AUSTIN, TEXAS (November 27, 2008) The Austin Turfcats announced that the team will partner with KTSW radio in San Marcos, Texas for coverage of Texas State football. The playoff game can be heard live throughout the San Marcos area on KTSW and on the www.txstatebobcats.com website beginning 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. (CT) kickoff.
Texas State earned the NCAA Division I FCS berth after winning the Southland Conference Championship with a 5-2 league record. The Bobcats enter the game having won their last five road games, and that is the most road games ever won by a Texas State football team in a single season. This also is the first outright conference championship for the Bobcats since 1982, when Texas State was the NCAA Division II national champions with an 11-0 record. Texas State won the Lone Star Conference outright that season.
The Bobcats finished the regular season with an overall record of 8-4. That is the first time the Bobcats have won eight games in a season since 2005 when Texas State advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs with an 11-3 record. This also marks the second time since 1983 that Texas State has won eight games in a season.
The Turfcats are committed in serving the community and developing a Central Texas winning attitude.
Great locations are still available for the 2009 season! Act now to reserve the best seats. Call a Season Sales Representative today at 832-754-7666 to reserve your seats today. The Austin Turfcats are committed to being a premier team in the Southern Indoor Football League and being involved in the community for which we serve.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Bowie High School Band, Miley Cyrus, David Archuleta to Preform at 82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
By Chris Price
(Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications)
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (November 26, 2008) The James Bowie High School from Austin, Texas; Miley Cyrus, David Archuleta and many more stars are set to perform on NBC's live broadcast of the "82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" from New York City. "Today" co-anchor Meredith Vieira co-hosts along with Matt Lauer and Al Roker kicking off the festivities with the parade's historic route beginning at 77th Street and Central Park West and winding down Broadway. The parade celebration will air on NBC from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in all time zones.
Celebrating the start of the holiday season will be performers from stage, screen, sports and music riding down Broadway atop one of the parade's moving stages. The stars joining the line-up include Trace Adkins, David Archuleta, Charice, The Cheetah Girls, Kristen Chenoweth, Clique Girlz, Miley Cyrus, Grandma and the Big Apple Circus, the cast of the Broadway Musical Hair, Harajuku Girls, Kermit the Frog, Lang Lang and the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Miss U.S.A. 2008 - Crystle Stewart, Idina Menzel, PushPlay, Darius Rucker, James Taylor, Uno the 2008 Westminster Dog Show Champion, Varsity Fanclub and Andy Williams.
The parade will feature many eye-catching floats and balloons and will offer many new additions, classic characters from children's books, movies and television shows, a Who's Who of popular culture icons. Joining the line-up of giant character helium balloons this year will be the Elephant "who meant what he said" the ever-faithful Horton, the super smurftastic Smurf and the infinity seeking Buzz Lightyear.
Also making its debut is a tribute to the beloved artist Keith Haring (who would have turned 50 this year), working in partnership with the Keith Haring Foundation, Macy's Parade Studio reconceived one of Haring's paper drawings, Figure with Heart, 1987, as a Giant Balloon. The balloon is a three-dimensional rendering of Haring's drawing that will appear flat against the backdrop of the sky as it might have appeared on the subway walls once favored by the artist. Haring's Figure with Heart is the latest entrant to the Blue Sky Gallery series. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began the Blue Sky Gallery series in 2005 when parade officials invited artist Tom Otterness to create a balloon version of one of his classic pieces of Humpty Dumpty. Aiming to inject contemporary art into a pop culture phenomenon, the Blue Sky Gallery series continued in 2007 with the debut of "Rabbit" by Jeff Koons.
Star power continues to march on Thanksgiving morning with performances from some of the hottest Broadway shows including 'In the Heights', 'Disney's The Little Mermaid', 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas', and more. In addition, the world-famous Radio City Rockettes will kick it up a notch welcoming the parade in style.
The 82nd trip down Broadway will also feature over 1,700 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 900 clowns; 13 giant character helium balloons; 35 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonheads and balloonicles; 10 marching bands; 28 floats; and a host of celebrity performers. Over 10,000 participants including America's best marching bands, celebrities, campy clowns, the parade's signature giant character helium balloons, fantasy floats, and the one-and-only Santa Claus; will once again convene on the Upper West Side to bring the magic of the season to life for New York and the nation.
Returning parade favorites, stars of children's television, video games, comic strips and feature films, complete the line-up of 13 giant balloons this year. Joining the three new giant characters will be Abby Cadabby, Beethoven, Dora the Explorer, Flying Ace Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, Pikachu, Ronald McDonald, Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants and Supercute Hello Kitty. In addition to the giant characters balloons, the parade also boasts 35 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles giving the sky backdrop a tiered spectrum.
Magical scenes come to life on the moving stages that create a fantasy down Broadway. From an unexpected cross country journey to the lights of Tokyo subculture the newest floats in the Macy's Parade line-up take spectators on voyages through the imagination. This year's inaugural fleet include the cross-country journey of Bolt, Princess fantasies at the Castle of Dreams, the lights of Tokyo subculture on Harajuku Lovers, a representation of the creation story on the True Spirit of Thanksgiving, bright bold optimism of the Shine On float, the smurftastic world of The Smurfs, the wonder of believing on Winter Wonderland, and the joy shared during a Woodland Family Gathering.
In addition to the eight new stages, 20 floats will make a return appearance on Broadway this Thanksgiving. The returning float line-up includes 123 Sesame Street, Big Apple, Bridge To The Future, The Care Bears Winter Fun-derland, Cele-bear-ate Hugs Worldwide, Expedition to the Top of Rhino Mountain, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Jolly Polly Pirate Ship, M&M's Chocolate Candies on Broadway, Marion-Carol Showboat, Musical Innovation Bigger Than Life, New York Tin Toy, Pep Squad, Santaland Express, Santa's Sleigh, Snoopy's Doghouse, Spirit of America, Spirit of Liberty, Starship Discovery and Tom Turkey.
The beat is back on Broadway as 10 of America's best marching bands hit the pavement. The musical heartbeat of the parade, the marching bands representing their home states and the nation in this year's parade includes The James Bowie High School from Austin, Texas; Copiague High School from Copiague, New York; Fayetteville High School from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Georgia Institute of Technology from Atlanta, Georgia; The Greater St. Petersburg Area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders from St. Petersburg, Florida; Macy's Great American Marching Band with representatives from every state and the District of Columbia; James Madison University from Harrisonburg, Virginia; Nogales High School from La Puente, California; Sioux Falls Lincoln High School from Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and West Johnston High School from Benson, North Carolina.
Broadcast on NBC since 1948, the parade has been transformed by television into a national tradition. The executive producers are Brad Lachman and Bill Bracken.
(Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications)
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (November 26, 2008) The James Bowie High School from Austin, Texas; Miley Cyrus, David Archuleta and many more stars are set to perform on NBC's live broadcast of the "82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" from New York City. "Today" co-anchor Meredith Vieira co-hosts along with Matt Lauer and Al Roker kicking off the festivities with the parade's historic route beginning at 77th Street and Central Park West and winding down Broadway. The parade celebration will air on NBC from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in all time zones.Celebrating the start of the holiday season will be performers from stage, screen, sports and music riding down Broadway atop one of the parade's moving stages. The stars joining the line-up include Trace Adkins, David Archuleta, Charice, The Cheetah Girls, Kristen Chenoweth, Clique Girlz, Miley Cyrus, Grandma and the Big Apple Circus, the cast of the Broadway Musical Hair, Harajuku Girls, Kermit the Frog, Lang Lang and the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Miss U.S.A. 2008 - Crystle Stewart, Idina Menzel, PushPlay, Darius Rucker, James Taylor, Uno the 2008 Westminster Dog Show Champion, Varsity Fanclub and Andy Williams.
The parade will feature many eye-catching floats and balloons and will offer many new additions, classic characters from children's books, movies and television shows, a Who's Who of popular culture icons. Joining the line-up of giant character helium balloons this year will be the Elephant "who meant what he said" the ever-faithful Horton, the super smurftastic Smurf and the infinity seeking Buzz Lightyear.
Also making its debut is a tribute to the beloved artist Keith Haring (who would have turned 50 this year), working in partnership with the Keith Haring Foundation, Macy's Parade Studio reconceived one of Haring's paper drawings, Figure with Heart, 1987, as a Giant Balloon. The balloon is a three-dimensional rendering of Haring's drawing that will appear flat against the backdrop of the sky as it might have appeared on the subway walls once favored by the artist. Haring's Figure with Heart is the latest entrant to the Blue Sky Gallery series. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began the Blue Sky Gallery series in 2005 when parade officials invited artist Tom Otterness to create a balloon version of one of his classic pieces of Humpty Dumpty. Aiming to inject contemporary art into a pop culture phenomenon, the Blue Sky Gallery series continued in 2007 with the debut of "Rabbit" by Jeff Koons.
Star power continues to march on Thanksgiving morning with performances from some of the hottest Broadway shows including 'In the Heights', 'Disney's The Little Mermaid', 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas', and more. In addition, the world-famous Radio City Rockettes will kick it up a notch welcoming the parade in style.
The 82nd trip down Broadway will also feature over 1,700 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 900 clowns; 13 giant character helium balloons; 35 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonheads and balloonicles; 10 marching bands; 28 floats; and a host of celebrity performers. Over 10,000 participants including America's best marching bands, celebrities, campy clowns, the parade's signature giant character helium balloons, fantasy floats, and the one-and-only Santa Claus; will once again convene on the Upper West Side to bring the magic of the season to life for New York and the nation.
Returning parade favorites, stars of children's television, video games, comic strips and feature films, complete the line-up of 13 giant balloons this year. Joining the three new giant characters will be Abby Cadabby, Beethoven, Dora the Explorer, Flying Ace Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, Pikachu, Ronald McDonald, Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants and Supercute Hello Kitty. In addition to the giant characters balloons, the parade also boasts 35 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles giving the sky backdrop a tiered spectrum.
Magical scenes come to life on the moving stages that create a fantasy down Broadway. From an unexpected cross country journey to the lights of Tokyo subculture the newest floats in the Macy's Parade line-up take spectators on voyages through the imagination. This year's inaugural fleet include the cross-country journey of Bolt, Princess fantasies at the Castle of Dreams, the lights of Tokyo subculture on Harajuku Lovers, a representation of the creation story on the True Spirit of Thanksgiving, bright bold optimism of the Shine On float, the smurftastic world of The Smurfs, the wonder of believing on Winter Wonderland, and the joy shared during a Woodland Family Gathering.
In addition to the eight new stages, 20 floats will make a return appearance on Broadway this Thanksgiving. The returning float line-up includes 123 Sesame Street, Big Apple, Bridge To The Future, The Care Bears Winter Fun-derland, Cele-bear-ate Hugs Worldwide, Expedition to the Top of Rhino Mountain, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Jolly Polly Pirate Ship, M&M's Chocolate Candies on Broadway, Marion-Carol Showboat, Musical Innovation Bigger Than Life, New York Tin Toy, Pep Squad, Santaland Express, Santa's Sleigh, Snoopy's Doghouse, Spirit of America, Spirit of Liberty, Starship Discovery and Tom Turkey.
The beat is back on Broadway as 10 of America's best marching bands hit the pavement. The musical heartbeat of the parade, the marching bands representing their home states and the nation in this year's parade includes The James Bowie High School from Austin, Texas; Copiague High School from Copiague, New York; Fayetteville High School from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Georgia Institute of Technology from Atlanta, Georgia; The Greater St. Petersburg Area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders from St. Petersburg, Florida; Macy's Great American Marching Band with representatives from every state and the District of Columbia; James Madison University from Harrisonburg, Virginia; Nogales High School from La Puente, California; Sioux Falls Lincoln High School from Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and West Johnston High School from Benson, North Carolina.
Broadcast on NBC since 1948, the parade has been transformed by television into a national tradition. The executive producers are Brad Lachman and Bill Bracken.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
BAYLOR PLACES 16 ON ACADEMIC ALL-BIG 12 TEAMS
IRVING, TEXAS (November 25, 2008) All-America candidate Joe Pawelek headlined a group of 16 Baylor student-athletes named to the 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Conference teams, announced Tuesday by the league office. The Bears placed 11 student-athletes on the first team, while five Baylor student-athletes earned second-team honors.
The Bears matched the 2006 squad for the program’s most first-team academic all-conference honorees in school history; the 16 total selections are second in program history behind the 2006 squad’s 18. Baylor has produced 36 first-team honorees over the past four seasons after producing only 38 first-team selections in the league’s first nine years. In all, Baylor has produced 139 Academic All-Big 12 selections since the league’s inception in 1996; 56 of those selections have come in the last four years.
