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Category: College

Bearcat volleyball loses in five sets to Truman State

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Based on the way Truman established itself as one of the top four volleyball teams in the MIAA this season, Northwest Missouri State faced a difficult task of trying to win the final home match for seniors Tori Beckman, Kelsey Larson and Alicia Watson.

In the first two sets Saturday evening at Bearcat Arena, Northwest outplayed a Truman team that has lost only five matches all season.

Unfortunately, in the first set, Northwest couldn’t convert on four set points and lost.

Despite battling back to win the second and fourth sets, Northwest eventually lost the match 3-2. The scores were 26-24, 18-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-5.

“I thought the second and fourth set we went after our game plan,” Northwest coach Amy Phelps said. “The fifth set is all about the momentum and they got the momentum. It was nice we had a competitive match. It hurts even more when you go to five and don’t win.”

Of course, a more fitting end for Beckman, Larson and Watson would have been a victory. Afterwards, Beckman was all smiles because she knew her younger teammates gave everything they had for a victory that was within grasp.

“I’m extremely proud of my team,” Beckman said. “We could have said they are ranked above us and just caved in, but that’s not what are team is about.  When we play higher competition, we step up to the challenge.

“They were fighting for us. We had a lot of fun tonight.”

The Bearcats, which dropped to 15-16 overall and 9-9 in the MIAA, showed plenty of fight in their final regular-season match. If they battle just as hard in the first round of the MIAA tournament, they will give their opponent a lot of trouble.

Northwest earned the sixth seed and will play at No. 3 seed Central Missouri at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.

“I told the team to use this match as confidence,” Beckman said. “We can play with any team. We’ve taken a set from UCM and we’ve taken sets from Washburn and Truman. We can play with anybody, but it is the belief that has to come into it.”

Even in the loss Saturday evening, there were some impressive numbers by the Bearcats, especially the numbers read before the match started. Beckman, Larson all have GPAs 3.50 and higher.

Though Beckman, Larson and Watson have some volleyball still to play for the Bearcats, they have succeeded in the most important area: the classroom.

“All three of us know that we are students first,” Beckman said. “All three of us are excited about where we are going after the season. I couldn’t be happier that I’m going to be a middle school teacher.”

Watson’s GPA is a perfect 4.0 and after she graduates, she’s headed to graduate school at Northwest in Applied Health and Sports Sciences.

“I did my part in holding the team to a very high academic standard,” Watson said. “I really believe school is important. It is the reason I’m here. Volleyball is something fun I get to do on the side. School is the main focus because we want to be successful in life.”

Larson already has a job lined up with Cerner next year.

“I think academics are really important,” Larson said. “They really stress student-athlete here a lot. They really get on us if you have a C or below. They are constantly talking to you.”

On the court Saturday evening, there were plenty of moments that they could be proud that they were part of the 2012 Bearcats.

Northwest showed plenty of character in the second set. After letting a 24-20 lead slip away in the first set, the Bearcats quickly erased the memory of giving up the final 6 points to lose set one.

The Bearcats came out firing on all cylinders in the second set and quickly built an 11-5 lead. The maintained control the entire second set and won 25-18.

Northwest played close to perfect in the second set. The Bearcats passed the ball well. Dallas Gardner set up the hitters and Brooke Bartosh, Mackie Keller, Whitney Mason and Abby Graves put away points. Bartosh had seven kills in the second set, Keller had five and Mason and Graves each had four.

“We wanted to get off to a good start in the second set,” Watson said. “We really focused on mini games to five. We followed through on our game plan.”

Truman came out in the third set and played like a team that now has 27 victories on the season. The Bulldogs took control early, jumping to an 8-2 lead.

Northwest showed fight even though the set was pretty much over at 23-16. The Bearcats fought back and closed to 24-21 and even forced Truman to call timeout to stop the momentum.

The Bearcats refused to go quietly in their last home match of the season. They took an early 7-4 lead and held it throughout the fourth set. Northwest matched its level of play in the second set and forced the deciding fifth set.

Truman, though, never gave the Bearcats a whiff of an upset by scoring 10 of the first 11 points in the fifth set.

Beckman finished the match with 36 digs and Watson had 10 digs and two assists. Larson saw action in the first set.

