FOES: The College of Idaho volleyball team avenged their only two losses in Cascade Conference play this season with a vengeance – sweeping then No. 25 Oregon Tech and then No. 21 Southern Oregon in three sets, to climb into first-place in the league standings.  It marked the first time since the 2006 season that the Yotes stopped Top-25 teams in back-to-back games (defeated No. 25 Cedarville and No. 17 Lee at the NAIA Tournament).

 

BACK IN THE TOP-25: For the first time since the 2008 Preseason Poll, the Lady Yotes have made a return to the NAIA Top-25, elevating to No. 22 in this week’s tabulation.  It marks the 29th time in school history that the Yotes have been nationally ranked – once in 2000, two times in 2001, then every poll from Nov. 16, 2005 to Aug. 19, 2008.  It also marks the 40th-straight week that the Coyotes have received votes in the national poll.  Other C of I opponents were in the ranking – No. 2 Concordia-Irvine, No. 7 Madonna, No. 11 Lewis-Clark State, No. 15 Point Loma Nazarene, with Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Oregon all receiving votes.  The Top-25 poll is released every Tuesday afternoon during the season.

 

AGAINST TOP-25 TEAMS: The Lady Yotes have played nine matches this season against teams ranked in the Top-25 and have a 4-5 mark.  The Yotes have defeated Eastern Oregon in four sets, along with Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, and Westminster in three sets - but have lost matches to SOU and Concordia-Irvine in four sets, while losing to Point Loma Nazarene, Madonna, and Lewis-Clark State in five sets.  Since the 2005 season, the Lady Yotes have won 15 matches against teams ranked in the NAIA Top-25.

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE RANKINGS: The seventh regular-season CCC Coaches Poll was released on Monday, with the Lady Yotes ascending to the No. 1 spot thanks to their weekend sweep.  Oregon Tech, who toppled Eastern Oregon in five sets on Saturday, is No. 2, followed by EOU, Southern Oregon, Concordia, and Corban.  The CCC poll is released each Monday morning.

 

SPINKS NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: C of I opposite hitter Megan Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union HS) was named today CCC Player of the Week as announced by the league office in Portland, Ore.  The freshman was a catalyst in the Lady Yotes home wins against No. 21 Southern Oregon and No. 25 Oregon Tech - vaulting The C of I to the top of the CCC standings.  Spinks recorded 12 kills and four blocks in Friday's win over OIT, following it up with 11 kills and four blocks in the win over Southern.  She was also nominated for the NAIA National Player of the Week honor, won by Luana Branco of Columbia (Mo.)

 

YOTES CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT: The Lady Yotes clinched a spot in the CCC Tournament with their win Friday over Oregon Tech, the tenth-straight year that The C of I will participate in the postseason.  The Lady Yotes have qualified for the playoffs in each year Liz Mendiola has been at the helm of the Coyote ship – including regional tournament berths in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  With the conference-direct model in place, the winner of the four-team CCC Tournament will earn an automatic berth into the NAIA Tournament.  The top-two teams in the regular-season will earn a first-round bye in the CCC Tournament, while the No. 3 and No. 6, along with the No. 4 and No. 5 teams playing a mid-week play-in match to advance to the Tournament – which will be held at the CCC champion.  The Coyotes have won each of the past two CCC Tournament – in 2005 at Southern Oregon and 2006 in Caldwell.  In 2007 – a CCC Tournament was not held.

 

ABOUT CORBAN: The Yotes head to the Willamette Valley this weekend for a pair of games against playoff contenders.  Friday, they head to Corban, where the Warriors (10-9, 8-6 CCC) will put their undefeated home record on the line.  Corban is a perfect 7-0 in the C.E. Jeffers Center this year and comes into the weekend winners of three of their last four matches overall.  The offense is keyed by a trio of hitters – Rachel Gowen (247 k/s, 0.96 b/s), Tiffany Land (2.43 k/s, 1.09 d/s), and Rashelle Davenport (2.41 k/s, 3.28 d/s), while libero Rebecca Franke (4.87 d/s) leads the league in digs.  It marks the 35th meeting between the teams, with the Yotes holding a 24-10 series edge, including seven wins in a row.