Baylor’s first-team selections were punter Derek Epperson (sophomore; business), linebacker Ty Findley (senior; engineering), linebacker Ben Hixson (senior; sport management), running back Jacoby Jones (senior; general studies), linebacker Tyler King (junior; finance), defensive end Jason Lamb (junior; management), safety Zak Mitchell (senior; health science studies), linebacker Pawelek (junior; finance), quarterback Ryan Roberts (senior; sport management), defensive end Zac Scotton (redshirt-freshman; political science) and tight end John David Weed (senior; general studies).
Hixson earned first-team honors for the fourth consecutive season, joining Kyle Atteberry (1996-1999) and Daniel Sepulveda (2003-2006) as the only four-time honorees in Baylor history. Pawelek earned first-team honors for the third consecutive season, joining the four-time honorees, Jason Lary (1998-2000), John Martin (2001-2002, 2004), Andrew Obriotti (1998-2000) and Stephen Sepulveda (2002-2004) as the only Baylor student-athletes to earn first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors more than twice.
Baylor’s second-team honorees were cornerback Krys Buerck (sophomore; general studies), free safety Jordan Lake (junior; management), safety Jake La Mar (senior; distribution management), linebacker Sam Shalala (senior; health science studies) and defensive tackle Sam Sledge (junior; entrepreneurship).
Texas led all programs in first-team (17) and overall selections (22). Baylor was fourth in the league behind Nebraska (13, 19) and Texas Tech (12, 18) in both categories. Oklahoma (13) and Kansas (12) were the only other schools with at least 10 total selections. Oklahoma State had nine, followed by Missouri (8), Colorado (6), Iowa State and Kansas State (5 each), and Texas A&M (4).
Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and its media relations offices, the 2008 football academic all-league squad consisted of 91 first-team members and 46 second-team members. First-team members have recorded a 3.20 or better GPA, while second-team members have recorded a GPA between 3.00 and 3.19.
To qualify, a student-athlete must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 either cumulatively or in the two previous semesters and participate in at least 60 percent of his team’s scheduled games. True freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all criteria except participation percentage also are eligible.
Baylor returns to action Saturday, Nov. 29, concluding its 2008 season at seventh-ranked Texas Tech. Kickoff between the Bears and Red Raiders is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CST at Jones AT&T Stadium on the Texas Tech campus. The game will be televised nationally on Versus.
The Bears matched the 2006 squad for the program’s most first-team academic all-conference honorees in school history; the 16 total selections are second in program history behind the 2006 squad’s 18. Baylor has produced 36 first-team honorees over the past four seasons after producing only 38 first-team selections in the league’s first nine years. In all, Baylor has produced 139 Academic All-Big 12 selections since the league’s inception in 1996; 56 of those selections have come in the last four years.
Baylor’s first-team selections were punter Derek Epperson (sophomore; business), linebacker Ty Findley (senior; engineering), linebacker Ben Hixson (senior; sport management), running back Jacoby Jones (senior; general studies), linebacker Tyler King (junior; finance), defensive end Jason Lamb (junior; management), safety Zak Mitchell (senior; health science studies), linebacker Pawelek (junior; finance), quarterback Ryan Roberts (senior; sport management), defensive end Zac Scotton (redshirt-freshman; political science) and tight end John David Weed (senior; general studies).
Hixson earned first-team honors for the fourth consecutive season, joining Kyle Atteberry (1996-1999) and Daniel Sepulveda (2003-2006) as the only four-time honorees in Baylor history. Pawelek earned first-team honors for the third consecutive season, joining the four-time honorees, Jason Lary (1998-2000), John Martin (2001-2002, 2004), Andrew Obriotti (1998-2000) and Stephen Sepulveda (2002-2004) as the only Baylor student-athletes to earn first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors more than twice.
Baylor’s second-team honorees were cornerback Krys Buerck (sophomore; general studies), free safety Jordan Lake (junior; management), safety Jake La Mar (senior; distribution management), linebacker Sam Shalala (senior; health science studies) and defensive tackle Sam Sledge (junior; entrepreneurship).
Texas led all programs in first-team (17) and overall selections (22). Baylor was fourth in the league behind Nebraska (13, 19) and Texas Tech (12, 18) in both categories. Oklahoma (13) and Kansas (12) were the only other schools with at least 10 total selections. Oklahoma State had nine, followed by Missouri (8), Colorado (6), Iowa State and Kansas State (5 each), and Texas A&M (4).
Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and its media relations offices, the 2008 football academic all-league squad consisted of 91 first-team members and 46 second-team members. First-team members have recorded a 3.20 or better GPA, while second-team members have recorded a GPA between 3.00 and 3.19.
To qualify, a student-athlete must maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 either cumulatively or in the two previous semesters and participate in at least 60 percent of his team’s scheduled games. True freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all criteria except participation percentage also are eligible.
Baylor returns to action Saturday, Nov. 29, concluding its 2008 season at seventh-ranked Texas Tech. Kickoff between the Bears and Red Raiders is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CST at Jones AT&T Stadium on the Texas Tech campus. The game will be televised nationally on Versus.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Texas State Travels To Montana For NCAA Division I Football Championship First-Round Game
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (November 24, 2008) The NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee has announced that the Texas State football team will travel to Missoula, Mont., and play the University of Montana in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship.
The Bobcats earned the bid as the automatic qualifier from the Southland Conference after Texas State won its first outright Southland Conference championship and second SLC title in the last four years with a 48-45 overtime victory at Sam Houston State last Saturday afternoon.
The field of 16 teams competing for the NCAA Division I FCS championship was announced Sunday night on a nationally-televised selection show on ESPNU.
James Madison (10-1) was named the top seed in the bracket after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes, who won the 2004 national championship, are making their ninth tournament appearance.
Second-seeded Appalachian State (10-2), the three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision national champion, is making its 16th appearance. The Mountaineers captured the Southern Conference automatic berth.
The University of Northern Iowa (10-2), which is making its 14th tournament appearance, is the number-three seed. The Panthers were the national runners-up to Appalachian State in 2005.
Montana (11-1) is the final seeded team with the number-four seed. The Grizzlies, who won the 1995 and 2001 national championship, are making their 16th straight appearance and 19th overall.
Other first-round hosts include Cal Poly (8-2), Richmond (9-3), Missouri Valley Football Conference automatic qualifier Southern Illinois (9-2), and Villanova (9-2).
Other automatic qualifiers in the tournament include 2003 national runners-up Colgate (9-2), which earned the automatic bid from the Patriot League. Eastern Kentucky (8-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Ohio Valley Conference, while South Carolina State (10-2) earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s automatic bid, and Weber State University (9-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Big Sky Conference.
Other teams in the field are Maine (8-4), New Hampshire (9-2), University (9-3) and Wofford (9-2).
Eight conferences received automatic-qualifying berths: the Big Sky Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference and Southland Conference.
ESPN’s family of networks will once again provide coverage of all rounds of the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship. In the first round, ESPNU/ESPNUHD will broadcast the South Carolina State at Appalachian State game live at Noon ET, Saturday, November 29.
The 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship game is slated for 8 p.m. Eastern time Friday, December 19, at W. Max Finley Stadium/Davenport Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ESPN2/ESPN2HD/ESPN360.com will televise the championship game.
More games may possibly be televised in the first round as well as additional rounds. Television schedules and games times for all rounds of the 2008 championship will be updated daily at the NCAA Sports web site (www.ncaa.com).
November 29
at Harrisburg, Virginia
Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)
at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)
Missoula, Montana (at 1 pm (CT)
Texas St. (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)
San Luis Obispo, California
Weber St. (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)
Boone, North Carolina (ESPNU/ESPNUHD at 1 p.m. (CT)
South Carolina St. (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian St. (10-2)
Richmond, Virginia
Eastern Kectucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Maine (8-4) at No. 3 Northern Iowa (10-2)
Carbondale, Illinois
New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2)
The 2008 championship field consists of eight automatic qualifiers and eight at-large qualifiers.
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS (8)
Weber St. - Big Sky Conference
James Madison - Colonial Athletic Association
South Carolina State - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Southern Illinois - Missouri Valley Football Conference
Eastern Kentucky - Ohio Valley Conference
Colgate - Patriot League
Appalachian State - Southern Conference
Texas State - Southland Conference
AT-LARGE QUALIFERS (8)
Montana - Big Sky Conference
Maine - Colonial Athletic Association
New Hampshire - Colonial Athletic Association
Richmond - Colonial Athletic Association
Villanova - Colonial Athletic Association
Cal Poly - Great West Conference
Northern Iowa - Missouri Valley Football Conference
Wofford - Southern Conference
The Bobcats earned the bid as the automatic qualifier from the Southland Conference after Texas State won its first outright Southland Conference championship and second SLC title in the last four years with a 48-45 overtime victory at Sam Houston State last Saturday afternoon.
The field of 16 teams competing for the NCAA Division I FCS championship was announced Sunday night on a nationally-televised selection show on ESPNU.
James Madison (10-1) was named the top seed in the bracket after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes, who won the 2004 national championship, are making their ninth tournament appearance.
Second-seeded Appalachian State (10-2), the three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision national champion, is making its 16th appearance. The Mountaineers captured the Southern Conference automatic berth.
The University of Northern Iowa (10-2), which is making its 14th tournament appearance, is the number-three seed. The Panthers were the national runners-up to Appalachian State in 2005.
Montana (11-1) is the final seeded team with the number-four seed. The Grizzlies, who won the 1995 and 2001 national championship, are making their 16th straight appearance and 19th overall.
Other first-round hosts include Cal Poly (8-2), Richmond (9-3), Missouri Valley Football Conference automatic qualifier Southern Illinois (9-2), and Villanova (9-2).
Other automatic qualifiers in the tournament include 2003 national runners-up Colgate (9-2), which earned the automatic bid from the Patriot League. Eastern Kentucky (8-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Ohio Valley Conference, while South Carolina State (10-2) earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s automatic bid, and Weber State University (9-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Big Sky Conference.
Other teams in the field are Maine (8-4), New Hampshire (9-2), University (9-3) and Wofford (9-2).
Eight conferences received automatic-qualifying berths: the Big Sky Conference, Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference and Southland Conference.
ESPN’s family of networks will once again provide coverage of all rounds of the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship. In the first round, ESPNU/ESPNUHD will broadcast the South Carolina State at Appalachian State game live at Noon ET, Saturday, November 29.
The 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship game is slated for 8 p.m. Eastern time Friday, December 19, at W. Max Finley Stadium/Davenport Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ESPN2/ESPN2HD/ESPN360.com will televise the championship game.
More games may possibly be televised in the first round as well as additional rounds. Television schedules and games times for all rounds of the 2008 championship will be updated daily at the NCAA Sports web site (www.ncaa.com).
November 29
at Harrisburg, Virginia
Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)
at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)
Missoula, Montana (at 1 pm (CT)
Texas St. (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)
San Luis Obispo, California
Weber St. (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)
Boone, North Carolina (ESPNU/ESPNUHD at 1 p.m. (CT)
South Carolina St. (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian St. (10-2)
Richmond, Virginia
Eastern Kectucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Maine (8-4) at No. 3 Northern Iowa (10-2)
Carbondale, Illinois
New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2)
The 2008 championship field consists of eight automatic qualifiers and eight at-large qualifiers.
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS (8)
Weber St. - Big Sky Conference
James Madison - Colonial Athletic Association
South Carolina State - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Southern Illinois - Missouri Valley Football Conference
Eastern Kentucky - Ohio Valley Conference
Colgate - Patriot League
Appalachian State - Southern Conference
Texas State - Southland Conference
AT-LARGE QUALIFERS (8)
Montana - Big Sky Conference
Maine - Colonial Athletic Association
New Hampshire - Colonial Athletic Association
Richmond - Colonial Athletic Association
Villanova - Colonial Athletic Association
Cal Poly - Great West Conference
Northern Iowa - Missouri Valley Football Conference
Wofford - Southern Conference
Sunday, November 23, 2008
USA wins two gold, three silver at PAGU Individual Event Championships
ROSARIO, ARGENTINA (November 23, 2008) The USA won two gold and three silver medals on the first day of the individual event finals at the 2008 Pan American Gymnastics Union Individual Event Championships in Rosario, Argentina. The U.S. women took the top two spots in both the uneven bars and vault: Samantha Shapiro of Los Angeles/All Olympia Gymnastics Center took first on the uneven bars, and Corrie Lothrop of Danvers, Mass./Hill’s Gymnastics, won the title on vault, as well as the bars silver. Olivia Courtney of Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro, was second on vault, and Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, finished second on pommel horse. The finals in women’s balance beam and floor exercise and men’s vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar will be held Nov. 23.
