UI Star Rice Earns Another A-A Honor

Volleyball Magazine has selected University of Idaho senior Mindy Rice to its All-American third team in its March edition.

Rice, from Grandview, Idaho, was previously honored as a second team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Rice, the Inland Empire Female Athlete of the Year, is the first player in Big Sky Conference history to be named All-American at the Division I level. The outside hitter was also the Big Sky’s Most Valuable Player after collecting 619 kills for the 31-3 Vandals, who made the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Basketball

Whitworth made another significant move in the NAIA Division II men’s basketball poll, climbing three spots to No. 5 on Monday.

The 16-7 Pirates, ranked No. 8 last week, defeated Willamette 70-65 and Linfield 89-78 to vault from fourth place into a tie for first in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges.

Whitworth senior guard Annette Sweeney, who had 40 points, five assists, three steals and three blocked shots as the Pirates won twice to move into a share of first place in the NCIC, is the league’s women’s Player of the Week.

Baseball

Ken Cameron blasted a three-run home run and Mike Kinkade added a solo shot as Washington State had 15 hits in handing California State at Northridge a 10-2 loss at Matador Field in Northridge.

Three Cougars pitchers limited Northridge (7-1) to five hits as WSU (2-3) won a second straight to complete a five-game trip to the Los Angeles area.

Kinkade blasted his home run in the fifth, while Cameron hit his three-run shot in the sixth.

Golf

Mark Rohde of Spokane collected a check for $1,050 for winning the Mudders Tournament Championship Sunday and Monday in Sequim, Wash.

Rohde shot 68-67 for a 135 to beat Jeff Bloom by two shots in the culmination of a three-weekend tournament for Northwest pros.

Skiing

Tayt Knowles of Whitworth, a consistent top-10 finisher in eight season races, has been selected to compete in the slalom and giant slalom at the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association Western Regionals Thursday-Saturday in Red Lodge, Mont.

Knowles, a junior from Lake Stevens, Wash., is Whitworth’s only regional qualifier and just one of three individuals selected from non-qualifying teams. He will try to qualify for a trip to the USCSA nationals.

Vandals promote

University of Idaho athletic director Pete Liske announced that Kathy Clark and Lance West have received promotions within the athletic department.

Clark has been promoted from assistant athletic director for programs to senior associate athletic director. She will oversee the areas of academics, compliance and student-athlete welfare.

West has been promoted from assistant A.D. for development to associate athletic director. He will oversee the areas of development, marketing and events management.West, a 1986 graduate of Idaho and former Vandals football player, was named regional development director for southern Idaho in 1987 and then was named assistant athletic director in April of 1989. xxxx