 

ABOUT CONCORDIA: Saturday, it’s to the Rose City, where an up-and-down Concordia team is set to face the Lady Yotes.  The Cavaliers (13-10, 9-5) have rebounded from a four-match losing streak by winning their last three games – including a weekend sweep in the Seattle area.  CU boasts a pair of offensive stalwarts – Lindsey Fryer (2.60 k/s, 0.82 b/s) and Mariana Toscano (2.23 k/s, 1.67 d/s), while setter Skyler Kamaka (8.63 a/s, 2.38 d/s, 30 aces) is among the league leaders in assists per set.  It marks the 54th meeting between the teams, with the Coyotes holding a 33-20 all-time series edge, including victories in the past 11 matches.

 

YOTES IN THE CCC STATS: As a team, the Yotes lead the league in opponents hitting percentage (.121), kills per set (13.00), assists per set (11.87), and blocks per set (2.41), while ranking No. 2 in hitting percentage (.237).  The team ranks No. 13 in the NAIA in both kills and assists per set.  Individually, seven players are currently in the top-ten in the CCC statistics.  Marcella Hernandez (Torrance, Calif. / El Camino CC) leads the league in blocks per set (1.13), while Kristin Henning (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) ranks second in the loop in both hitting percentage (.385) and blocks per set (1.05).  Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) is second in digs per set (4.45), Naomi Reimer (Killarney, Man. / Killarney SS) is third in aces per set (0.45), Madie Machurek (Eagle, Idaho / Eagle HS) is sixth in assists per set (6.84), Sarah Buhler (Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS) is sixth in kills per set (3.10), and Megan Spinks in seventh in hitting percentage (.272).  Henning is No. 12 in the NAIA in hitting percentage, while Hernandez is No. 50 in blocks per set.

 

CAREER RECORD BOOK: Four C of I players currently rank among the Top-10 in the all-time career record book.  Leading the way is Kathryn Ely (La Grande, Ore. / La Grande HS), who is fifth in school history with 1,199 kills.  Also Kristin Henning ranks No. 6 all-time in blocks with 329, Madie Machurek is seventh in assists with 1,041, and Naomi Reimer is eighth in assists with 776.

 

RECAP – C OF I 3, OREGON TECH 0:. Megan Spinks led the way with 12 kills and four blocks, as The C of I swept No. 25 Oregon Tech 25-22, 25-18, 25-22 Friday night in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The win marked the third time this season that the Lady Yotes have defeated a nationally-ranked foe and help erase an OIT sweep of the Coyotes in early September.  Tech, which saw a five-match win streak snapped, jumped out to a 5-1 lead in Set 1 and were tied 13-13, before the Coyotes pushed four points to take control of the period - thanks to kills from Sarah Buhler and Naomi Reimer along with a Madie Machurek ace.  Set 2 was more of the same, as the Yotes erased a 8-7 deficit with six-straight points, thanks to four OIT hitting errors to roll to the win.  Set 3 saw five lead changes, but was dominated by Spinks, who had six of her kills in the period - including a spike to set up match point.  An OIT hitting error ended it all.  Three Yotes had seven kills - Kristin Henning, Jessie Link (Tonopah, Nev. / Nicholls State U.), and Buhler, while Reimer had six kills, 16 assists, and 14 digs.  Machurek had 17 assists and eight digs, with Whitney Owen recording a match-high 18 digs.