Down the road, the numbers they recorded in their final home match will fade away. The memories of their days playing volleyball will last much longer.

“I think Northwest in general is just a great community,” Beckman said. “I love everything about it. I love you when walk into any restaurant you see posters of all the Bearcats. All the athletic teams are extremely supportive of each other.”

Watson said, “I think I will remember the most is my teammates and the friendships that I’ve made here. It really is a family. I love that aspect of it. I will definitely remember all my teammates more so than any game.”

Larson is proof that the Bearcat volleyball team is a family when she gets married in the summer.

“Six of my seven bridesmaids are my teammates,” she said.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Edmisson era begins for Western women with win at Division I UMKC

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The Missouri Western women’s basketball team opened up the Rob Edmisson era in impressive fashion defeating Division I opponent University of Missouri-Kansas City, 68-51. The Griffons had 22 assists on their 22 field goals and outscored the Kangaroos 25-7 off the bench. The Griffons improve to 1-0 on the season and will play their first home game of the regular season on Saturday, November 10 against 7th ranked Metro State University at 7:30 pm from the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western struggled in the first 4:24 of the game going 0-5 from the field and 0-3 from long range getting down 8-0 against Division I opponent University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Griffons got a two pointer and a long range shot from senior Division I transfer Heather Howard cutting the UMKC lead to 8-5 with just under 14:00 minutes to play in the first half.

From there the Griffons used tough defense getting them back in the game. The Griffons closed the half on a 35-13 run which was concluded with a long range shot from Sharniece Lewis as time ran out in the first frame giving the Griffons the 35-21 lead. The Griffons outrebounded the the bigger Kangaroo team 22-13 and 7-4 on the offensive end of the floor. The Griffons also dominated the bench points outscoring UMKC 14-2 off the bench with Sharniece Lewis leading the way with nine.

The Griffons made 11-of-29 field goals and 11-of-24 after the opening four minutes. MWSU also connected on 8-of-15 long range shots and 8-of-12 after the first few minutes of play. Seven different players scored for the Griffons with Dever also pitching in nine making 3-of-4 free throw attempts. MWSU has 11 assists with Alicia Bell dishing out four.

UMKC was led by Emile Blakesely and Lauren Dudding with five points apiece. The Griffons held the Kangaroos to just 8-of-24 shooting in the first half.

The Griffons opend up a 17 point lead at 43-26 early in the second half when Sharniece Lewis hit a layup with 16:03 to play in the game. The next few minutes belonged to the Kangaroos as they used a 8-0 run cutting the Griffons lead to 43-34 after a Kim Nezianya 3-pointer with 12:32 to play in the game. The Griffons regained focus pushing the lead to 17 three times the next eight minutes. MWSU pushed to 55-38 after a Sharniece Lewis long range shot, 57-40 after a Brittany Griswold jumper and 60-43 after a Howard three pointer with 4:23 to play in the game.

Both teams scored eight points down the stretch with the Griffons picking up their first victory against the Division I opponent since November 21, 1997 when they defeated IUPU-Indianpolis, 70-49.

The Griffons shot 22-of-54 from the field with eight different Griffons scoring in the game. Howard and Sharniece Lewis both had 14 points while Dever pitched in 13. Howard and Dever led the charge with eight rebounds while Dever and Bell dished out five assists apiece. MWSU outrebounded UMkC 40-28 and 11-9 on the offensive end of the floor. MWSU made 11-of-25 three pointers and 13-of-14 free throw attempts.

The Kangaroos were led by Nezianya with 17 points while Ashli Hill pitched in 11. UMKC finished making 19-of-50 field goals and went just 3-of-13 from the field. They fall to 0-1 with the loss.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest women open season with victory over Quincy

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The Mark Kellogg era got off to a winning start Friday night as the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team hustled its way to a 65-50 win over Quincy in non-conference action.

Northwest (1-0) used a 10-0 run to recover from a 13 point deficit just after the eight minute mark of the first half. Back-to-back Meridee Scott layups gave the Bearcats their first lead with 7:40 left in the first half as the Hawks continued to hang around. Scott would go on to lead all scorers and finish with a career-high 21 points.

A NCAA tournament team a year ago, Quincy (0-1) proved to be battle tested in the first half as the lead changed seven times.