For the uneven bars, Shapiro won the gold medal with a 15.425, and Lothrop’s 14.350 put her in second. Lothrop took top honors on vault with a 14.375. Courtney was second on vault at 14.313.
For the men, Leyva’s 14.550 on pommel horse earned him second place. Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./SCATS-HB, finished fifth on pommel horse with a 13.900. Leyva also placed sixth on the floor exercise with a 13.075.
For the uneven bars, Shapiro won the gold medal with a 15.425, and Lothrop’s 14.350 put her in second. Lothrop took top honors on vault with a 14.375. Courtney was second on vault at 14.313.
For the men, Leyva’s 14.550 on pommel horse earned him second place. Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./SCATS-HB, finished fifth on pommel horse with a 13.900. Leyva also placed sixth on the floor exercise with a 13.075.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Dynamo staffers take home league-wide awards at MLS Cup 2008
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 22, 2008) – Five members of the Houston Dynamo front office were honored with Major League Soccer awards at Saturday’s MLS Cup Gala. Of the nine individual awards presented, five were won by Dynamo employees.
The league’s most prestigious front office award, the Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year award, went to Dynamo Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti for the first time. Now in his ninth season in Major League Soccer, Canetti completed his third year as COO of the Dynamo and oversees all aspects of the organization.
other Dynamo winners were Paul Byrne, Operations Director of the Year; Lindsay Daywalt, Marketing Director of the Year; Theron Enns, Athletic Trainer of the Year; and Nick Kowba, Team Administrator of the Year. Enns was also Trainer of the Year with Colorado in 2002, and Kowba won his second consecutive Administrator of the Year award.
The Dynamo were also honored as the league’s Corporate Partnership Team of the Year. Senior account executive Vanessa Meeks finished in the league’s Best XI for group ticket sales.
The Houston Dynamo will conclude their 2008 season with a CONCACAF Champions League match against Luis Angel Firpo at Robertson Stadium on Wednesday, November 26. The Dynamo need a win to advance to the quarterfinals, while Firpo can advance with a tie. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
2008 AWARD WINNERS
Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year: Chris Canetti (Houston Dynamo)
Marketing Director of the Year: Lindsay Daywalt (Houston Dynamo)
Operations Director of the Year: Paul Byrne (Houston Dynamo)
Community Relations Executive of the Year: Aprile Pritchet and Sara Peterson (D.C. United)
Corporate Partnerships Executive of the Year: Chris Shewfelt (Toronto FC)
Corporate Partnerships Team of the Year: Houston Dynamo
MLS Equipment Manager of the Year: Raul Vargas (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Athletic Trainer of the Year presented by Mueller Sports Medicine: Theron Enns (Houston Dynamo)
MLS Team Administrator of the Year presented by New Haven Travel: Nick Kowba (Houston Dynamo)
MLS Team Public Relations Award: Chivas USA
Best XI, Total Ticket Revenue:
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Greig Young (Toronto FC)
Matt O’Brien (Toronto FC)
Chris Zepeda (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Marcos Serioux (Toronto FC)
Bill Sixsmith (Chicago Fire)
Dan Giffin (D.C. United)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Mike Quarino (New York Red Bulls)
Asif Hossain (Toronto FC)
Best XI, New Season Ticket Sales:
Mike Mondello (New York Red Bulls)
Matt O’Brien (Toronto FC)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Matthew Harber (FC Dallas)
Steve Peterson (Real Salt Lake)
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Avin Assomull (Columbus Crew)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Asif Hossain (Toronto FC)
James Cawley (New York Red Bulls)
Andrew Lukanich (Real Salt Lake)
Best XI, Group Ticket Sales:
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Mike Quarino (New York Red Bulls)
Chris Zepeda (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Marcus Myrick (Colorado Rapids)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Bill Sixsmith (Chicago Fire)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Kevin Barney (New England Revolution)
Andrew Geist (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Vanessa Meeks (Houston Dynamo)
Chris Sivertsen (Colorado Rapids)
Rookie Salesperson of the Year:
New Season Ticket Sales, Andrew Lukanich (Real Salt Lake)
Group Ticket Sales, Rachel Hansen (New England Revolution)
Total Ticket Revenue, Laura Magee (Toronto FC)
Salesperson of the Year:
New Season Ticket Sales, Mike Mondello (New York Red Bulls)
Group Ticket Sales, Scott Miller (D.C United)
Total Ticket Revenue, Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Excellence, Season Ticket Retention:
D.C. United
Kansas City Wizards
Toronto FC
Ticket Sales Manager of the Year:
Tim Martin (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Ticket Sales Team of the Year:
Los Angeles Galaxy
The league’s most prestigious front office award, the Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year award, went to Dynamo Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti for the first time. Now in his ninth season in Major League Soccer, Canetti completed his third year as COO of the Dynamo and oversees all aspects of the organization.
other Dynamo winners were Paul Byrne, Operations Director of the Year; Lindsay Daywalt, Marketing Director of the Year; Theron Enns, Athletic Trainer of the Year; and Nick Kowba, Team Administrator of the Year. Enns was also Trainer of the Year with Colorado in 2002, and Kowba won his second consecutive Administrator of the Year award.
The Dynamo were also honored as the league’s Corporate Partnership Team of the Year. Senior account executive Vanessa Meeks finished in the league’s Best XI for group ticket sales.
The Houston Dynamo will conclude their 2008 season with a CONCACAF Champions League match against Luis Angel Firpo at Robertson Stadium on Wednesday, November 26. The Dynamo need a win to advance to the quarterfinals, while Firpo can advance with a tie. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
2008 AWARD WINNERS
Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year: Chris Canetti (Houston Dynamo)
Marketing Director of the Year: Lindsay Daywalt (Houston Dynamo)
Operations Director of the Year: Paul Byrne (Houston Dynamo)
Community Relations Executive of the Year: Aprile Pritchet and Sara Peterson (D.C. United)
Corporate Partnerships Executive of the Year: Chris Shewfelt (Toronto FC)
Corporate Partnerships Team of the Year: Houston Dynamo
MLS Equipment Manager of the Year: Raul Vargas (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Athletic Trainer of the Year presented by Mueller Sports Medicine: Theron Enns (Houston Dynamo)
MLS Team Administrator of the Year presented by New Haven Travel: Nick Kowba (Houston Dynamo)
MLS Team Public Relations Award: Chivas USA
Best XI, Total Ticket Revenue:
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Greig Young (Toronto FC)
Matt O’Brien (Toronto FC)
Chris Zepeda (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Marcos Serioux (Toronto FC)
Bill Sixsmith (Chicago Fire)
Dan Giffin (D.C. United)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Mike Quarino (New York Red Bulls)
Asif Hossain (Toronto FC)
Best XI, New Season Ticket Sales:
Mike Mondello (New York Red Bulls)
Matt O’Brien (Toronto FC)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Matthew Harber (FC Dallas)
Steve Peterson (Real Salt Lake)
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Avin Assomull (Columbus Crew)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Asif Hossain (Toronto FC)
James Cawley (New York Red Bulls)
Andrew Lukanich (Real Salt Lake)
Best XI, Group Ticket Sales:
Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Mike Quarino (New York Red Bulls)
Chris Zepeda (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Marcus Myrick (Colorado Rapids)
Roy Tewell (FC Dallas)
Bill Sixsmith (Chicago Fire)
Evan Mitz (FC Dallas)
Kevin Barney (New England Revolution)
Andrew Geist (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Vanessa Meeks (Houston Dynamo)
Chris Sivertsen (Colorado Rapids)
Rookie Salesperson of the Year:
New Season Ticket Sales, Andrew Lukanich (Real Salt Lake)
Group Ticket Sales, Rachel Hansen (New England Revolution)
Total Ticket Revenue, Laura Magee (Toronto FC)
Salesperson of the Year:
New Season Ticket Sales, Mike Mondello (New York Red Bulls)
Group Ticket Sales, Scott Miller (D.C United)
Total Ticket Revenue, Scott Miller (D.C. United)
Excellence, Season Ticket Retention:
D.C. United
Kansas City Wizards
Toronto FC
Ticket Sales Manager of the Year:
Tim Martin (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Ticket Sales Team of the Year:
Los Angeles Galaxy
Friday, November 21, 2008
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMER BRUCE MATTHEWS TO HEADLINE TEXAS BOWL FCA BREAKFAST
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 21, 2008) Bruce Matthews, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007, will be the keynote speaker at the Texas Bowl Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Breakfast. The breakfast will be held at the JW Marriott hotel on Saturday, December 27 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. CT.
Tickets for the Texas Bowl FCA Breakfast include a ticket to the game in addition to the breakfast. Fans may purchase a 10-seat table for $500 or $1,000, or individual seats for $50. Guests who purchase a $1,000 table will also be invited to a private reception with Matthews before the breakfast.
Proceeds from the breakfast’s ticket sales will go toward the Texas Bowl’s donation to DePelchin Children’s Center. In 2007, the bowl donated $80,000 to DePelchin. Fans may call 832-667-2390 to purchase tickets.
Matthews starred on the offensive line for Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983-2001. He was one of the most durable and versatile linemen in football history, playing all five positions on the offensive line and seeing action in a then-record 296 games. Matthews was named to a record-tying 14 consecutive Pro Bowls and was a nine-time All-Pro selection.
The 2008 Texas Bowl will be televised live nationally on NFL Network. The game will also be broadcast nationally by Westwood One radio and locally on KTRH 740 AM.
The Texas Bowl is partnered with the Conference USA and the Big 12 Conference. After the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) pairings have been set, the Texas Bowl holds the third selection among Conference USA-affiliated bowls and the seventh choice among Big 12-affiliated bowls.
TCU defeated the University of Houston, 20-13, on in the 2007 Texas Bowl before a crowd of 62,097. The audience was the third-largest crowd ever to see a college bowl game in Houston. The 2007 Texas Bowl attracted the eighth-largest crowd among non-BCS bowls last year. The Texas Bowl outdrew matchups such as Tennessee vs. Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, Texas Tech vs. Virginia in the Gator Bowl and Alabama vs. Colorado in the PetroSun Independence Bowl.
The inaugural Texas Bowl was played on Thursday, December 28, 2006 at Reliant Stadium. Rutgers defeated Kansas State, 37-10, before a crowd of 52,210, the largest crowd to witness a bowl game in Houston not involving a Texas team since 1972.
Tickets for the Texas Bowl FCA Breakfast include a ticket to the game in addition to the breakfast. Fans may purchase a 10-seat table for $500 or $1,000, or individual seats for $50. Guests who purchase a $1,000 table will also be invited to a private reception with Matthews before the breakfast.
Proceeds from the breakfast’s ticket sales will go toward the Texas Bowl’s donation to DePelchin Children’s Center. In 2007, the bowl donated $80,000 to DePelchin. Fans may call 832-667-2390 to purchase tickets.
Matthews starred on the offensive line for Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983-2001. He was one of the most durable and versatile linemen in football history, playing all five positions on the offensive line and seeing action in a then-record 296 games. Matthews was named to a record-tying 14 consecutive Pro Bowls and was a nine-time All-Pro selection.
The 2008 Texas Bowl will be televised live nationally on NFL Network. The game will also be broadcast nationally by Westwood One radio and locally on KTRH 740 AM.
The Texas Bowl is partnered with the Conference USA and the Big 12 Conference. After the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) pairings have been set, the Texas Bowl holds the third selection among Conference USA-affiliated bowls and the seventh choice among Big 12-affiliated bowls.
TCU defeated the University of Houston, 20-13, on in the 2007 Texas Bowl before a crowd of 62,097. The audience was the third-largest crowd ever to see a college bowl game in Houston. The 2007 Texas Bowl attracted the eighth-largest crowd among non-BCS bowls last year. The Texas Bowl outdrew matchups such as Tennessee vs. Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, Texas Tech vs. Virginia in the Gator Bowl and Alabama vs. Colorado in the PetroSun Independence Bowl.
The inaugural Texas Bowl was played on Thursday, December 28, 2006 at Reliant Stadium. Rutgers defeated Kansas State, 37-10, before a crowd of 52,210, the largest crowd to witness a bowl game in Houston not involving a Texas team since 1972.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Rice Scores 81-76 Win Against Cal Poly
PROVO, UTAH (Novemebr 20, 2008) For successive games to open the season, Rice junior guard Cory Pflieger scored a career-high 17 points. Thursday's performance was part of an 81-76 victory over Cal Poly as the Owls opened play at Basketball Travelers Invitational hosted by Brigham Young University.
