Yote Notes – August 26,
2009
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC NEWS:
YOTES SET NATIONAL RECORD FOR SCHOLAR
TEAMS: A
record-setting 2008-09 season got even better for The College of Idaho, as all
19 Coyote teams competing within the NAIA were honored today as NAIA Scholar
Teams, announced by the national office in
COYOTE OPEN SET FOR SEPT. 25: The annual Coyote Open golf
tournament to raise funds for the
CROSS COUNTRY POLLS TO BE RELEASED
LATER IN THE WEEK: Although
the Coyotes have not reported yet for preseason workouts, both C of I cross
country teams are expected to be among the top teams in the Cascade Conference
Preseason Poll, to be released later this week.
The Lady Yotes won the league title in 2008 and finished ninth
nationally, while the men’s team finished third in the CCC meet and advanced to
the NAIA Championships.
MINOR LEAGUE SEASON WINDING DOWN FOR
SAFFORD, LICALZI: For
C of I sports information director, Mike Safford, his double duty during the
summer is winding down – as he is in his fifth season as the Voice of the Boise
Hawks, the Chicago Cubs Northwest League affiliate. He has a Coyote flavor twice a week, as C of
I professor, Dr. Jasper LiCalzi joins him on the pregame show for “Business,
Baseball, and Politics” – which not only discusses those aspects, but also the
Yotes. The final two chats between the Coyotes
will be Wednesday (Sept. 2) and Friday (Sept. 4), around 6:20 p.m. You can tune in to Hawks baseball in the
MEN’S SOCCER: Season Preview
COMING UP: at Whitman, 8/31, 5 p.m. (PDT)
OPENING AGAINST THE MISSIONARIES: The Coyotes will open the 2009 season
next Monday with a match-up in
COUPLE OF SCRIMMAGES: Prior to the season opener next
Monday, the Coyotes competed in a scrimmage on Saturday against Treasure Valley
CC, and will have a second scrimmage next Tuesday at Walla Walla CC. No scores or statistics are kept during the
practice affairs.
QUICK
2009 SYNOPSIS: Coming off a Cascade Conference South
Division title and a spot in the CCC Tournament title game, The College of
Idaho men’s soccer team has a lot of expectations in 2009. The Yotes return seven starters from the
14-3-1, including four All-CCC performers, but will have to replace a pair of
NAIA All-Americans.
CCC/NAIA PRESEASON POLL: The Yotes
were picked to finish second in the CCC Preseason Coaches Poll – trailing
defending champion, Concordia. CU, which
won the CCC Tournament title with a 2-1 victory over the Yotes and advanced to
the second-round of the NAIA Tournament, claimed six of the eight first-place
votes – and was ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Top-25 Poll, despite
returning only four starters from last season.
Warner Pacific was third, followed by
LAST
SEASON / PLAYERS LOST: After a slow start
to the 2008 season – which saw the team go 0-1-1 against Division III teams
during the preseason, the Yotes found their stride during CCC play – becoming
the first team since the mid-1990s to complete an unbeaten-untied season within
the league. The C of I ran off a
school-record 13 game win streak, not allowing fewer than two goals in all but
one game – advancing to the league title game.
The Yotes will have to replace their most prolific scorer, Antonio
Bautista, who scored 21 goals en route to CCC Player of the Year and NAIA
All-America honors, along with their top defender, Alex Penrod, who earned
All-CCC and All-America nods. Head coach
Brian
Smith (55-28-4, 5th year), the CCC
Coach of the Year, also loses a pair of Brazilian All-Conference players to
graduation in Garga Caserta and Mauricio Both, along with four-year starter,
Derek Erstad.
POSITION
BY POSITION – GOALKEEPERS: Heading into last season, the goalkeeping situation was one
of the big question marks. This season,
sophomore Aaron Reynolds (
POSITION
BY POSITION – DEFENSE: Last season,
the Coyote defense was among the best in the CCC, allowing just one goal per
game – but will
have a different feel in 2009. Two
physical starters return to the line-up in junior Mats Boehnke (
POSITION
BY POSITION – MIDFIELD: The Yotes have
their most depth in the midfield, where three starters return, led by
three-time All-CCC selection, Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, Japan /
International Secondary Inst.). The playmaker has recorded 17
career assists and is one of the biggest threats in the league off free
kicks. Also back in the midfield is
junior Emir
Kobic (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) and senior Brian Griffiths (Boise, Idaho / Walla Walla CC) – Kobic scoring three goals with his dangerous left boot last year, while
Griffiths is a physical player in the center.
