UI’s Mitchell Sacks Big Sky Award
Idaho defensive end Barry Mitchell sacked Boise State on Saturday and corraled the Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week award on Monday.
Mitchell was honored for his three sacks and eight tackles in Saturday’s 33-13 win.
Idaho (6-4) will face No. 1-ranked McNeese State (11-0) in Lake Charles, La., on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
Montana quarterback Dave Dickenson secured his fifth offensive award of the season by tossing four touchdown passes to spur UM’s 42-33 win over Montana State.
Idaho State kicker James Ferrell punted eight times for a 41.8 average in a 35-25 win over Weber State, earning special teams recognition.
Idaho came out of Saturday’s game relatively healthy, the only major ailment was reserve wide receiver Chad Berry’s knee injury.
Vandals climbing
Idaho’s win on Saturday elevated the Vandals from No. 25 to No. 17 in The Sports Network Division I-AA poll.
BSU fell from No. 16 to No. 21. Montana moved up a spot to No. 8. Northern Arizona was idle, but jumped a spot to No. 22.
Men’s basketball
North Idaho College will entertain Lewis-Clark State College’s junior varsity tonight at 7:30 in men’s basketball at Christianson Gym.
Idaho’s season-opening contest against St. Martin’s on Saturday has been moved from the Kibbie Dome to Memorial Gym. The starting time is tentatively scheduled for 7:05.
The switch was due to UI’s football team qualifying for the playoffs and needing to use the Dome for practice this week.
College volleyball
Washington State’s 11th-ranked Cougars made a strong showing when the Pacific-10 Conference passed out awards on Monday.
The Cougars’ Cindy Fredrick was named the conference coach of the year by her peers Monday and two of her players were first-team selections.
Outside hitter Sarah Silvernail, a 6-foot1 junior, was a first-team all-conference pick for the second straight year. Redshirt sophomore setter Stephanie Papke received honorable mention.
Jennifer Stinson, a 6-1 outside hitter from Davenport, was named to the all-freshman team. Teammate Jennifer Canevari, an outside hitter, was honorable mention.
Another Cougar, sophomore outside hitter Shannon Wyckoff, from Brush Prairie, Wash., was named to the GTE/Sports Information Directors Academic All-American District VIII team. She has a 3.40 grade-point average in education.
“What a pleasant and shocking surprise,” Fredrick said of her award. “I certainly didn’t expect this.
“What a great reward for our kids to be recognized like this by our conference.” , DataTimes MEMO: Changed in Spokane edition.