Pflieger helped nail down coach Ben Braun?s first victory at Rice when he rebounded a three-point attempt that rattled out for Cal Poly's Lorenzo Keeler and at the other end knocked down a pair of free throws with 5.6 seconds on the clock.
Rice evened its record to 1-1 heading into Friday night?s game against BYU. Tip-off is set for 8:30 Mountain Standard Time and the game will be carried locally in Houston on ESPN 97.5 The Ticket. The game will also be broadcast on BYU TV which is available on both Dish Network and DirectTV as well as streamed live at byu.tv.
Rice shot close to 50 percent from the field, made 11-of-19 three-pointers and outrebounded Cal Poly by 14 boards, but the Owls could never deliver the knock out punch. Rice had a 67-57 lead on a three-pointer by Lawrence Ghoram but Keeler answered with a three-point play for the Mustangs and later drained a three-pointer to cut the margin to 67-63 with 5:22 to play.
With 1:28 to play, Rice enjoyed a nine-point, 78-69 lead on a three-pointer that beat the shot clock. Foster missed a driving shot that didn't touch iron but Lucas Kuipers was able to rebound the loose ball and fed Foster in the corner for the trey.
Cal Poly would quickly answer the Owls? big bucket with one of their own as Trae Clark nailed a three at the other end of the court. Clark would then steal a pass from Rice point guard Connor Frizzelle. Clark would lead a break to the basket and Frizzelle was whistled for an intentional foul. Keeler made two free throws and on the ensuing Mustang possession got free for a layup that made it a one-possession game, 78-76, with 34 seconds to play.
Frizzelle made the second of two free throw attempts to give Rice a 79-76 lead with 30 seconds to play before the Owls held on at the end.
Keeler's three-point attempt as the clock went under 10 seconds rattled the iron before falling away and into Pflieger's hands.
Keeler scored 18 of Cal Poly?s final 26 points and finished with a game-high 20 points for the Mustangs. He was just 1-for-7 in the first half. Cal Poly center Titus Shelton finished with 15 points but had only five points in the second half as he got into foul trouble.
Behind Pflieger's career-high 17, Foster scored 16 points, had five assists and three steals while Frizzelle finished with 14 points. Freshmen Emerson Herndon and P.J. Bolte saw their first career playing time for the Owls, both scoring in the first half.
Following Friday's game against BYU, Rice closes out the tournament Saturday against North Florida.
Pflieger helped nail down coach Ben Braun?s first victory at Rice when he rebounded a three-point attempt that rattled out for Cal Poly's Lorenzo Keeler and at the other end knocked down a pair of free throws with 5.6 seconds on the clock.
Rice evened its record to 1-1 heading into Friday night?s game against BYU. Tip-off is set for 8:30 Mountain Standard Time and the game will be carried locally in Houston on ESPN 97.5 The Ticket. The game will also be broadcast on BYU TV which is available on both Dish Network and DirectTV as well as streamed live at byu.tv.
Rice shot close to 50 percent from the field, made 11-of-19 three-pointers and outrebounded Cal Poly by 14 boards, but the Owls could never deliver the knock out punch. Rice had a 67-57 lead on a three-pointer by Lawrence Ghoram but Keeler answered with a three-point play for the Mustangs and later drained a three-pointer to cut the margin to 67-63 with 5:22 to play.
With 1:28 to play, Rice enjoyed a nine-point, 78-69 lead on a three-pointer that beat the shot clock. Foster missed a driving shot that didn't touch iron but Lucas Kuipers was able to rebound the loose ball and fed Foster in the corner for the trey.
Cal Poly would quickly answer the Owls? big bucket with one of their own as Trae Clark nailed a three at the other end of the court. Clark would then steal a pass from Rice point guard Connor Frizzelle. Clark would lead a break to the basket and Frizzelle was whistled for an intentional foul. Keeler made two free throws and on the ensuing Mustang possession got free for a layup that made it a one-possession game, 78-76, with 34 seconds to play.
Frizzelle made the second of two free throw attempts to give Rice a 79-76 lead with 30 seconds to play before the Owls held on at the end.
Keeler's three-point attempt as the clock went under 10 seconds rattled the iron before falling away and into Pflieger's hands.
Keeler scored 18 of Cal Poly?s final 26 points and finished with a game-high 20 points for the Mustangs. He was just 1-for-7 in the first half. Cal Poly center Titus Shelton finished with 15 points but had only five points in the second half as he got into foul trouble.
Behind Pflieger's career-high 17, Foster scored 16 points, had five assists and three steals while Frizzelle finished with 14 points. Freshmen Emerson Herndon and P.J. Bolte saw their first career playing time for the Owls, both scoring in the first half.
Following Friday's game against BYU, Rice closes out the tournament Saturday against North Florida.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mayse’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Rice Past Prairie View A&M
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 19, 2008) Morgan Mayse canned a 25-foot three-point basket as time expired to propel the Rice women’s basketball team past Prairie View A&M 47-45 Wednesday evening at Tudor Fieldhouse on the Rice campus.
After Rice (2-0) used its final timeout with 3.3 seconds left, Maudess Fulton fought through three defenders and found Mayse on the right wing. She leaned forward and launched the final shot that provided the game winner.
“I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen, but I knew we needed to get a shot off,” Mayse said. “Thanks to Maude (Fulton); she got me a pass and it went in.”
Mayse scored eight of her team-best 14 points in the second half to go along with nine rebounds. D’Frantz Smart added seven points and four assists, while Candace Ashford chipped in six points and six rebounds off the bench.
Rice (2-0) expanded on a 26-20 halftime lead and reeled off seven straight points to start the second half.
The Owls then missed on 13 of their next 14 shots as Prairie View drew closer.
The Panthers (1-2) took a 39-38 advantage on a Shondria Combs jumper with 5:34 left. Smart fired back with a pair of lay-ups, one in transition and one off a steal, to make it 42-39 at the 4:09 mark.
Prairie View responded with a pair of free throws from Chari Smith and a jumper by Candice Thomas to retake a 45-42 edge with 2:16 to go. Thomas paced the Panthers with 16 points, while Smith tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Ashford buried two pressure free throws on the next possession to draw the Owls back to 45-44. Tara Watts missed a three-ball with 21 seconds, which forced Rice to foul Smith. She missed the two free throws to give the Owls a chance to win on the final possession.
“They had a good defensive game plan in the second half, and we obviously struggled with what they were doing,” head coach Greg Williams said “It seemed like we were on 33 (points) forever.”
After a back-and-forth affair in the opening minutes, Rice built a 26-20 edge heading in the locker room. The Owls scored nine of the last 13 points over the last 4:49, including five off the bench from Megan Elliott.
Rice faces off against No. 9 Baylor on Sunday at 2pm. KTRU 91.7 FM and Rice owls.com will have all of the action live from Tudor Fieldhouse with the pregame beginning at 1:45pm. Rice Owls.com also will provide live stats for free via GameTracker.
After Rice (2-0) used its final timeout with 3.3 seconds left, Maudess Fulton fought through three defenders and found Mayse on the right wing. She leaned forward and launched the final shot that provided the game winner.
“I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen, but I knew we needed to get a shot off,” Mayse said. “Thanks to Maude (Fulton); she got me a pass and it went in.”
Mayse scored eight of her team-best 14 points in the second half to go along with nine rebounds. D’Frantz Smart added seven points and four assists, while Candace Ashford chipped in six points and six rebounds off the bench.
Rice (2-0) expanded on a 26-20 halftime lead and reeled off seven straight points to start the second half.
The Owls then missed on 13 of their next 14 shots as Prairie View drew closer.
The Panthers (1-2) took a 39-38 advantage on a Shondria Combs jumper with 5:34 left. Smart fired back with a pair of lay-ups, one in transition and one off a steal, to make it 42-39 at the 4:09 mark.
Prairie View responded with a pair of free throws from Chari Smith and a jumper by Candice Thomas to retake a 45-42 edge with 2:16 to go. Thomas paced the Panthers with 16 points, while Smith tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Ashford buried two pressure free throws on the next possession to draw the Owls back to 45-44. Tara Watts missed a three-ball with 21 seconds, which forced Rice to foul Smith. She missed the two free throws to give the Owls a chance to win on the final possession.
“They had a good defensive game plan in the second half, and we obviously struggled with what they were doing,” head coach Greg Williams said “It seemed like we were on 33 (points) forever.”
After a back-and-forth affair in the opening minutes, Rice built a 26-20 edge heading in the locker room. The Owls scored nine of the last 13 points over the last 4:49, including five off the bench from Megan Elliott.
Rice faces off against No. 9 Baylor on Sunday at 2pm. KTRU 91.7 FM and Rice owls.com will have all of the action live from Tudor Fieldhouse with the pregame beginning at 1:45pm. Rice Owls.com also will provide live stats for free via GameTracker.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
SMU Earns "A" From BCA
DALLAS, TEXAS (November 18, 2008) SMU earned an "A" from the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) on the annual BCA Football Hiring Report Card for its recent head coaching search, the BCA recently revealed.
A total of 31 Football Bowl Subdivision and Championship Subdivision schools were evaluated and graded based on five categories, including communication, search committee, final candidates, time frame and affirmative action for searches conducted in the 2007-08 hiring season. SMU received "A"s from the BCA for communication, time frame and affirmative action.
"We were thrilled with the outcome of our coaching search and are pleased that we received such a high mark from the BCA for our process," said SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini. "We had a plan, followed University procedures and found a coach, June Jones, who we believe is the best fit for SMU."
The BCA annually publishes a review of FBS and FCS institutions that have hired football coaches in the past year. This year's report marked the fifth hiring report card issued by the organization, formerly known as the Black Coaches Association.
A total of 31 Football Bowl Subdivision and Championship Subdivision schools were evaluated and graded based on five categories, including communication, search committee, final candidates, time frame and affirmative action for searches conducted in the 2007-08 hiring season. SMU received "A"s from the BCA for communication, time frame and affirmative action.
"We were thrilled with the outcome of our coaching search and are pleased that we received such a high mark from the BCA for our process," said SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini. "We had a plan, followed University procedures and found a coach, June Jones, who we believe is the best fit for SMU."
The BCA annually publishes a review of FBS and FCS institutions that have hired football coaches in the past year. This year's report marked the fifth hiring report card issued by the organization, formerly known as the Black Coaches Association.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Kirwa and Olaru Claim Victories at Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO TEXAS (November 17, 2008) Chilly early morning temperatures didn't discourage anyone from making the trip to San Antonio's Lions Field, site of the start of the largest road race in Texas history. Romania’s Nuta Olaru and Kenya’s Meschack Kirwa made the inaugural running of the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon a successful one, with Olaru claiming the women's championship and Kirwa claiming the men’s title.Olaru finished in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 54 seconds, holding off a late surge from New Zealand Olympian and San Antonio resident Liza Hunter-Galvan, who ran a personal best in 2 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds.
“I really needed about another mile to catch her,” said Hunter-Galvan. “But hey, who wanted to run another mile?”
Margret Okayo, record holder at the Boston, New York and Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathons, led a group of five runners through the first four miles. Then, at mile five, Olaru pushed ahead running a 2:27:00 pace over the first 10k, opening a sizable lead with a half marathon split of 1:13:12.
Okayo dropped out after 15k with a foot injury.
“The initial pace was fast, and at the five mile mark I found myself in the lead,” said Olaru, who is looking forward to the world championships in Berlin next year. “It was a good course and the weather was perfect this morning. It feels really good to win the first event.”
At mile 17, Olaru was briefly ill and began to slow, with Hunter-Galvan trailing 1:43 behind. Hunter-Galvan found a late burst over the final six miles to close the gap between herself and Olaru.
"I was a little worried that my half marathon time was faster than I wanted it to be," said Hunter-Galvan. "But between miles 15 and 16 I passed four runners and with all the spectators cheering over the last six miles I pushed it back up again."
Kenya’s Meschack Kirwa, who finished second at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville earlier this year, stretched his lead over the closing stages to win the men’s race in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 36 seconds.
“I knew at 30k I could win,” said Kirwa. “I was running a pace I could push near the end and the people cheering along the course kept me going.”
Kirwa finished exactly one minute ahead of American Matt Downin, who made late strides to finish in 2:15:36. Dmitry Safranov of Russia finished third in his marathon debut with a time of 2:15:58.