Three newcomers will also battle for considerable playing time –
transfer Brian
Buckingham (
POSITION
BY POSITION – FORWARDS: The loss of Bautista up top will force the Coyotes to find
another leader in 2009 – however returning starter, Jesus Lopez (
NON
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: With the return of a 14-game league schedule, the Coyotes have scheduled
only two preseason games – a road friendly against Whitman and a home match
against rival Northwest Nazarene.
Whitman was picked fourth in the Northwest Conference poll after a
runner-up finish last season, while NNU returns their nucleus from a 10-8-2
year and will play a game in
CASCADE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: After one season in a divisional format, the CCC dropped from a
nine-team to an eight-team league with the loss of Cascade College, forcing the
loop to return to a double round-robin format in 2009 – giving the Yotes seven
league home dates. Concordia is the
favorite to win the title, despite returning just four starters and having to
replace All-Americans Garrett Staples and Brian Iotte. Warner Pacific will once again be in the mix,
despite losing their top-two scorers in Davor Lukic and Chris Price.
NEW HOME PITCH: After playing a vagabond schedule in
2008 due to field deterioration at Symms Field on The C of I campus, Coyotes
will have a new playing facility in 2009.
In September, the squad will make their debut at Simplot Stadium,
located a couple blocks north of the College, formerly used by the Coyote
baseball team. For the first time, the
Yotes will have ample seating (5,000 seat capacity) and a much larger pitch to
help their style of play.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyote men’s soccer program, head to the
official homepage of The C of I, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/menssoccer.htm.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: Season Preview
COMING UP: at No. 21 Rocky Mountain, Saturday, 4
p.m.; at
ABOUT THE
COUPLE OF SCRIMMAGES: Prior to the season opener on
Saturday, the Lady Yotes will compete in a pair of scrimmages – one this past
Saturday at Syringa Middle School against Treasure Valley CC, another Wednesday
afternoon on The C of I campus against Western Wyoming CC. The non-counters will help the Yotes evaluate
their talent and give players a game test prior to the non-conference season.
QUICK
2009 SYNOPSIS:
Coming off their most successful season in the 20-year history of the program,
The College of Idaho women’s soccer team returns nearly every starter from a
12-6-2 team that placed second in the Cascade Conference regular-season and
lost to eventual national runner-up, Concordia, in the CCC Tournament
championship game. CCC Coach of the Year
Niki Taylor (27-23-7, 4th year) loses
only five players from that squad – while a second-straight top-of-the-line
recruiting class hopes to push the Purple and Gold to another level.
CCC/NAIA
PRESEASON POLL:
The Lady Yotes received their loftiest preseason ranking in program history
this fall, a near unanimous second-place vote in the CCC Preseason Poll –
behind Concordia, as nine of the ten coaches casted second-place tallies for
The C of I. Oregon Tech was third,
followed by
LAST
SEASON / PLAYERS LOST: The 2008 season
was a season of firsts for the Coyotes, as the squad set a new school record
for number of wins, while recording a record-setting eight shutouts. The C of I opened by winning 2-of-3 in a
POSITION
BY POSITION – GOALKEEPERS: The Coyotes open the 2009 season with experience in the net,
returning two keepers with college experience.
Senior Sadie Hughes (Courtenay, B.C. / Vanier SS) has been a
three-year starter, coming off her best season in 2008 where she posted a 1.34
goals against average and registered three shutouts – earning her second-team
All-CCC honors. Pushing her for playing
time is sophomore Tracy Diaz (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS), who made
the most of her opportunities in her rookie season, going 5-0 in goal with a
stellar 0.21 GAA – allowing just one goal in over 400 minutes.