Just before the final media timeout of the first half, Maggie Marnin completed a three-point play  on a lay-in to give Northwest a 25-23 lead. Both teams would trade baskets down the stretch as a Tiara Thomas layup with 18 seconds pulled the Bearcat lead to only one, 27-26, at halftime.

Quincy continued to hang around using a definite size advantage, as they outrebounded Northwest 48-29. However a quicker Bearcat team outscored the Hawks 34-16 inside the paint and forced 20 turnovers to seal the 15-point win.

The Bearcats also shot 42 percent from behind the three-point line as freshman Tember Schechinger added 14 points and eight rebounds in her collegiate debut.

Ashleigh Nelson added 10 points to give the Bearcats three players in double figures.

Thomas and Lucy Cramsey led the Hawks with eight points each.

Northwest returns to action Tuesday as they host Tabor in non-conference action. Tipoff from Bearcat Arena is slated for 6 p.m.

Jayhawks get hot late to take care of Southeast Missouri State

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Jeff Withey admitted that he sleepwalked through most of Kansas’ two exhibition games.

The 7-footer, a key component of last year’s national runners-up, has been trying to adapt to life without Thomas Robinson, the All-America forward who left early for the NBA draft. Withey’s the guy who’s getting the double teams now, and the guy all eyes will be on in the paint.

He finally woke up Friday night, and gave everybody watching something to see.

The senior finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the seventh-ranked Jayhawks pulled away late to beat Southeast Missouri State 74-55 in their season opener.

”I still have a lot of things to work on,” Withey said, ”but I’m definitely getting more confident, and starting to feel comfortable with all the new guys.”

Yes, the new guys.

There’s a bunch of them this season.

And the Jayhawks will have to rely heavily on them, too.

Ben McLemore had nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists in his long-awaited debut, and Perry Ellis finished with 15 points and eight boards as the freshman starters helped the Jayhawks win their 40th straight season opener at Allen Fieldhouse.

”It was great getting my first game under the belt,” Ellis said. ”Just listening to the seniors, it really helped a lot, motivating me day-in and day-out.”

This one certainly wasn’t easy.

The Redhawks managed to close within six midway through the second half, but Kansas slowly extended the lead behind its slew of freshmen to put the game away.

”We played hard,” Redhawks coach Dickey Nutt said. ”In the first half we really pressed a lot, we were nervous, we were star-struck. I think in the second half we slowed down a bit.”

Nick Niemczyk finished with 14 points for the Redhawks, who have lost seven straight season openers, all on the road, and remain winless in six tries against Big 12 schools.

Kansas returns three starters from last year’s national runners-up, including the 7-foot Withey, a preseason honorable-mention All-America selection. But the two guys they lost left gaping holes: Big 12 player of the year Robinson, who left early for the NBA draft, and Tyshawn Taylor, a senior guard who also went in the draft.

In their place are a bunch of newcomers – nine in all – including McLemore and Jamari Traylor, who were forced to redshirt last season after the NCAA ruled them partial qualifiers.

The Jayhawks certainly showed some growing pains in their only tune-up before facing No. 14 Michigan State next week. They turned it over 13 times and finished 2 for 21 from beyond the 3-point arc, with top sharp-shooter Elijah Johnson missing all four of his attempts.

”The first half we played good, we just didn’t make any shots,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. ”You defend, you rebound, you don’t turn it over, you get decent looks – we were up 15 in the first half and based on how they shot it and we defended, we could have easily been up 25.”

The Jayhawks’ scored the game’s first 11 points, but Naadir Tharpe’s 3-pointer from the wing with 16 minutes left before halftime was the last 3 that they’d hit until the closing minutes.

That’s the biggest reason Southeast Missouri State managed to hang around.

The Redhawks still trailed 36-19 with about 18 minutes remaining, but Nino Johnson’s three-point play got their rally started. Lucas Nutt and Marland Smith added a pair of free throws, and after McLemore soared for a follow-up dunk, Johnson and Niemczyk added two more baskets.

The 11-2 surge got Southeast Missouri State within 38-30.

The Redhawks, picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference, kept taking advantage of the Jayhawks’ ineptitude on offense, whittling the lead to 43-37 with 12 minutes left.

”We gave them some open looks but tonight we just got lucky,” Niemczyk said.