“I was hoping to run faster, but I'm not disappointed finishing second with a great field of athletes,” said Downin, who hasn’t completed a marathon since finishing 11th at New York in 2005. “The conditions couldn’t have been any better, there were lots of spectators and the excitement was huge.”
Leading the charge throughout the first 10k was Dmitry Safranov, a former Russian Junior Champion in the 10,000m. Ethiopian Shimeles Molla, winner of the 2006 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon, overtook Safranov at mile 10 and quickly extended his lead to nearly a minute a mile. Kirwa closed the gap to 25 seconds at mile 19 and took the overall lead in mile 21, running the last few miles alone.
Both Kirwa, 34, and Olaru, 37, earned first-place cash awards of $17,500 for their victories in the race that attracted more then 30,000 entries and had 55 bands playing along the route. A total of $80,000 in prize money was awarded overall.
Texas Governor Rick Perry finished the half marathon with a time of 1:47:46. American Olympian Brian Sell broke the tape roughly 45 minutes before Perry, winning the half with a time of 1:02:50.
Conditions on the scenic San Antonio course were almost ideal for marathon running on a sunny day with temperatures just below 40 degrees at the start and almost no wind.
San Antonio’s Brant Lutz, 33, and Bridget Binning, 26, took top local honors as the first male and female finishers from Texas, winning the Texas Showdown. Both earned $2,000 for their efforts.
A record number of 30,000 people registered for the event and, of those, 24,761 runners started the race. The event had entrants from 18 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For complete race results, log on to www.rnrsa.com.
The second annual Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & ½ Marathon is set for Sunday, November 15, 2009.
Place/Name/Age/Country/Time
MALE
1. Meschack Kirwa, 34, Kenya, 2:14:36
2. Matt Downin, 31, USA, 2:15:36
3. Dmitry Safranov, 27, Russia, 2:15:58
4. Shimeles Molla, 26, Ethiopia, 2:17:01
5. Noah Talem, 30, Kenya, 2:19:10
FEMALE
1. Nuta Olaru, 37, Romania, 2:28:54
2. Liza Hunter-Galvan, 39, New Zealand, 2:29:37
3. Karolina Jarzynska, 27, Poland, 2:33:19
4. Tatiana Pushkareva, 23, Russia, 2:40:01
5. Michele Suszek, 25, USA, 2:42:57
Sunday, November 16, 2008
H2O Frogs Fall Short at Wyoming
LARAMIE, WYOMING (November 16, 2008)The TCU men's and women's swimming and diving teams fell to Wyoming on Saturday at Corbett Pool. The loss dropped the men to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the Mountain West Conference, while the women fell to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the MWC.The women took the top spot in six of the 16 events, falling short by a score of
168-131, while the men won five events and dropping the meet, 191.5-106.5.
“We lost to a very good team in Wyoming that swims real well at home,” TCU head
coach Richard Sybesma said. “Swimming two meets in three days has been tough.
There were some bright spots for us, but we still have things we need to work on
before the spring.”
For the third-straight meet, freshman Ashley Bolin earned a pair of wins for the
Frogs. The Oshkosh, Wis., native claimed her first 200-free with a time of
1:55.26 and followed that performance with her third 100-free medal of the year
at 53.44. Bolin has claimed her team-high eight wins in six different events. On
the night, Bolin also contributed to the Horned Frogs’ 400-free relay win and
finished runner-up in the 200-IM.
Sophomore Maria Paula Alvarez keeps adding to her win total, tacking on another
500-free medal to her tally at 5:05.13. The three-time TCU record holder has
seven wins on the year with a trio coming in the 500-free.
Sophomore Brittney Martinez picked up her first individual win of the season,
taking the 200-back with a final time of 2:07.59. The Englewood, Colo., native
has also earned a pair of relay wins this fall. Freshman Jennifer Oster
continues to ride her momentum, pacing the field in the 100-fly at 58.26.
TCU ended the night by sweeping the men’s and women’s 400-free relays. Freshman
Kaitlyn Vann, Alvarez, Zrinka Korac and Bolin teamed up for a clocking of
3:32.69. The quartet also picked up a 400-free relay win against Missouri State
in the first dual meet of the year. For the men, Josh Bagby, Jason Hauck, Ben
Iannacone and Josh Doran with a time of 3:10.43 for the Frogs’ first 400-free
relay win of the fall.
Sophomore Jeff Gettel keeps his winning streak alive, taking two events against
the Cowboys Saturday. Gettel won the 100-back (52.32) and 200-back (1:54.91) at
Wyoming and has now picked up a win in every MWC meet this fall for TCU.
Bagby also helped the Frogs’ by winning the 50-free event for the third time
this season, leading the way at 21.41. After missing the Air Force meet, senior
diver R.J. Hesselberg returned to the sky and claiming the three-meter dive
event with a score of 339.22.
TCU has now concluded its team schedule for the fall season and will not return
home to the University Rec Center until the spring semester when the Frogs host
Utah on Jan. 9.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Swimming and Diving Sweeps Competition at Phill Hansel Duals Weekend
(Shown Right: Freshman Kim Eeson was an intergral part of the Cougars win this weekend)HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 15, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team recorded four wins on the final day of the Phill Hansel Duals Meet Weekend Saturday at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium improving their season record to 9-1.
Houston defeated Rice for the second time this season (187-160), along with notching wins over Incarnate Word (275-78), Florida International (247-99) and Vanderbilt (271.50-78.50).
With the Cougars wins at the meet, Houston has now recorded at least nine wins for four straight seasons.
"It was another exciting weekend for us. The girls are really dead right now with the weight program that they are on and the two a day practices. The girls are pretty exhausted so we asked them to step it up today and they responded like we told them its not supposed to tickle," head coach Mark Taylor said. "On the first day we lost a few races that we shouldn't have so we had a team meeting at the end of the first day and explained to them our expectations for today and they met those expectations."
Taylor was happy with the way the swimmers performed at the meet but he was more please with the way the assistant coaches have been preparing the athletes. He said the divers are always ready to go under head diving coach Jane Figueiredo and Jaime Lewis has been a super addition to the full-time staff.
The Cougars started off the afternoon with a win in the 400-yard medley relay. Jessica Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Sasha Schwendenwein and Kim Eeson finished the race with a time of 3:52.47. The "B" team of Andrea Pa'lmai, Doreen Polotzek, Andrea Kells and Brittany Copeland finished fourth with a time of 4:04.24.
Eeson also won her second event of the day with a first place finish of 4:59.60 in the 500-yard freestyle. The time ranks as the 10th fastest performance in school history. Also finishing in eighth was Olga Bordatcheva (5:15.55) and Rachel Holcomb was 14th (5:35.15).
Houston continued to pace the meet, winning their third-straight event of the afternoon, with Schwendenwein taking the top spot of 2:03.12 in the 200-yard butterfly. Andrea Kells added a 2:13.88 10th place finish, while Danica Lubbers was 11th (2:16.87) and Natalie Newcomb was 13th (2:17.67).
Schwendenwein would also go on to win the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 51.80 and Eeson was second with a time of 52.39. Copeland and Anne Stone rounded out the Cougar swimmers in the event with a ninth and 18th place finish, respectively.
Andrea Pa'lmai added another win for the Cougars with a 2:05.08 finish in the 200-yard backstroke. Shamburger added a third place finish with a time of 2:06.83. Paige Bissett added a seventh place finish (2:13.15) and Markee Johnson was 14th (2:22.46).
Pa'lmai also finished second in the 400-yard IM to pace all Cougar swimmers with a time of 4:28.89. Hillis followed fifth with a time of 4:33.99 and Newcomb was 11th with a time of 4:47.29. Lubbers also added a 13th place time of 4:53.14 in the event.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Hillis finished with the top time of 1:05.36 which also marked the seventh fastest Cougar performance. Bordatcheva (1:10.24), Polotzek (1:10.30) and Borbala Juhasz (1:17.76) added 11th, 12th and 17th place finishes.
In the final relay of the meet, Houston took second in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Bissett, Shamburger, Polotzek and Copeland finished with a time of 1:40.02. The "B" team of Bordatcheva, Stone, Markee Johnson and Kells added a ninth place time of 1:44.61.
In the diving events, Anastasia Pozdniakova won her fifth-straight 1-meter competition with 322.10 points. Finishing in second and third was Lacey Truelove (266.20 points) and Rachel Erickson (219.70 points).
Houston defeated Rice for the second time this season (187-160), along with notching wins over Incarnate Word (275-78), Florida International (247-99) and Vanderbilt (271.50-78.50).
With the Cougars wins at the meet, Houston has now recorded at least nine wins for four straight seasons.
"It was another exciting weekend for us. The girls are really dead right now with the weight program that they are on and the two a day practices. The girls are pretty exhausted so we asked them to step it up today and they responded like we told them its not supposed to tickle," head coach Mark Taylor said. "On the first day we lost a few races that we shouldn't have so we had a team meeting at the end of the first day and explained to them our expectations for today and they met those expectations."
Taylor was happy with the way the swimmers performed at the meet but he was more please with the way the assistant coaches have been preparing the athletes. He said the divers are always ready to go under head diving coach Jane Figueiredo and Jaime Lewis has been a super addition to the full-time staff.
The Cougars started off the afternoon with a win in the 400-yard medley relay. Jessica Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Sasha Schwendenwein and Kim Eeson finished the race with a time of 3:52.47. The "B" team of Andrea Pa'lmai, Doreen Polotzek, Andrea Kells and Brittany Copeland finished fourth with a time of 4:04.24.
Eeson also won her second event of the day with a first place finish of 4:59.60 in the 500-yard freestyle. The time ranks as the 10th fastest performance in school history. Also finishing in eighth was Olga Bordatcheva (5:15.55) and Rachel Holcomb was 14th (5:35.15).
Houston continued to pace the meet, winning their third-straight event of the afternoon, with Schwendenwein taking the top spot of 2:03.12 in the 200-yard butterfly. Andrea Kells added a 2:13.88 10th place finish, while Danica Lubbers was 11th (2:16.87) and Natalie Newcomb was 13th (2:17.67).
Schwendenwein would also go on to win the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 51.80 and Eeson was second with a time of 52.39. Copeland and Anne Stone rounded out the Cougar swimmers in the event with a ninth and 18th place finish, respectively.
Andrea Pa'lmai added another win for the Cougars with a 2:05.08 finish in the 200-yard backstroke. Shamburger added a third place finish with a time of 2:06.83. Paige Bissett added a seventh place finish (2:13.15) and Markee Johnson was 14th (2:22.46).
Pa'lmai also finished second in the 400-yard IM to pace all Cougar swimmers with a time of 4:28.89. Hillis followed fifth with a time of 4:33.99 and Newcomb was 11th with a time of 4:47.29. Lubbers also added a 13th place time of 4:53.14 in the event.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Hillis finished with the top time of 1:05.36 which also marked the seventh fastest Cougar performance. Bordatcheva (1:10.24), Polotzek (1:10.30) and Borbala Juhasz (1:17.76) added 11th, 12th and 17th place finishes.
In the final relay of the meet, Houston took second in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Bissett, Shamburger, Polotzek and Copeland finished with a time of 1:40.02. The "B" team of Bordatcheva, Stone, Markee Johnson and Kells added a ninth place time of 1:44.61.
In the diving events, Anastasia Pozdniakova won her fifth-straight 1-meter competition with 322.10 points. Finishing in second and third was Lacey Truelove (266.20 points) and Rachel Erickson (219.70 points).
Friday, November 14, 2008
Cougars Prepare to Host Phill Hansel Duals Meet Weekend
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 14, 2008) The University of Houston swimming and diving team return to action this weekend when they host the Phill Hansel Duals Meet Weekend against Vanderbilt, Rice, Florida International and Incarnate Word at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.Houston (5-1) swam its last dual at home, where they defeated Rice, 73-121, and New Mexico State, 152-146. The Cougars snapped a four dual losing streak against the Owls.
UH is 5-0 all-time against Florida International, 1-0 all-time against Incarnate Word and 0-1 all-time against Vanderbilt. After the win Nov. 6, the Cougars are now 17-22 all-time against Rice.
After winning three events against Rice and New Mexico State, senior Andrea Pa'lmai was named the Conference USA Swimmer of the Week.
The senior from Budapest, Hungary won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:14.18, while taking top honors in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.99). She also joined with teammates Sasha Schwendenwein, Kimberley Eeson and Jessica Shamburger to win the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:30.12.