 

RECAP – C OF I 3, SOUTHERN OREGON 0: The C of I recorded ten team blocks and forced 25 Southern Oregon hitting errors, as the Lady Yotes swept the No. 21 ranked Raiders in a key Cascade Conference match, 30-28, 25-18, 25-15, Saturday in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The victory for the Lady Yotes was their 12th-straight league win and moves them into a tie for first-place in the loop standings with Oregon Tech.  Set 1 was intense, as the two teams combined for 11 ties and six lead changes.  The Coyotes looked to have the set wrapped up at 23-18 on a Megan Spinks kill, but the Raiders fought back, staving off three set points, getting a Mia Wortel kill to tie it at 24-24.  The Yotes would fight off an SOU set point with a Raider hitting error at 26-26, with the teams trading points until a ball handling error and a hitting error by Southern would give The C of I the win.  Set 2 saw the Lady Yotes never trail, recording 13 kills without a hitting error along with four team blocks for the win.  The finale saw SOU jump out to a 5-2 edge, but the Yotes would use a 10-2 push to take control - defeating the Raiders for the fourth-straight time in Caldwell.  Kristin Henning led the Yotes with 11 kills, with Spinks adding ten kills and four blocks.  Sarah Buhler had seven kills, Naomi Reimer had seven kills and 18 assists, with Marcella Hernandez recording five kills and seven blocks.  Madie Machurek led the way with 23 assists, with Whitney Owen recording 16 digs.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Liz Mendiola is in her eighth season as head volleyball coach at The C of I.  During her first six seasons at the helm, the Coyotes have advanced to six consecutive Cascade Conference tournaments, four NAIA regional tournaments, and back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Championships in 2005 and 2006.  Last season, the squad won their second-straight CCC title and advanced to the NAIA Region I Tournament semifinals - while being ranked as high as No. 6 in the national poll.  During her career, she has amassed a record of 176-71, the most wins and highest winning percentage in school history.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote volleyball program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm.

 

 

WOMEN’S SOCCER (9-4-1, 5-0-2 CCC): Lady Yotes to play key CCC games at Boise Capitals Complex against #5 Concordia and Cascade

 

LAST WEEK: at Northwest Christian (W 5-0), vs. No. 9 Simon Fraser (L 2-0)

 

COMING UP: vs. No. 5 Concordia, Friday, 1 p.m.; vs. Cascade, Saturday, 1 p.m. – both games played at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex in Boise.

 

FINAL HOME GAMES MOVED TO MERIDIAN: Despite three weeks of good weather, the aftereffects of the combination of two matches and two thunderstorms on Oct. 4 still render Symms Field, the home pitch of the Lady Yotes, unusable.  Therefore, the Lady Yotes will move their final two regular-season matches to Ada County, playing at the Boise Capitals Soccer Complex in Meridian – and expect a large turnout at both matches.

 

DIRECTIONS TO CAPITALS COMPLEX: To get to the Capitals Complex from Caldwell – take I-84 east to Exit 46 (Eagle Road) and turn right..  Proceed for three miles, turning left at Lake Hazel Road – you will see the complex at the bottom of the hill on your left side.

 

PLAYOFF SPOT CLINCHED: For the third consecutive season, the Lady Yotes have clinched a berth in the postseason – with this being the earliest the team has secured a spot in the playoffs.  The Yotes qualified for the postseason in 1991, 1993, 2002, and 2006 – losing opening round games each time.  Last season, the Lady Yotes defeated Cascade, 1-0, before losing 6-1 to Concordia in the CCC Semifinals.

 

LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAK ENDED: With the loss Sunday on the neutral field against Simon Fraser, the Lady Yotes saw their longest unbeaten streak in program history ended at seven.  Five times previously had The C of I recorded five-straight matches without a loss (1989-90, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007).

 

SHUTOUT STREAK ENDED: Stellar defense was the key lately, as the Coyotes saw a streak of 374 minutes without allowing a goal ended against Simon Fraser.  Keepers Sadie Hughes (Courtenay, B.C. / Vanier SS) and Tracy Diaz (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) combined to notch three consecutive shutouts during the stretch – with the Yotes allowing just one goal in their last 524 minutes in CCC play.

 

100 WINS CLOSING IN: Heading into the weekend, the Lady Yotes have won 98 matches in program history – needed two more wins to reach the 100-win plateau.  Also closing in on a milestone is head coach Niki Taylor, who needs one victory to become the all-time winningest coach in school history.  She is currently tied at 24 wins with C of I assistant coach, Aisha Reed, who led the Lady Yotes from 2002-05.

