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Western sweeps past UMKC

MACOMB, Ill. Senior Ashley Baker tallied a team-high 17 kills and recorded a season-high .571 (17k-1e-28ta) hitting percentage in the Western Illinois volleyball team’s 3-0 (30-16, 30-26, 30-18) victory over UMKC.

“I was glad to see us win in three,” said head coach Kym McKay. “ It was a goal because we went to five with them on the road and because UMKC always fights hard no matter what the score is.”

Western started out game one with a 4-0 run before the Kangaroos (5-19, 2-7 Summit League) got on the board. The three-point deficit was the closest that UMKC got to Western throughout the rest of the game. The Westerwinds used strong hitting to control the tempo of the game and come away with the victory. In the first game Western hit .390 (19k-3e-40ta) to the Kangaroos .085 (11k7e-47ta). Continue reading Western sweeps past UMKC…

Allen finishes in top 10, Westerwinds place sixth

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. - Junior Becky Allen finished in the top 10 and led the Western Illinois women’s golf team to a sixth place finish at the UMKC/Kenneth Smith Women’s Golf Classic presented by the Hampton Inn.

Allen tied for ninth place after shooting a 78 both rounds for a total of 156. Only four strokes behind Allen, Western’s Jennifer Holt shot a 77 and an 83 and tied for 17th place. Freshman Claire Gursh finished tied for 22nd place with a 162, freshman Lindsay Wandrey tied for 45th place with a 173 and freshman Elizabeth Fernandes rounded out the lineup with a 178. Continue reading Allen finishes in top 10, Westerwinds place sixth…

Western Illinois swimming and diving sweep weekly conference honors

ELMHURST, Ill. - Western Illinois diver Anthony Holzhauer and swimmer Kaley Rowe swept Summit League Athlete of the Week honors.

A Towanda, Ill., native, Holzhauer earned the honor after qualifying for the NCAA Zones in both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards against Saint Louis, Oct. 12. In his first meet of the season, the junior scored 326.70 in 1-meter diving to lead the conference, and break the previous pool record set in 1992. In the 3-meter event, he posted a score of 319.90, which also advances him to the NCAA competition in March. Continue reading Western Illinois swimming and diving sweep weekly conference honors…

Western Sports Network Podcast: Volleyball

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Sports Network Podcast takes a look inside Western Illinois volleyball.

Head coach Kym McKay sits down to discuss the progress of the team through the first half of Summit League play and looks to what lies ahead for the remainder of the season.

Senior’s Ashley Baker and Amy Sauerwein are also featured to look over the season and reflect on their record-setting careers at Western.

The Western Sports Network Podcast can be viewed for free through Rocky Vision, and can be downloaded through the podcast section of wiuathletics.com. Continue reading Western Sports Network Podcast: Volleyball…

Western Illinois Scout Day attracts MLB teams

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois baseball Scout Day, highlighted by senior pitchers Frank Zenisek and Justin Eissens’ performances, attracted several Major League Baseball teams. Scouts from the Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals traveled to Macomb to evaluate Western Illinois players for the 2008 MLB draft.

Zenisek (Wichita, Kan.), who consistently boasted a 91 mile-per-hour fastball during his bullpen, and left hander Eissens (Thomson, Ill.) who hit 89 MPH, attracted the most attention from the MLB scouts. Senior outfielder T.J. Kistner (Quincy, Ill.), junior third baseman Tyler Metcalf (Wamego, Kan), and senior outfielder Pete Schneider (Waterloo, Iowa) also drew praise. In all, 12 Western Illinois position players and five pitchers participated in the event. Continue reading Western Illinois Scout Day attracts MLB teams…

Westerwinds hit the road for a pair of games this weekend

MACOMB, Ill.- After entering the polls for the first time in school’s history at No. 15, the Western Illinois women’s soccer team will play two road games at North Dakota State, Saturday, Oct. 20, and at Creighton, Sunday, Oct. 21.

The Westerwinds are 11-1-1 this season, which ties the school record for wins in a season, set by the 2006 squad. After consecutive shutouts of South Dakota State (1-0) and Iowa State (2-0), Western entered the regional rankings for the first time in school’s history, at No. 15 in the Great Lakes region.