Junior Anastasia Pozdniakova won her third C-USA Diver of the Week award this season and the sixth of her career after winning her fourth-straight 1-meter competition with 354.45 points. She also won the 3-meter competition with 351.16 points. For the second consecutive week, the Elektrosal, Russia native, was the only diver to break 300 points in both events.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Rice Volleyball Signs Two of the State's Best
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 13, 2008) Rice University head volleyball coach Genny Volpe has announced the signing of Nancy Cole and Megan Murphy to National Letters of Intent to attend Rice and play volleyball for the Owls beginning in the fall of 2009.Cole, from Pasadena, Texas, and Pasadena Memorial High School, is a two-time high school team Most Valuable Player and three-time first team All-District 22-5A. During the 2008 season, Cole registered a school-record 37 kills vs. Spring H.S. and currently leads the Houston-area with 630 kills for a whopping 6.75 kills per set average.
A 6' 3" middle blocker, Cole is rated as the #62 volleyball player in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com. She is also an all-state selection by LoneStarVolleyball.com.
"Nancy is going to be a force at the net immediately upon coming to Rice," comments Volpe. "She has size, is a great blocker, is very competitive, and is a well skilled volleyball player. Nancy's quickness allows her to move along the net swiftly and efficiently. She has the ability to play all three front row positions as she can hit a quick tempo ball as well as second and third tempos with pace and control."
In 2007, Cole led the Houston-area with 500 kills (5.1 kills per set) and was second in kills in 2006 with 494. She was also tops in the region in 2006 with 115 blocks. A National Honor Society member, Cole is a member of the All-Academic District 22-5A team.
Nancy competed for Absolute Volleyball Association club team and is the daughter of John and Shane Cole.
Murphy is a 5' 11' setter from Plano, Texas, and Plano West High School. A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter, Murphy has served as one of the team's co-captains the past two seasons. In 2008, she set a new Plano West record for assists in a career in leading the Wolves to the District 8-5A championship. She was also named as the 2008 MVP of the Arlington Tournament. Murphy is the setter for a team that went undefeated (10-0) in District 8-5A action without losing a set.
"Megan is one of the best setters in the state of Texas and one of the most experienced setters to ever come to Rice," states Volpe. "She is a smart setter who understands the game extremely well in running a quick and diverse offense and is one of the most composed players I have seen for her age."
She recently has been selected to the 2008 LoneStar Volleyball All-Texas team and one of Prep Volleyball's Top 250 Senior Aces.
As a junior, Murphy was selected to the first team All-District 9-5A squad as well as All-Collin County first team. The Wolves concluded 2007, as 5A state semi-finalists.
The daughter of Harry and Gwen Murphy, Megan competed for a Texas Advantage volleyball club that earned a bronze medalist at the17-open Junior Olympics.
"I would also like to thank assistants Melissa Ferris and Trent Herman for all of their efforts in recruiting this exciting 2009 class which will no doubt lead us to great things in the future," concludes Volpe.
Rice is experiencing one of its finest seasons ever with a 21-5 overall record and a 25th ranking in the latest NCAA RPI ratings. The Owls are 12-3 in Conference USA play and have clinched a first-round bye for next week's C-USA Championship in Memphis, Tenn. This Thursday, though, the Owls play at Houston starting at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
H20 Frogs Hit the Road for Air Force and Wyoming
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (November 12, 2008) The TCU men's and women's swimming and diving teams head north to face Air Force on Thursday and Wyoming on Saturday. Swimming World Magazine has named the Frogs' battle against Wyoming as one of the Meets of the Week.The TCU men's squad will enter the meet against the Falcons with an overall
record of 1-2 and a league mark of 0-1. The Frogs have had 14 days to prepare
for the Falcons, as TCU has not competed since taking on BYU on Oct. 30. Josh
Bagby and R.J. Hesselberg currently lead the squad in wins with five victories
each. Hesselberg was named the MWC Male Diver of the Week for his last
performance, breaking the TCU record on the three-meter springboard with a score
of 380.10.
The women's team (3-1 overall, 1-1 MWC) will look to continue the momentum after
topping Colorado State last Friday, 128-115. Sophomore Maria Paula Alvarez
highlighted the meet for TCU, winning the 500-free and setting a new Frog record
in the 1000-free, while freshman Ashley Bolin earned a pair of victories in the
100-free and 400-IM. Senior Katie Rosen and freshman Kaitlyn Vann also continue
to impress this year, both with three wins.
The Air Force men's team holds an overall mark of 4-5 and a MWC record of 0-2,
while the women's squad has posted a 4-8 record with a 0-3 tally in the
conference. Both of Wyoming's squads are unbeaten for the season, as the women's
team currently holds an overall mark of 6-0 and a MWC record of 1-0, while the
men's squad is 7-0 with a conference record of 1-0.
TCU will not return home to the University Rec Center until the spring semester
when the Frogs host Utah on Jan. 9.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Scott Named to GCAA Coaches Congress
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 11, 2008) Rice University golf coach Drew Scott has been named to the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Coaches Congress and will represent Conference USA on the committee.Created by the GCAA in 2007, the Coaches Congress’ purpose has been to serve as a liaison between coaches represented and the GCAA’s National Advisory Board. The Congress membership assists the GCAA national office in surveying members of their respective conference regarding matters deemed of national importance as well as keeping represented coaches informed.
Coaches Congress members also serve as ambassadors of the Golf Coaches Association of America, recruiting coaches to join the association.
Scott is also in his second year as a voting member of the GolfWorld/GCAA Coaches Poll. Last year he served as the South Central Region committee chairman. The committee is responsible for nominations and voting for All-Region and All-America players and coaches.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Morgan and Schamun C-USA Players of the Week
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 10, 2008) Two Rice University volleyball players have been selected as Conference USA Players of the Week. Senior Karyn Morgan was named Offensive Player of the Week, while sophomore Meredith Schamun earned Setter of the Week honors.Morgan, an outside hitter from Bellaire, Texas, produced a C-USA weekly-best 37 kills and averaged a league-high 4.62 KPS. She also established a .397 (37K-6E-78TA) hitting efficiency over eight games.
Morgan tallied a match-high 26 kills, one shy of her career-high, and a .434 hitting percentage to lead the Owls to a 3-2 victory over then league-leader UAB Friday. She also recorded 11 digs for her 12th double-double on the year. Morgan followed that effort up with a team-high 11 kills and a .320 hitting percentage as Rice moved into second place tie with UAB by sweeping Memphis. On the week, she led the Owls with 41.5 points. This is Morgan's first Offensive Player of the Week honor.
From Murrieta, Calif., Schamun led the Owl offense with an 11.50 assists-per-set average, the second-best performance in the league for the week. She also ranked fifth-best for most service aces (0.38) and 12th for most digs (3.25) per set. She dished out 56 assists in Rice's 3-2 victory over then-league leader UAB to go along with 18 digs and two blocks. Schamun also tallied 36 assists and eight digs in the 3-0 sweep of Memphis. This is her second consecutive Setter of the Week honor and third of the season.
The Owls are currently 21-5 and are in second place in C-USA with a 12-3 record. The 21 wins are the most since the Owls went 25-5 in 2004 and the 12 wins in C-USA play are the most since Rice joined the league in 2005.
Rice plays at Houston on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Volleyball Owls Claim 21st Victory with 3-0 Crushing of Memphis
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 9, 2008) The Rice Owls volleyball collected its 21st victory of the season as it swept visiting Memphis 3-0. Game scores were 30-28, 25-15, and 25-22. The Owls are now 21-5 overall and 12-3 in Conference USA action, while Memphis is now 17-12 and 8-7 in league action.Rice came from behind in a thrilling set one to win 30-28. The two teams battled back and forth, but Memphis defended and blocked to forge a late 22-18 lead. The Owls were able to knot it at 23-23 on kills by Natalie Bogan and Jessica Holderness. A team block by Ashleigh McCord and Caroline Gill gave the Owls the decisive point.
"Coming off the of the five-set win over UAB, I was proud of how focused the team came out to play after such an emotional victory on Friday," said Rice head coach Genny Volpe. "It was nice win on senior day and we got great play from our seniors in Ekaette Shammah, Karyn Morgan, and Jessica Holderness."
Rice's Karyn Morgan led all hitters with 6 kills and a .286 attack percentage as Rice hit .205 and Memphis sported a .200 attack percentage.
The Owls carried their late momentum from set one into set two with an early 10-6 lead. A Holderness kill gave Rice a 18-13 that would eventually blossom to 22-13 and a Tiger service error gave the Owls a 25-15 win and a 2-0 match lead. Rice setter Meredith Schamun totaled 18 assists.
Rice tallied 14 kills to Memphis' 8 and hit .265 to the Tigers' .000 in the second set.
The Owls were relentless and kept applying the pressure on Memphis throughout set three taking an 19-14 lead. But, Memphis did not go away quietly and got back into the set to be down only 22-21. A Bogan kill put Rice up 23-21 and two Tiger hitting errors gave Rice the final two points for a 25-22 win.
On the day, Karyn Morgan led Rice with 11 kills for a .320 attack percentage, while Rice's Caroline Gill hit .385 to lead both teams. Jessica Holderness and Natalie Bogan each contributed 9 kills and setter Meredith Schamun tallied 36 assists.
Rice hit .194 with 41 kills, while the Tigers had 32 kills for a .046 attack percentage. Memphis was led by Lauren Thompson's 12 kills and .375 attack percentage.
The Owls next play at Houston on Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Horned Frogs Conclude Fall Schedule
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINA (November 8, 2008) TCU women's tennis ended its stretch at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships Saturday, falling in singles and doubles action.“I’m really proud of our effort here,” TCU head coach Jefferson Hammond said.
“As upset as the players were about not winning the tournament, we actually had
a strong showing.”
The No. 9 team of Macall Harkins and Anna Sydorska was downed by Notre Dame’s
pairing of Kelcy Tefft and Kristy Frilling, 6-3, 6-4. The TCU duo won two
matches in the tournament, defeating No. 12 Vanja Corovic and Marija Milic from
Texas and Nadine Fahoum and Charleen Haarhoff of Old Dominion.
“Doubles also ran into a team that kept their unforced errors down, Macall and
Anna fought hard and kept it close, but Notre Dame deserves the credit for an
outstanding match.”
Junior Nina Munch-Soegaard also ended her tremendous run through the first three
rounds of the singles bracket, falling to the nation’s top ranked Aurelija
Miseviciute from Arkansas, 6-4, 6-1. By reaching the singles semifinals,
Munch-Soegaard earned the best singles finish at the ITA Indoor Championships in
TCU history. The Amarillo, Texas native earned her three wins over No. 3 Amanda
McDowell of Georgia Tech, No. 30 Samantha Murray of Northwestern and No 70 Maria
Sanchez from Southern California.
“In singles, Nina’s opponent did a nice job of keeping her unforced errors down
and with Nina’s attacking style, it was a question of whether she would be on
and she just had a tough day.”
The TCU women's tennis team has now completed the fall season and will return to
action on Jan. 24, 2008 at Virginia.
2008 ITA Intercollegiate Indoor Championships
Boar’s Head Sports Club – Charlottesville, Virginia
Singles Main Draw (Semifinals)
No. 1 Aurelija Miseviciute (Arkansas) def. No. 47 Nina Munch-Soegaard (TCU)
6-4, 6-1
Friday, November 07, 2008
UH Women’s Basketball to Host Classroom on the Court
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 7, 2008) The University of Houston women’s basketball team will join itsfellow Conference USA members to host Classroom on the Court this Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion. The Cougars will welcome a large group of area elementary students to the UH campus to meet the Cougars and participate in the event, which is slated to begin at 4 p.m.The schedule features a variety of interactive games in which selected students in attendance will be able to compete as well as a sneak preview look at the Cougars, who will hit the court in a intrasquad scrimmage. Following the activates at Hofhienz, members of the team will escort the students over to the tailgating area near Robertson Stadium for an autograph session and pre-football game tailgating. The UH football team faces Tulane at 7 p.m., Saturday.
In addition to the Classroom on the Court activities, the scrimmage is open to members of the public who wish to catch the Cougars in action before their season begins on Monday with a scrimmage against the Houston Jaguars at 7 p.m.
Classroom on the Court is a grassroots program that will introduce school children in grades four and five to their local Conference USA Women's Basketball team, as well as the entire league, through a curriculum-based program. This program will motivate students to learn in a fun way, using sports as the focus, and ultimately increasing attendance as their affinity for their local women's basketball team develops and grows.
The NCAA established a funding program "to grow women's basketball from the inside out and at a grassroots level." The NCAA also committed annual funding for a three-year program in an effort to specifically enhance Division I women's basketball attendance.