POSITION
BY POSITION – DEFENSE: Helping make the job easier for the keepers last year was the Yotes back
line, one of the better groups of defenders in the league. Anchoring the defense is centerback Colleen Smith (
POSITION
BY POSITION – MIDFIELD: By far the deepest group on the field for the Yotes will be
in the midfield, as Taylor will have multiple options to choose from a
talent-laden roster. Four-year starter, Mandy Greif (Payette, Idaho / Payette HS), is coming off her best season –
earning second-team All-CCC honors a year ago after recording eight
assists. She is joined by the CCC
Newcomer of the Year, Chelsea Heffner (
POSITION
BY POSITION – FORWARDS: The Yotes will look to bolster their scoring punch in 2009,
setting a team goal to average two goals per game – which bodes well having
three top-scoring strikers returning.
Sophomore Macy Egerman (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) was a force on
the attack last season, earning second-team All-CCC honors after scoring seven
goals – including three game-winners.
Also back is honorable mention All-CCC selection, Kelly Hardegree-Ullman (
NON
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: The early season schedule for the Lady Yotes will prove to be as
difficult as ever – including back-to-back out of state road trips. A three-game swing through
CASCADE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: With the loss of
NEW HOME PITCH: After playing a vagabond schedule in
2008 due to field deterioration at Symms Field, the Lady Yotes will have a new
playing facility in 2009. In September,
the squad will make their debut at Simplot Stadium, located a couple blocks
north of the College, formerly used by the Coyote baseball team. For the first time, the Yotes will have ample
seating (5,000 seat capacity) and a much larger pitch to help their style of
play.
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.
VOLLEYBALL: Season Preview
UPCOMING
DATES: at Comfort Inn Invitational,
Lewiston – Friday vs. No. 2 Concordia-Irvine, Noon (PDT), vs. Lewis-Clark
State, 7 p.m. (PDT); Saturday vs. Northwest, 10 a.m. (PDT), vs. Great Falls, 4
p.m. (PDT)
OPENING IN
QUICK
2009 SYNOPSIS: A year after winning their
third-straight Cascade Conference title, their third-straight CCC Tournament
title, and a third trip to the NAIA Championships in four year, The College of
Idaho volleyball team loses just one player from that squad and is poised for
another run to Sioux City, Iowa. With a
line-up laden with upper-classmen, this will be one of the more talented and
experienced Coyote teams to take the court for CCC Coach of the Year Liz Mendiola (9th year, 185-74).
CCC/NAIA PRESEASON POLL: For the third-straight year, the
Yotes were picked to win the 2009 CCC title, earning eight first-place votes in
the CCC Preseason Coaches Poll. The C of
I received 98 of a possible 100 voter points, while 2008 runner-up Southern
Oregon picked up one first-place vote and was second in the tabulation with 87
points, with Eastern Oregon claiming the remaining first-place vote and was
third with 78 points - Oregon Tech and Concordia round out the Top-5. For the fourth consecutive season, the squad
will also begin the season as one of the elite teams in the nation, ranked No.
18 in the preseason NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll - the 34th time that the squad has
been nationally ranked and the 45th-straight week that the Coyotes have
received votes in the poll. Three C of I
opponents were in the poll - No. 2 ranked Concordia-Irvine, whom the Lady Yotes
open in the season against at the Comfort Inn Invitational in Lewiston, along
with Southern and Eastern - both whom received votes.
LAST
SEASON / PLAYERS LOST: 2008 might have
been a season of would-a, could-a, should-a for the Lady Yotes, as despite
winning the league crown and advancing to the NAIA Championships, a bitter
taste was still left in their mouths. A
24-10 overall record – with only one loss by a 3-0 margin, shows how close the
team really was to becoming elite, taking six Top-10 teams to four or five sets
before losing – all on the road. The
Yotes ran off win streaks of eight and 13 matches and did not lose a CCC match
at home for the third-straight season and topped Menlo in an NAIA Tournament
Opening Round match in Caldwell.