About North Dakota State
The Bison are 10-4-0 on the season with a 2-1-0 Summit League record. They are currently on a five-game winning streak in which they have outscored their opponents 12-2. Their two Summit League wins have come against IUPUI (3-1) and IPFW (3-0).

North Dakota State’s offense has seen 10 different players score a goal, with the majority of the offense coming from senior Michelle Martinez and freshman Quin Ryan. Both Martinez and Ryan are tied for the team lead in goals with five. Martinez leads the Bison with 13 points on the season.

Sophomore Monica Morgan has spent a majority of the season in net for North Dakota State. In over 1,246 minutes in goal this season, Morgan has given just 16 goals. Her 1.16 goals-against average ranks her third in the conference.

Against the Bison
The Westerwinds lead the series against North Dakota State 1-0-1. Western won the last meeting against the Bison, picking up a 2-0 victory at John MacKenzie Alumni Field 2-0. The two teams battled to a 3-3 draw in 2004. This will be the Westerwinds first trip to Fargo, N.D.

About Creighton
The Blue Jays are 6-6-1 in the 2007 campaign with a 1-1-1 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. Creighton has played two other Summit League teams, losing to North Dakota State (2-3) and beating South Dakota State (2-1).

Junior goalkeeper Marcy Gans leads the Creighton offense in goals (6) and points (14). She is also tied for the team lead in assists with four other players (2). Freshman Emily Orbell is the only other Blue Jay to score multiple goals on the season, finding the back of the net three times.

Junior Kristen Casey anchors the defense, playing all 1,190 minutes this season. She’s allowed 17 goals this year and has made 54 saves. With her four shutouts this season, Casey garners a 1.29 goals-against average.

Against the Blue Jays
Western Illinois trails 0-8-1 in the all-time series against Creighton. The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw in 2005 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

On the NCAA Leaderboard
With the two wins last weekend, Western Illinois has moved up to third in the nation in won-lost-tied percentage. Their .885 won-lost-tied percentage has them tied with Western Kentucky and percentage points behind Georgia and James Madison (.893).

The Westerwinds also rank 28th in the nation in shutout percentage (.538) and save percentage (.862). Their .679 team goals-against average ranks them 35th in the nation.

Sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Tyk (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) is ranked fourth in the nation in save percentage, saving 90.4 percent of shots this season. Tyk’s goals-against average of .441 that leads the conference also ranks her 11th in the nation.

Live Broadcasts
Both North Dakota State and Creighton will have live broadcasts and live stats of this weekend’s games. Members of Rocky Vision will be able to view the games through Western Illinois’ website. Live stats can be accessed through the Western Illinois women’s soccer schedule page. Continue reading Westerwinds hit the road for a pair of games this weekend…

Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: East Carolina

NC State and East Carolina clash for the 25th time this Saturday afternoon. Kick off at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville is set for 4:30 p.m. “The Voice of the Wolfpack,” Gary Hahn, has a scouting report on the 4-3 Pirates.
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Lowe, Yow Unveil Squads at 'B-Ballin' at the Old Barn'

Basketball coaches Sidney Lowe and Kay Yow will unveil their 2007-08 teams Friday night during the inaugural “B-Ballin' at the Old Barn,” a dual practice session and exhibition that begins at 9 p.m. at historic Reynolds Coliseum. The event, which will follow the NC State-Miami volleyball match at Reynolds, will include practice drills, a hot-shot competition featuring former men's and women's standouts, a 3-point shooting competition and addresses by both Yow and Lowe.
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Swimming & Diving to Open Season on Saturday

The NC State women's swimming and diving team will open the 2007-08 season this Saturday, Oct. 20, in Greenville, N.C., against East Carolina and William & Mary. Action is slated to begin at 12 noon. The Pirates enter the meet at 1-0 on the young season after topping Davidson, while the Tribe stands at 0-1 following a loss to Towson.
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Rifle Heads to North Georgia

The NC State rifle team heads to Dahlonega, Ga. on Saturday, Oct 20th for the second match of the season. The Wolfpack will be taking on North Georgia after falling to West Virginia two weeks ago. Senior Thomas Knight and junior Noel Keck each started the season setting new personal records. Knight posted a 580 in the air-rifle, and Keck shot a 569 in the smallbore.
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