The league has partnered up with Sporting Geography to produce worksheets, postcards, email and mailing distribution lists that targets teachers of fourth and fifth graders in all 11 C-USA cities. Once a teacher registers his/her class, participation in the Classroom on the Court program occurs any time they attend one of their local women's basketball games and/or complete a gameday worksheet.
Registered students will receive a bar-coded credential and t-shirt (base on availability) affording them season long complimentary admission to their local women's basketball games. By attending the games and completing the game day worksheet they accumulate points for their schools. In addition, they will be given a sticker at the C-USA table, to adhere to their credential to track and reward their individual attendance. For example, after a student has attended three games he/she will receive one free guest admission tickets.
Students are rewarded for their attendance throughout the season, while the schools and classes with the highest totals are rewarded at the end of the season with fabulous prizes.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Volleyball Owls Host UAB and Memphis
HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 6, 2008) The Rice Owls volleyball match vs, UAB on Friday, Nov. 7, is now at 4 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. The time change was necessary to avoid a conflict with the Grand Opening of Tudor Fieldhouse event that is scheduled later that same evening.On Sunday, the Owls will host Memphis at 1 p.m. Both matches take place in Fox Gymnasium.
VB RPI
The Rice Owls currently sport an NCAA RPI of 39 out of 323 schools that sponsor NCAA Division I volleyball. Ahead of the Owls in C-USA are Tulane (13th) and UAB (27th).
Recently
Rice won 3-2 at Tulsa and 3-1 at SMU this past weekend. Jessica Holderness led the Owls with 36 kills on the weekend.
Head Coach
Rice head coach Genny Volpe sports a school and overall coaching mark of 86-58 (5 years). She led the Owls to their first-ever NCAA appearance in 2004.
Currently
The Owls have won three matches in a row and nine of their last 10.
Setter of the Week
Meredith Schamun has been selected as the Conference USA Setter of the Week for Nov. 3. In leading Rice to two road victories, Schamun, a sophomore, dished out 111 assists and averaged 12.33 APS as the Owls defeated Tulsa (3-2) and SMU (3-1). She had 52 assists at Tulsa and followed that up with 59 assists and 13 digs at SMU as the Owls averaged 15.44 kills on the weekend. Schamun also accounted for 19 digs (2.11 DPS), two block assists and 10 points. This is her second weekly honor.
National Ranks
Rice setter Meredith Schamun ranks first in C-USA and eighth nationally in assists per set in this week's NCAA rankings. The sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., averages a C-USA-best 11.60 per set.
Sophomore libéro Tracey Lam ranks 29th in the nation in digs per set, accounting for a C-USA-best 4.92 per outing with 428 digs.
As a team, Rice ranks fifth in the NCAA in assists (13.60), fifth in kills (14.59), 18th in digs (16.94) and 26th in hitting efficiency (.262).
Balanced Attack
The Owls have four athletes that have accumulated over 200 kills this season. They are led by seniors Karyn Morgan with 272 (3.28) and Jessica Holderness with 255 (2.97). Junior Natalie Bogan has 234 kills (2.79) and freshman Ashleigh McCord has made her presence felt with 238 kills (2.83).
Attack Pct.
Natalie Bogan leads Rice with a .350 attack percentage and sophomore Caroline Gill is at .315 and Ashleigh McCord is hitting at .302.
Streakin'
Tracey Lam has now reached double-digit digs in each of her last 31 matches.
MilestonesRice University volleyball player Karyn Mogan (Bellaire, Texas) has joined the school's exclusive 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs club. Morgan, a senior, becomes the sixth member of the group. Other Owls that have accomplished that feat as well are Rebeca Pazo (2001-04, 1,969 kills, 1,314 digs), Sammy Waldron (1992-95, 1,830 kills, 1,068 digs), Karolina Zelinka (1996-00, 1,508 kills, 1,217 digs), Leigh Leman (1998-02, 1,233 kills, 1,394 digs), Karyn Morgan (2005-08, 1,263 kills, 1,136 digs), Diane Kuhlman (1986-89, 1,086 kills, 1,130 digs).
Morgan's 1,263 kills ranks eighth all-time at Rice, while her 1,136 digs is sixth-best.
Other milestones on the horizon for Rice volleyball include senior Jessica Holderness with 908 career kills and 903 career digs and sophomore Tracey Lam with career 927 digs. Junior Natalie Bogan has 878 career kills. Lam's 428 digs ranks fourth-best in a season at Rice.
Sophomore setter Meredith Schamun has accumulated 2,315 assists in only two seasons to rank sixth in school history.
Opponents
Rice leads the overall series 5-3 over UAB and is 0-3 vs. Memphis. UAB is ranked first in Conference USA with a 12-1 league record and is 22-3 overall. Memphis is fourth in C-USA, just behind Rice, with an 8-5 record is 17-10 overall
Looking Forward
The Owls play at Houston to end C-USA play on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
UH Swimming and Diving Sweeps C-USA Weekly Honors for the Second Time This
IRVING, TEXAS (November 5, 2008) University of Houston swimmer Sasha Schwendenwein and diver Anastasia Pozdnakova were announced Tuesday as Conference USA Swimmer and Diver of the Week for the second time this season.
After last weekend’s events, the duo improved the Cougars record to 3-1 with a win over Oakland.
Schwendenwein was named the C-USA Swimmer of the Week after she won each of her seven events against Michigan State and Oakland last weekend.
Against Michigan State, the senior swimmer was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that finished with a time of 7:34.89. In the 200-yard butterfly, she set a pool record with a time of 1:58.70 and she set another pool record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:48.23.
Against Oakland she clocked a time of 55:13 in the 100-yard butterfly and a time of 5:03.69 in the 500-yard freestyle. She concluded the weekend as a member of the 400-yard relay that finished with a time of 3:32.81. This is the fourth time in her career that Schwendenwein has won the C-SUA Swimmer of the Week award.
Pozdniakova was named the C-USA Diver of the Week after she won all four of her diving events and was the only diver to score over 300 points, while facing both Michigan State and Oakland.
Against Michigan State, she scored 382.12 points in the 3-meter competition, and in the 1-meter she scored 325.88 points.
At Oakland, the junior set pool records in both the 1-meter (375.67) and 3-meter events (396.07). This is the sixth time that Pozdniakova has been given the weekly honor in her career.
UP NEXT
Houston will return to the pool Thursday when they swim against C-USA rival Rice, along with New Mexico State at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium beginning at 5 p.m.
After last weekend’s events, the duo improved the Cougars record to 3-1 with a win over Oakland.
Schwendenwein was named the C-USA Swimmer of the Week after she won each of her seven events against Michigan State and Oakland last weekend.
Against Michigan State, the senior swimmer was a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that finished with a time of 7:34.89. In the 200-yard butterfly, she set a pool record with a time of 1:58.70 and she set another pool record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:48.23.
Against Oakland she clocked a time of 55:13 in the 100-yard butterfly and a time of 5:03.69 in the 500-yard freestyle. She concluded the weekend as a member of the 400-yard relay that finished with a time of 3:32.81. This is the fourth time in her career that Schwendenwein has won the C-SUA Swimmer of the Week award.
Pozdniakova was named the C-USA Diver of the Week after she won all four of her diving events and was the only diver to score over 300 points, while facing both Michigan State and Oakland.
Against Michigan State, she scored 382.12 points in the 3-meter competition, and in the 1-meter she scored 325.88 points.
At Oakland, the junior set pool records in both the 1-meter (375.67) and 3-meter events (396.07). This is the sixth time that Pozdniakova has been given the weekly honor in her career.
UP NEXT
Houston will return to the pool Thursday when they swim against C-USA rival Rice, along with New Mexico State at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium beginning at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Rice Leads Pacific Invitational Field
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA (November 4, 2008) Rice junior golfer Michael Buttacavoli was three-under par on the back nine, shot a 67 and is atop the individual leaderboard as the Owls grabbed the team lead at the Stockton Sports Commission Pacific Invitational Tuesday.
Rice shot a 283 team score (one-under par) for the second straight round, and at two under through 36 holes (566 team score), will open Wednesday's final round with a four-stroke lead over Oregon which is second. Both No. 49 Kansas State and Fresno State are tied for third with two-round scores of 571.
Opening Tuesday's round one-under par, Buttacavoli equaled a career best in shooting his 67. It tied for the fifth-best 18-hole score at Rice since 1985. The Miami Beach, Fla., native carded four birdies and no bogeys during his round. He shares the second-round lead with Pacific?s T.J. Bordeaux.
"It was just a really steady round for him," Rice golf coach Drew Scott said of Buttacavoli's round.
Scott said Buttacavoli really got his round going when he drove the green on the par-four, sixth hole and had a shot lip out that would have given him an eagle.
"He made a couple good saves, including on No. 9 then turned it up on the back nine. Michael only has one blemish on his scorecard for two rounds. He has played extremely steady and it was a nice, solid 67 today."
Christopher Brown, Michael Whitehead and Robert Burrow are all in the Top 20 after two rounds.
Brown shot an even-par 71, rebounding from back-to-back bogeys on the front nine and has a two-round score of 143 (+1) and shares 13th place. Burrow has a two-round score of 144 (+2) and is tied for 17th while Whitehead fell to 20th with a 145 (+1). Whitehead began the day tied for second but shot a 76 on Tuesday.
The Owls? fifth golfer, Kyle Kelley, figured into the Owls? scoring Tuesday. He birdied the 15th and 18th holes to finish with a two-over par 73.
"Everybody picked up the slack,? Scott said. ?It was wonderful for Kyle Kelley to come back from a not so nice round yesterday to contribute today. For us to be leading right now, has taken an entire team effort. We have been fortunate to have solid play this week."
Rice will be paired with Oregon and Kansas State for Wednesday's final round. The Owls will begin teeing off at 11:10 a.m. Central Time. Live statistics will be available at Golfstat.com.
Rice shot a 283 team score (one-under par) for the second straight round, and at two under through 36 holes (566 team score), will open Wednesday's final round with a four-stroke lead over Oregon which is second. Both No. 49 Kansas State and Fresno State are tied for third with two-round scores of 571.
Opening Tuesday's round one-under par, Buttacavoli equaled a career best in shooting his 67. It tied for the fifth-best 18-hole score at Rice since 1985. The Miami Beach, Fla., native carded four birdies and no bogeys during his round. He shares the second-round lead with Pacific?s T.J. Bordeaux.
"It was just a really steady round for him," Rice golf coach Drew Scott said of Buttacavoli's round.
Scott said Buttacavoli really got his round going when he drove the green on the par-four, sixth hole and had a shot lip out that would have given him an eagle.
"He made a couple good saves, including on No. 9 then turned it up on the back nine. Michael only has one blemish on his scorecard for two rounds. He has played extremely steady and it was a nice, solid 67 today."
Christopher Brown, Michael Whitehead and Robert Burrow are all in the Top 20 after two rounds.
Brown shot an even-par 71, rebounding from back-to-back bogeys on the front nine and has a two-round score of 143 (+1) and shares 13th place. Burrow has a two-round score of 144 (+2) and is tied for 17th while Whitehead fell to 20th with a 145 (+1). Whitehead began the day tied for second but shot a 76 on Tuesday.
The Owls? fifth golfer, Kyle Kelley, figured into the Owls? scoring Tuesday. He birdied the 15th and 18th holes to finish with a two-over par 73.
"Everybody picked up the slack,? Scott said. ?It was wonderful for Kyle Kelley to come back from a not so nice round yesterday to contribute today. For us to be leading right now, has taken an entire team effort. We have been fortunate to have solid play this week."
Rice will be paired with Oregon and Kansas State for Wednesday's final round. The Owls will begin teeing off at 11:10 a.m. Central Time. Live statistics will be available at Golfstat.com.
Monday, November 03, 2008
SFA Takes Second In Both Races At SLC Championships
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (November 3, 2008) The Stephen F. Austin cross country teams both posted second-place finishes and picked up Freshman of the Year honors Monday in the Southland Conference Championships at Piney Woods Country Club. This marks the seventh time in eight years for the Lumberjacks to finish in the league’s top two, while the SFA women have been in the top three each of the last seven seasons, finishing first or second in six of those championship meets.
In the men’s race, Lamar posted four All-SLC performances and took the team title with a score of 21 points. SFA had two all-conference finishers and three runners inside the top 15 to post a team score of 87 points, 42 points ahead of third-place Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Ladyjacks also recorded a pair of All-SLC showings and finished just 12 points off the pace of champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. SFA’s 61 points bested third-place Texas State by 34 points.