However, the Yotes went 0-3 in Pool Play in
POSITION
BY POSITION - SETTERS: After starting
as true freshmen, juniors Madie Machurek (Eagle,
POSITION
BY POSITION - OUTSIDE HITTERS: The Yotes
will have a deep pool to choose from on the outside this season – led by a pair
of seniors and former All-CCC selections, Sarah (Buhler) Harris (Middleton, Idaho /
Middleton HS) and Kathryn Ely (La Grande, Ore. / La
Grande HS). Harris had a breakout 2008 season for the
Yotes, recording a team-high 339 kills and adding 63 blocks – with 16 matches
with double-figure kills. Ely returns
after missing nearly all of 2008 due to injury and hopes to return to the form
that saw her record over three kills per set over her first three seasons. Joining them on the outside is Reimer (when
she is not setting), along with returners Ciciley Fox (Challis,
POSITION
BY POSITION – RIGHT SIDE: The C of I will
have more experience on the right side this year, as fifth-year senior Jessie Link (Tonopah, Nev. / Nicholls
State U.) returns after her best
season as a collegian. Link had 200
kills last season, including five matches with ten-or-more kills on the season,
adding 78 blocks. Joining
her on the outside will be both Reimer and Bourgeau – when they are not playing
on the outside, along with true freshman Cassie
Low (Prineville, Ore. / Crook County
HS), who was an All-State selection, helping her team to three-straight
Oregon 5A state championships. "We
have not yet decided starters for our outside and right side positions,” said
Mendiola. “With Harris wrapping up summer school and Neres not cleared to
jump (knee injury last year), we are looking to Ely, Reimer, Bourgeau, Fox,
and Low to fill those four positions. All are playing well and the
competition is intense."
POSITION
BY POSITION - BLOCKERS: Year in and
year out, the Coyotes have one of the better blocks in the CCC, and 2009 will
be no different – as seniors Kristin Henning (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) and Marcella Hernandez (Torrance, Calif. / El Camino CC) return in the middle. Henning is
coming off an All-CCC and All-America season, setting a school record with a
gaudy .398 hitting percentage – including a perfect 14-for-14 hitting game. She had 297 kills and 132 blocks on the year
– the third-straight season with 100-or-more blocks. Hernandez was a force at the net with 127
blocks and will be much improved with a year in the Yotes system. True freshman, Madison Curtis (
POSITION
BY POSITION - DEFENSE: Last season,
the back row was a question mark after losing a two-year starter at libero, but
two-sport star, Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) took the spot and ran. Owen was
named CCC Libero of the Week five times and averaged nearly five digs per
set. She will be joined by a pair of
seniors, Stacie
Drumm (
NON-CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE: Instead of trips to either
CASCADE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: With the loss
of Cascade College, the CCC schedule returns to a ten-team, 18 match format for
the 2009 season – with competition from top-to-bottom expected to be top notch,
as the Lady Yotes will try and extend their 35-match home CCC win streak. Southern Oregon, which shared the CCC title
with the Lady Yotes in 2007, returns a bevy of hitters, but will need to
replace All-America setter Lindsay Stone, who is redshirting due to
injury.
ABOUT
THE COACH: Liz Mendiola will begin her ninth season as The C
of I head volleyball coach. During her first eight seasons at the helm,
the Coyotes have advanced to seven consecutive Cascade Conference tournaments,
four NAIA regional tournaments, and trips to the NAIA National Championships in
2005, 2006, and 2008. Last season, the squad won their third-straight CCC
title, claimed their third-straight CCC Tournament title, won their NAIA
Tournament Opening Round match, and advanced to the NAIA Tournament Final Site
in Sioux City, Iowa – with Mendiola earning her third-straight CCC Coach of the
Year honors, while being ranked as high as No. 9 in the national poll.
During her career, she has amassed a record of 185-74, the most wins and
highest winning percentage in school history.
In 2006, she led the Lady Yotes to their best season in program history,
compiling a 35-4 record - earning CCC and NAIA Region I Coach of the Year honors.
The Yotes won their first CCC championship in 24 years, becoming just the
second school to complete the league schedule without a loss. The Coyotes
also captured their second-straight CCC Tournament title, along with their
second-straight NAIA Region I Tournament title, before placing ninth at the
NAIA Championships – with that team setting a school-record with 22 straight
wins. Her 2009 club will take a 35-match
CCC home win streak into the season.
Mendiola was an assistant for the Coyotes on two separate occasions –
from 1995-96 and from 1999-2000, before elevating to head coach. She has also coached club volleyball at Emmett
High, for the Treasure Valley Volleyball Club, the Boise River Volleyball Club,
and various camps in the Northwest. A
native of Jerome, Mendiola graduated from The C of I in 1996 with a degree in
elementary education, and taught kindergarten in
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.asp.