EWU loses Gross

Trey Gross, a promising freshman on last year’s Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team, has decided not to return to school this fall.

Eagles coach Kirk Earlywine confirmed the departure of Gross, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Stockton, Calif., Tuesday evening and said Gross recently informed him that his decision to leave Eastern was based on his desire to get closer to home.

“He said the culture was too different here and that it was too far away from home,” Earlywine said. “I’m not sure exactly what his plans are, but he indicated to me that he’s going to go to a junior college back there.”

Gross, who couldn’t be reached for comment, started 26 of EWU’s 30 games last winter and averaged 7.3 points and 1.6 assists, along with shooting 37.1 percent (33 for 89) from 3-point range.

“Trey obviously had a very good freshman year for us,” Earlywine said. “We invested a lot in him – not only monetarily, but in time and energy coaching him. Losing him hurts us for the future.”

Women’s soccer

Whitworth is ranked 10th in the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III preseason poll.

Defending NCAA Division III champion Wheaton (Ill.) is ranked first. Northwest Conference favorite Puget Sound is ranked fifth.

The Pirates, who open Monday in Tacoma against Chapman University, return eight starters from last year’s 18-3 team.