The luck finally ran out with about 12 minutes to play.

Withey got to the line for a pair of free throws, McLemore added a slashing layup, and Travis Releford got into the act with two free throws. By the time Ellis converted a three-point play with just under 8 minutes to go, the Jayhawks had extended the lead back to 54-41.

”Everybody has days when the ball doesn’t fall,” Tharpe said. ”We’re going to make those shots as the season goes on, as long as we’re confident enough to keep shooting them.”

Kansas managed to grind the rest of the time off the clock, even chipping in a couple of highlights along the way: McLemore’s soaring dunk off a miss by Johnson with just over 4 minutes left, and a rim-rattling dunk by Withey that energized the crowd moments later.

”If we can win and not make any shots,” Withey said, ”that’s a good sign.”

— Associated Press —

Griffon volleyball loses 3-1 at Pittsburg State

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Missouri Western volleyball struggled on Friday (November 9) night in Pittsburg, Kan. falling in four sets, 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 27-25, 25-12) against Pittsburg State. With the loss the Griffons fall to 15-16 overall and 5-12 in MIAA action.

The Gorillas took the first and the fourth sets handily, as they led from the first point in both. The middle two sets were more challenging. In set two, Pitt State tied the game at 1-1, but once Missouri Western got the advantage point at 2-1, they never looked back. The Griffons led by as much as seven in the set, but Pitt State was able to cut the lead to three by the end of the set.

The third set was a battle to the finish. There were 11 ties and four lead changes, most happening near the end of the set. Missouri Western took the lead early and led by as many as four, as late as 16-12. From there, Pitt State began slowly to climb back, eventually tying the game at 18-18. The teams traded points, each time Western would take the lead, Pitt State would tie the game. The Gorillas finally took the lead 24-23 on a kill by Brooke Fay. It was then Missouri Western’s turn to tie the game after each Pitt State point. A kill from Paula Okrutna gave PSu the advantage and 26-25 and a Griffon attack error finished the set to give Pitt State the 27-25 win.

Missouri Western’s Stephanie Hattey led her team with 15 kills while Sarah Faubel had 23 digs.

Nicole Rockhold led all players with 21 kills and 19 digs for the Gorillas who improve to 16-13 overall and 6-11 in MIAA play..

The Griffons wrap up their season tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Southwest Baptsit Bearcats at 12:00 pm in Bolivar, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Kansas State takes down North Dakota in Weber’s debut

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Angel Rodriguez and Thomas Gipson each scored 13 points as Kansas State won its 10th straight season opener and started out new coach Bruce Weber’s tenure with an 85-52 victory over North Dakota on Friday night.

Martavious Irving added 11 points for the Wildcats.

Troy Huff led North Dakota with 12.

A veteran North Dakota team gave the Wildcats all they could handle in the first half and trailed just 36-27 at halftime, but Kansas State widened the gap quickly after the break.

Rodriguez scored eight straight for Kansas State to begin the second half, sinking a pair of 3-pointers and slicing into the lane for a layup.

Rodriguez’s first 3 gave the Wildcats their first double-digit lead of the game. After his scoring flurry, Kansas State got comfortable in the paint, getting buckets there from Will Spradling, Gipson and Rodney McGruder in addition to a couple of free throws. Seven minutes into the second half, the Wildcats led 54-36.

— Associated Press —

MWSU’s Michael Hill named a candidate for Harlon Hill Trophy

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Missouri Western running back Michael Hill was announced as one of 24 candidates for the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy honoring the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year Friday (Nov. 9) by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee.

The list includes six players from each of the four Division II Super Regions.

Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 168 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 17.

The winner of the 2012 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 27th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. (CST). This year’s Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 14th induction class into the Division II Football Hall of Fame.

Hill a senior from St. Joseph, Mo., currently leads the MIAA and is second in Division II in rushing yards per game (168.8 ypg) and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry. He has rushed for over 100 yards nine times this season finding the end zone 14 times on the ground and three threw the air. He also leads the league in points scored per game (10.80) which ties him for 8th nationally and is second in all-purpose yards in the MIAA and 5th in the nation at (186.70). Hill is coming off his best day as a Griffons rushing for 259 yards and three touchdowns in the Griffons 56-28 victory over then 25th ranked Washburn. Hill is the Griffons all-time leader in carries, rushing yards and yards in a season with 1,688 through 10 games.