 

ANOTHER QUICK START IN CCC PLAY: The College of Idaho women’s soccer team are off to their best start in conference play in school history with a 5-0-2 record – marking the fourth-straight season that they have began the league season on the right note.  In 2005, the Lady Yotes opened 3-0-1 in CCC play; in 2006, they opened 4-0-1; while last year, the Coyotes began 3-0-2.  They are one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the league.

 

LADY YOTES HISTORY IN CCC: Since 1996, the Lady Yotes have recorded a 47-76-12 record in CCC play – but are solid in league counters over the past six years, notching a .500 or better record five times.  The last two-plus seasons, the Coyotes have been above the .500 mark, recording a 14-6-6 loop record – earning playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.

 

NINE WINS – WHERE DOES THAT STAND: Heading into the week, the Lady Yotes have an 9-4-2 record overall.  In the 20 years of the program, The C of I has won more than nine games in a season just once, while winning four or fewer games ten times.  The 2002 squad holds the school record with ten wins, going 10-11 on the season.

 

GOALS COMPARED TO LAST SEASON: Through 13 games this season, the Lady Yotes have scored 31 goals – eclipsing the total of 17 goals The C of I scored in 19 games last year.

 

ABOUT CONCORDIA: The elite team in Northwest soccer comes to town Friday, as eight-time defending CCC champion, Concordia, makes their annual visit.  The Cavaliers (14-0-1, 7-0 CCC) have won 13 in a row, dominating teams by outscoring them 67-7 – and have not lost a CCC match since 2005.  The No. 5 ranked Cavs have advanced to seven-straight NAIA Tournaments, with the latest club paced by Jessica Ramback (15 goals, 5 assists), Shea Miller (11 goals, 6 assists), Justine Pronovost (10 goals, 6 assists), and Caitlin Verhofstadt (10 assists), while keeper Georgie Christensen (0.36 GAA) leads the stingy defense.    It marks the 28th meeting between the teams, with CU holding a 21-2-4 series edge – winning the last 19 matches in a row.

ABOUT CASCADE: Saturday, the Yotes host Cascade in the regular-season home finale.  The T-Birds (1-12-1, 0-7-1) have struggled a season after making their first-ever postseason berth – scoring just four goals in their 14 matches this season.  Defense has been their strong-suit, as the T-Birds have allowed one or fewer goals in a match nine times this season.  Amanda Hassler (1 goal, 2 assists) has factored in on three of the four goals this season, while keeper Te Awhina Aranui (1.89 GAA) has played solid after an All-CCC career on the basketball court.  It marks 17th meeting between the teams, with the Yotes holding an 11-4-1 all-time series edge.

 

CAREER RECORDS: Two C of I players have moved into the Top-10 on the career records list during the 2008 season.  Junior midfielder Mandy Greif (Payette, Idaho / Payette HS) ranks No. 3 all-time with 15 assists – trailing the 32 assists from Alyssa Latham (2002-03) and the 20 assists from Kristine Jones (1990-93).  Also in the Top-10 is senior midfielder Allie Dufault (Irvine, Calif. / University HS), who is seventh all-time with 12 goals in her career.  She is three goals back of sixth-place (Amy Wells with 15 goals from 1989-91) – with Jones leading the chart with 30 career goals from 1990-93.

 

FINAL HURRAH FOR THE SENIORS: Saturday marks the final regular-season home match for three seniors – all of whom played four years of soccer at The C of I.  Allie Dufault, Emily Dickerson (Nampa, Idaho / Vallivue HS), and Martine Troy (Ogden, Utah / Judge Memorial HS) will play their final home game in the Purple and Gold.

 

LADY YOTES RECEIVE VOTES IN FOURTH-STRAIGHT NAIA POLL: For the fifth time this season and the fourth-straight week, the Lady Yotes have received votes in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll, earning ten voter points in the latest tabulation released from the national office in Kansas City, Mo., or No. 37 in the nation.  Five other C of I opponents were in the poll – No. 5 Concordia, No. 11 Simon Fraser, with Carroll, Rocky Mountain, and Dominican all receiving votes.  The Coyotes were second in this week’s Cascade Conference poll, trailing only Concordia.  Rounding out the Top-5 was Southern Oregon, Northwest, and Oregon Tech.  The CCC poll is released on Monday’s, with the NAIA poll released on Tuesday afternoon.