The Lumberjacks were led for the fourth time this season by true sophomore Dennis Yeats. He earned All-SLC honors by finishing seventh with a time of 25:31 on the hilly 8,000-meter course. Redshirt freshman Mitch Ownbey was close behind, taking eighth with a time of 25:39. For his performance, Ownbey was named the SLC Freshman of the Year, marking the first such award for an SFA cross country athlete.
Junior Keith Mahipala narrowly missed all-conference honors when he crossed the line in 26:00, finishing 13th overall. A pair of true freshmen rounded out the Lumberjacks’ top five as Xavier Rodriguez finished 27th with a time of 26:50, and Harmon McClanahan took 31st with his time of 27:03. Redshirt freshman Sam Hulse was 55th with a time of 28:18.
Each of the six Lumberjacks improved on their time from last month’s pre-conference race at Piney Woods.
In the women’s race, SFA was paced, for the third time in four races, by a pair of true freshmen, just not the pair that might have been expected. Stephanie Ganter led the way with an All-SLC third-place time of 22:08, just 27 seconds off the winning pace of UTSA’s Dana Mecke. Classmate Brette Fleming-Wood was the next Ladyjack to finish, cracking the top 10 with a ninth-place time of 22:36 on the 6,000-meter course.
Fleming-Wood made just her second appearance in the Ladyjacks’ top three, stepping up in the absence of true freshman Brittainy Robertson, who was forced from Monday’s race with an injury. Ganter was named the SLC Freshman of the Year, a first for the SFA women’s team.
Sophomore Amy Shackelford just missed out on All-SLC accolades, finishing 12th with a time of 22:48. Sophomores Meredith Blocker and Megan Jenkins gave SFA five runners inside the top 20 by finishing 17th and 20th, respectively. Blocker clocked in at 23:09, and Jenkins was timed at 23:16.
Sophomore Marie Flores finished 29th with a time of 23:42, and junior Heather Adams took 37th with a time of 24:12.
As in the men’s race, all seven SFA runners bettered their previous time on the course, with Jenkins improving her performance by more than a full minute.
The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks will next compete on Nov. 15, when they travel to Waco, Texas, for the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.
In the men’s race, Lamar posted four All-SLC performances and took the team title with a score of 21 points. SFA had two all-conference finishers and three runners inside the top 15 to post a team score of 87 points, 42 points ahead of third-place Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Ladyjacks also recorded a pair of All-SLC showings and finished just 12 points off the pace of champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. SFA’s 61 points bested third-place Texas State by 34 points.
The Lumberjacks were led for the fourth time this season by true sophomore Dennis Yeats. He earned All-SLC honors by finishing seventh with a time of 25:31 on the hilly 8,000-meter course. Redshirt freshman Mitch Ownbey was close behind, taking eighth with a time of 25:39. For his performance, Ownbey was named the SLC Freshman of the Year, marking the first such award for an SFA cross country athlete.
Junior Keith Mahipala narrowly missed all-conference honors when he crossed the line in 26:00, finishing 13th overall. A pair of true freshmen rounded out the Lumberjacks’ top five as Xavier Rodriguez finished 27th with a time of 26:50, and Harmon McClanahan took 31st with his time of 27:03. Redshirt freshman Sam Hulse was 55th with a time of 28:18.
Each of the six Lumberjacks improved on their time from last month’s pre-conference race at Piney Woods.
In the women’s race, SFA was paced, for the third time in four races, by a pair of true freshmen, just not the pair that might have been expected. Stephanie Ganter led the way with an All-SLC third-place time of 22:08, just 27 seconds off the winning pace of UTSA’s Dana Mecke. Classmate Brette Fleming-Wood was the next Ladyjack to finish, cracking the top 10 with a ninth-place time of 22:36 on the 6,000-meter course.
Fleming-Wood made just her second appearance in the Ladyjacks’ top three, stepping up in the absence of true freshman Brittainy Robertson, who was forced from Monday’s race with an injury. Ganter was named the SLC Freshman of the Year, a first for the SFA women’s team.
Sophomore Amy Shackelford just missed out on All-SLC accolades, finishing 12th with a time of 22:48. Sophomores Meredith Blocker and Megan Jenkins gave SFA five runners inside the top 20 by finishing 17th and 20th, respectively. Blocker clocked in at 23:09, and Jenkins was timed at 23:16.
Sophomore Marie Flores finished 29th with a time of 23:42, and junior Heather Adams took 37th with a time of 24:12.
As in the men’s race, all seven SFA runners bettered their previous time on the course, with Jenkins improving her performance by more than a full minute.
The Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks will next compete on Nov. 15, when they travel to Waco, Texas, for the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Ladyjacks Top McNeese On Senior Day
NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (nOVEMBER 3, 2008) Stephen F. Austin got a pair of first-half goals and a sterling performance in net by Courtney Bauder for a 2-0 victory over McNeese State on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both the Southland Conference foes. The victory helped send SFA’s six seniors out with a win on Senior Day and gives the Ladyjacks a four-game unbeaten streak and a full head of steam heading into this week’s SLC Tournament.
The victory moves SFA to 9-7-1 on the season and lands the Ladyjacks in a tie for second place in the SLC at 6-2-1. McNeese fell to 10-7-1 overall and 6-2-1 in league play.
The Cowgirls came into Sunday’s game alone in second place in the Southland after suffering just their first league loss of the year at Sam Houston State on Friday. But SFA played as the aggressor from the opening whistle and reaped the rewards with two early goals.
SFA got on the board in the ninth minute, when freshman Janae Lee scored her third goal of the season. The goal started with a free kick from the right corner following a McNeese State foul. Senior Jessica Cotton took the kick and chipped a high pass across the box. Lee scored from a crowd of players right in front of the left post.
Senior Amanda Alders gave the Ladyjacks a cushion with her goal in the 38th minute. She took a pass in the right-hand side of the box and dribbled across to the left. The McNeese ’keeper came out to defend, but Alders eluded her then found an opening near the left post and set a quick shot off the foot of a Cowgirl defender and into the back of the net.
The goal was Alders’ sixth of the season, tying her with Megan Cash for the team lead. It also marked the 38th career goal for Alders, who is SFA’s all-time leader. Her 91 career points are a school record, as well.
Meanwhile, McNeese State created some prime opportunities at the other end. The Cowgirls out-shot SFA, 12-5, in the opening period and had a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. For the game, McNeese held a 21-14 edge in shots and a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal, and the Cowgirls hit the crossbar twice.
But Bauder was a wall in the SFA goal. The sophomore tied her career-high with 10 saves. She teamed with her back line to shut down one of the top scoring teams in the SLC, including Kamryn Koch, the league’s leading goal scorer. With the win, Bauder improves to 9-6-1 on the season. She has recorded shutouts in each of her last four starts and hasn’t given up a goal in more than 413 minutes.
With Sunday’s win, SFA forced a three-team tie for second place in the league standings, with McNeese and UTSA making up the other two-thirds of the log jam. However, by virtue of SLC tie-breaker policy, the Ladyjacks go into this week’s tournament as the No. 4 seed, due to their loss against 2008 champion Texas State earlier this season. Both McNeese and UTSA tied their games against the Bobcats, giving them the tie-breaking edge over SFA.
McNeese will be the No. 2 seed with UTSA taking the third spot. SFA will meet No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana in the tournament’s first round on Thursday at 7 p.m. UTSA will take on No. 6 Northwestern State in the early game Thursday, set to begin at 4:30 p.m. All tournament games will be played in Lake Charles, La.
The victory moves SFA to 9-7-1 on the season and lands the Ladyjacks in a tie for second place in the SLC at 6-2-1. McNeese fell to 10-7-1 overall and 6-2-1 in league play.
The Cowgirls came into Sunday’s game alone in second place in the Southland after suffering just their first league loss of the year at Sam Houston State on Friday. But SFA played as the aggressor from the opening whistle and reaped the rewards with two early goals.
SFA got on the board in the ninth minute, when freshman Janae Lee scored her third goal of the season. The goal started with a free kick from the right corner following a McNeese State foul. Senior Jessica Cotton took the kick and chipped a high pass across the box. Lee scored from a crowd of players right in front of the left post.
Senior Amanda Alders gave the Ladyjacks a cushion with her goal in the 38th minute. She took a pass in the right-hand side of the box and dribbled across to the left. The McNeese ’keeper came out to defend, but Alders eluded her then found an opening near the left post and set a quick shot off the foot of a Cowgirl defender and into the back of the net.
The goal was Alders’ sixth of the season, tying her with Megan Cash for the team lead. It also marked the 38th career goal for Alders, who is SFA’s all-time leader. Her 91 career points are a school record, as well.
Meanwhile, McNeese State created some prime opportunities at the other end. The Cowgirls out-shot SFA, 12-5, in the opening period and had a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. For the game, McNeese held a 21-14 edge in shots and a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal, and the Cowgirls hit the crossbar twice.
But Bauder was a wall in the SFA goal. The sophomore tied her career-high with 10 saves. She teamed with her back line to shut down one of the top scoring teams in the SLC, including Kamryn Koch, the league’s leading goal scorer. With the win, Bauder improves to 9-6-1 on the season. She has recorded shutouts in each of her last four starts and hasn’t given up a goal in more than 413 minutes.
With Sunday’s win, SFA forced a three-team tie for second place in the league standings, with McNeese and UTSA making up the other two-thirds of the log jam. However, by virtue of SLC tie-breaker policy, the Ladyjacks go into this week’s tournament as the No. 4 seed, due to their loss against 2008 champion Texas State earlier this season. Both McNeese and UTSA tied their games against the Bobcats, giving them the tie-breaking edge over SFA.
McNeese will be the No. 2 seed with UTSA taking the third spot. SFA will meet No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana in the tournament’s first round on Thursday at 7 p.m. UTSA will take on No. 6 Northwestern State in the early game Thursday, set to begin at 4:30 p.m. All tournament games will be played in Lake Charles, La.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Owls Close Out Fall at Pacific Invitational
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA (November 1, 2008) Rice University will field a veteran five-player squad this week as the Owl golf team closes out the fall season at the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif.
Rice will travel five upperclassmen for the annual tournament which the Owls will be competing in for the third straight year. Last year, Christopher Brown was the Owls' top finisher at the Pacific Invitational, carding a three-round, five-under score of 211.
'We are really looking forward to returning to Stockton for our third straight year playing in the Pacific Invitational," Rice golf coach Drew Scott said. "The team is currently playing its best golf of the year and the fact that four of the starting five have played in this event in past seasons is a great advantage. Our preparation has been very good leading up to this point, having three weeks since our last outing.
'Also, being the final event on the fall schedule, we will use this week to send us into the offseason with a positive drive towards a great spring season.' "
Joining Brown on this week's travel squad are returning lettermen Michael Whitehead, Michael Buttacavoli and Kyle Kelley along with sophomore Robert Burrow, a first-year player for Rice.
Whitehead and Burrow are the only two members of the team to play all 11 rounds this season. Whitehead has a 76.45 stroke average while Burrow has a 77.18 average. Buttacavoli has played eight rounds this fall and leads the team with a 75.00 strokes per round average.
The Pacific Invitational returns to the Brookside Country Club (par-72, 6,720 yards) in Stockton, Calif. The tournament is slated for 36 holes on Monday with the final round slated for Tuesday.
Rice will travel five upperclassmen for the annual tournament which the Owls will be competing in for the third straight year. Last year, Christopher Brown was the Owls' top finisher at the Pacific Invitational, carding a three-round, five-under score of 211.
'We are really looking forward to returning to Stockton for our third straight year playing in the Pacific Invitational," Rice golf coach Drew Scott said. "The team is currently playing its best golf of the year and the fact that four of the starting five have played in this event in past seasons is a great advantage. Our preparation has been very good leading up to this point, having three weeks since our last outing.
'Also, being the final event on the fall schedule, we will use this week to send us into the offseason with a positive drive towards a great spring season.' "
Joining Brown on this week's travel squad are returning lettermen Michael Whitehead, Michael Buttacavoli and Kyle Kelley along with sophomore Robert Burrow, a first-year player for Rice.
Whitehead and Burrow are the only two members of the team to play all 11 rounds this season. Whitehead has a 76.45 stroke average while Burrow has a 77.18 average. Buttacavoli has played eight rounds this fall and leads the team with a 75.00 strokes per round average.
The Pacific Invitational returns to the Brookside Country Club (par-72, 6,720 yards) in Stockton, Calif. The tournament is slated for 36 holes on Monday with the final round slated for Tuesday.
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