He has also set or on the verge of setting records for most point scored in a season and career, most touchdowns scored in a season and career, most rushing attempts in a season, most rushing touchdowns in a season and career, highest average per carry in a season, highest rushing average per game in a season, most 100-yard rushing games in a season and career and most all-purpose yards in a season and career.

Hill earned All-America honors as a junior in 2011 while helping guide the Griffons to a 9-3 record and their second straight NCAA Division II Playoff appearance.

Hill (5-11, 205) is joined on the 2012 Super Region Three Ballot by Emporia State quarterback Tyler Eckenrode (6-0, 195, SR), Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers (6-3, 215, SO), Pittsburg State wide receiver John Brown (5-11, 171, JR), St. Cloud State quarterback Phillip Klaphake (6-1, 196, JR) and Winona State running back Rayon Simmons (5-10, 220, SR).

Candidates were initially nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Benedictine’s Lile steps down as volleyball coach

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Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer announced Thursday that Raven head volleyball coach Mary Lile has stepped down from her duties at Benedictine.

“We thank Coach Lile for her efforts and leadership of the volleyball program over her time at Benedictine,” Gartenmayer said. “We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.”

A nation-wide search for Lile’s replacement will begin immediately.

Lile came to Benedictine in the fall of 2006 and guided the Ravens to a 101-73 record over her first six seasons.  Benedictine went 7-23 this past season, falling in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Tournament to nationally-ranked MNU.

Under Lile’s leadership, the Raven volleyball program produced four Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, 27 all-conference selections, an NAIA All-American and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American.

— BC Sports Information —

Missouri Western’s Yardley named to Academic All-District team

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Missouri Western senior center Michael Yardley has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team, presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

This marks Yardley’s second Academic All-District (2011) award in his career. The senior transfer from Nebraska-Omaha has anchored the offensive line the past two seasons making 21 starts in the Griffons 22 games. This season he has started all 10 games and has helped the Griffons rush for 300.9 yards per game which is the highest avearge in school history. In his career MWSU has rushed for over 200 yards as a team 18 times. When the Griffons rush for over 200 yards since Yardley has been under center they are 17-1. This season the Griffons have rushed for over 300 yards three times and over 400 yards once. They rushed for 418 yards in the 56-28 victory over then 25th ranked Washburn on Saturday, November 3 in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons have rushed for 3,009 yards on the season for a 6.7yard per carry average. If the season ended today it would be the highest per carry average in school history as the highest is 5.4 which was set last season.

An accounting & finance major, Yardley entered the 2012-13 academic year with a 3.71grade-point average.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her institution and be nominated by her sports information office. The terms “Academic all-American” and “Academic all-District” are trademarked by CoSIDA and are the officially tracked academic awards by NCAA institutions.

Western wraps-up the regular season on Saturday, November 10th in Maryville, Mo. against rival #4 Northwest Missouri State University. Kickoff is set for 2:37 pm from Bearcat Stadium. The winner will claim the MIAA Title.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Mizzou’s Pressey named to Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

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For the fourth consecutive year a Missouri Tiger was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. Guard Phil Pressey was the latest Mizzou Basketball standout to receive the preseason recognition as the Los Angeles Athletic Club named the junior an early front runner for college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor.

Pressey joins former teammates Marcus Denmon (2011-12) and Kim English (2010-11) on the Preseason Wooden Award listing, as well as former point guard J.T. Tiller who made the list at the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

Pressey is also the second current Tiger to earn the preseason mention over the years. Senior transfer Alex Oriakhi was a member of last season’s Wooden Award watch list before his junior season at Connecticut.

Named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year by the league media last month, the Dallas native was selected a Preseason First Team All-American by CBS Sports and spent his summer competing at the LeBron James, Chris Paul and Deron Williams elite camps.

Pressey was a First Team all-league pick by CBS Sports last season and was a Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection after the Tigers claimed the league title in Kansas City.

He averaged career highs in scoring (10.3), rebounding (3.3), assists (6.4) and steals (2.1) last season for the 30-5 Tigers.

Missouri Basketball opens the 2012-13 campaign on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. vs. SIUE.

— MU Sports Information —

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