 

GAME RECAP – C OF I 5, NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN 0: Five different C of I players scored goals, as the Lady Yotes ran their unbeaten streak to seven games with a 5-0 victory over Northwest Christian Saturday night in Springfield, Ore.  With the victory, the Lady Yotes clinched their third-consecutive postseason berth and moved one win away from equaling the school record for the most victories in a season.  It didn't take the Coyotes long to get on the board, as Jamie Reichel (Boise, Idaho / Capital HS) scored during the opening minute, taking a slotted ball from Chelsea Heffner (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) and beat two defenders on her way to the goal.  Heffner would get into the act in the 20th minute, taking a feed from Kelly Hardegree-Ullman (Boise, Idaho / Mountain View HS) and beating Beacons keeper Katelyn Nistler 1-on-1 to make it 2-0.  The Yotes would pour it on in the second half, as Allie Dufault hammered home an unassisted goal in the 55th minute, Macy Egerman (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) scored on a breakaway off a Colleen Smith feed in the 77th minute, and Jessica Brotherton (Payette, Idaho / Payette HS) heading home a ball off a Hardegree-Ullman cross in the 86th minute to complete the scoring.  The C of I dominated the stats, holding a commanding 20-3 edge in total shots and a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.  Tracy Diaz got the start in goal and picked up the shutout, facing just one shot on goal.

 

GAME RECAP – SIMON FRASER 2, C OF I 0: A pair of goals in the opening 14 minutes lifted No. 9 ranked Simon Fraser to a 2-0 victory over The C of I in a non-conference match-up at the Starfire Soccer Complex Sunday in Tukwila, Wash.  The Clan started quickly, as Lauren Lachan flicked home a rebound off the cross bar just 125 seconds into the match to give SFU an early 1-0 lead.   They'd add a second goal in the 14th minute, as Stephanie Pagliaro sent a ball on a set piece to Jessica Fleming, who rocketed a 25-yard strike into the upper corner of the net to cap the scoring.  SFU keeper Cassie Newbrook faced seven total shots, making three saves to notch the shutout.   The Lady Yotes, who saw their school-record unbeaten streak snapped a seven, held a 7-5 edge in total shots.

 

ABOUT THE COACH: Niki Taylor (24-22-7) is in her third season as head coach of The C of I women's soccer program.  In her two seasons with the Coyotes, she helped the Lady Yotes to their first-ever back-to-back playoff appearances, including their first-ever postseason win in 2007, advancing to the Cascade Conference Tournament semifinals.   A graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., Taylor was an honorable mention all-conference player for the Bulldogs in 1999 and 2000, helping the squad to the NCAA Division II regional championships.  She went on to assist coach Mike Cannon during the 2001 season, helping TSU to the regional finals, then moved West, where she was an assistant for Steve Lucas at Boise State for three seasons.  She has also been involved with the Les Bois United Soccer Club for the past five years, while serving as a head coach in the Idaho Olympic Development Program.  Taylor has received her USSF "B" Coaching License.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote women’s soccer program, head to the official homepage of the Lady Yotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmenssoccer.htm.

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY: No. 12 Coyotes, No. 15 Lady Yotes set to run at Lewis-Clark Open

 

LAST WEEK: at Idaho State/Montana State dual (Men 3rd, Women 3rd)

 

COMING UP: at Lewis-Clark State Open, Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston, Saturday – Women at 10:30 (PST), Men at 11:15 a.m. (PST)

 

HELM NAMED RUNNER OF THE WEEK FOR FOURTH TIME: College of Idaho standout Stephanie Helm (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) was named Monday the Cascade Conference Women's Runner of the Week, as announced by the league office in Portland, Ore.  The sophomore has been perfect this season - she has run in four races, each time earning the CCC distinction following the race.  Helm had a quality race in Pocatello on Saturday, placing second overall at the Idaho State Triangular - racing against all NCAA Division I competition.  She ran the fastest time for a C of I athlete ever on ISU's Centennial Course, traversing the 4,000-meter race in 15:34 - over a minute faster than the old mark.

 

YOTES RUN WELL IN POCATELLO: As mentioned earlier, Stephanie Helm took second overall, while four College of Idaho men broke the Yotes team-record on the Centennial Course in Pocatello, as both teams placed third at the Idaho State Triangular.  Along with Helm, Tegan Troutner (Lake Fork, Idaho / McCall-Donnelly HS) had a strong race, finishing 12th in 16:47.90, with Stepahnie Sparks (West Jordan, Utah / Juan Diego HS) in 13th in 16:51.90 - both times within ten seconds of the Yotes former mark.  On the men's side, Paul Sartin (Meridian, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) was the lone C of I runner in the top-ten, finishing in eighth-place in a time of 19:47 -  a total of 28-seconds ahead of Jesse Chlebeck's mark on the course in 2006.  Three others - Geoff Williams (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) in 19:58, Zeke Wilson (Challis, Idaho / Challis HS) in 20:09, and Kiprotich Langat (Nairobi, Kenya / Soliat SS) in 20:10 all were under that time on the 6,000-meter course.

 

SPEED THE KEY THIS WEEKEND AT L-C OPEN: The Coyotes return to the trails this weekend, traveling north to the Lewis-Clark Open in Lewiston.  It marks the second time that The C of I has competed in the event – as the Yotes ran on the Hells Gate State Park course in 2006, with the men placing second and the women fifth.  A total of 12 teams are expected to compete in the event – with No. 12 ranked Lewis-Clark State and Whitworth the top four-year women’s teams in the meet, while the No. 10 ranked L-C men will tussle with the Yotes.  The class of the field, however, may be Spokane Falls CC, the top junior college program in the Northwest.  Other teams running in the field are Great Falls, Rocky Mountain, Westminster, Carroll, Eastern Oregon, Northwest, Treasure Valley CC, and Flathead Valley CC.  The course is of multiple terrain – grass, sand, a few hills, and proved to be a fast course two years ago, as four C of I women finished under 20 minutes over the 5,000-meter distance.

 

BACK TO BACK RACES: The Coyotes will race on back-to-back weekends for the first time since the 2005 season.  The Yotes have only raced back-to-back two times since the program’s rebirth in 2004 – once during the 2004 season (Treasure Valley Open-Willamette Invite) and once during the 2005 season (Willamette Invite-ISU Dual).

 

TOP-20 CCC TIMES: Three C of I men and four C of I women are among the Top-20 times this season in the Cascade Conference (last updated on Oct. 4).  On the men’s side, Kiprotich Langat  is 15th (25:37), Zeke Wilson is 16th (25:38), and Paul Sartin is 20th (25:44).  The women are led by Stephanie Helm, who has the fastest time (17:56) and the fifth-fastest time (18:34) in the league this season, while Maggie Miller (Anchorage, Alaska / Lane CC) is No. 12 (19:01) and Chantel Varland (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) is No. 18 (19:24).

 

CCC COACHES POLL: The latest CCC Coaches Poll was released on Monday – with both sides staying nearly the same.  For the third-straight week, the Lady Yotes were atop the women’s side, followed by Concordia, Evergreen State, Corban, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, and Northwest.  The men were in the No. 2 slot for the third-straight week, right behind Southern Oregon.  Following the Yotes were Concordia, Eastern Oregon, Corban, Warner Pacific, and Oregon Tech.  The CCC poll is released each Monday morning.

 

NAIA TOP-25 POLL: This week, both C of I teams were ranked in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll – as the Coyote men were ranked No. 12 and the Lady Yotes No. 15.  For the men, it marks the 16th-straight regular-season poll that they have earned a Top-25 ranking.  Joining them in the poll were No. 8 Southern Oregon and No. 15 Concordia – while the Concordia women were ranked No. 21 (Evergreen State and Corban both received votes).

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I cross country teams, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm.

 

 

SWIMMING: Season Preview

 

COMING UP: at Lewis & Clark (short course dual), Saturday, 10 a.m. (PST)

 

LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR: Both C of I teams had stellar 2007-08 seasons, as the Coyote men finished 12th and the Lady Yotes finished 18th at the NAIA Championships in San Antonio, Texas.  John Green (Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill HS) became the first C of I swimmer to qualify for the national finals, placing eighth overall in the 50-free, while the men’s 200-free relay won the consolation final.  Alphonsina Savell (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS) qualified for the consolation final in both breaststroke events – placing 11th in the 100-breast.  Last season also saw the Yotes have their best finish ever at the Northwest Invitational – with the men’s team finishing in fourth place and the women’s team in fifth.

 

TOP MEN’S RETURNERS: Leading the Coyote men is senior John Green, who is the most accomplished sprinter in the short history of The C of I program.  Green holds the school record in both the 50 (21.32) and 100 (47.56) freestyle events – competing in both events in the last three NAIA Championships.  Also returning is senior Scott Mikelonis (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS), who will swim the breaststroke – holding the school record in both the 100 (1:05.64) and 200 (2:31.92) events.  Two others – senior Jeremy Younggren (Island City, Ore. / La Grande HS) and sophomore James Rutter (Bakersfield, Calif. / Stockdale HS) are versatile swimmers and will be a part of the Yotes relays.

 

TOP WOMEN’S RETURNERS: The Lady Yotes are led by senior Alphonsina Savell – who can swim nearly every event in a dual meet.  Savell, who holds the school record in the 100-breast (1:10.46) and 200-breast (2:33.43), qualified for last year’s NAIA Championships in seven different events – ranging from the 50 and 100-free, to both IM’s, and the 100-backstroke.  Others will be focused on specialized events – Annie Younggren (Island City, Ore. / La Grande HS) and Amanda Smith (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) will swim the middle distance and distance events, Auriana Clapp (Eagle, Idaho / Meridian HS) will swim the IM, Alicia Cabrera (Payette, Idaho / Payette HS) will be the top sprinter, Ellen Judd (Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel HS) will focus on the breaststroke, with Annie Kerrick (Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS) looking to gain points in the backstroke.

 

NEWCOMERS: The men’s team have seven walk-on athletes that will join a pair of quality recruits, that will make an impact in 2008-09 – as freshmen Kemp Smith (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) and Forrest Shoemaker (University Place, Wash. / Curtis HS) look to make a splash.  Smith will be the Yotes top competitor in the butterfly, while Shoemaker will handle the distance events – something the Coyotes have struggled with in the past.  The women’s team will have three walk-ons who have improved dramatically during early season training and will look to score points in each dual meet.

 

SCHEDULE OPENS SATURDAY: The Yotes will open their dual meet schedule on Saturday morning with a short-course dual at Lewis & Clark in Portland, Ore.  It will be the first of six meets against NCAA Division III competition this season – as the squad will also compete against Linfield, Pacific, Pacific Lutheran, Whitman, and Willamette.  The C of I has also been invited for the fifth-straight year to the Northwest Invitational – the largest small college meet in the Northwest.  The season culminates March 4-7 in St. Louis at the NAIA Championships.

 

PARSONS HEADS BACK TO PORTLAND: Saturday marks another special morning for head coach Mary Parsons, as she heads back to her alma mater to coach the Yotes.  Parsons had a stellar career at Lewis & Clark from 1981-85, where she was a AIAW and NAIA All-American – and has been inducted twice into the L&C Athletic Hall of Fame (as an individual in 1998 and as part of the 1982 Swim Team this fall).

 

LOOKING FOR THAT ELUSIVE WIN: Beginning Saturday, the Coyotes will again look to notch their first-ever dual meet victory on either the men’s or women’s side.  Through the first four years of the program, the Coyotes have gone 0-14 and the Lady Yotes 0-17 in dual meet scoring events.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I swim team, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.