College roundup: CC Spokane athletes earn three big awards

Community Colleges of Spokane athletes claimed three Baden Athlete of the Year awards, presented by the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges last month.

Sasquatch freshman Daniel Schofield (Mead) was named men’s cross country athlete of the year. Sophomore Jessica Mildes (Riverside) was honored as women’s cross country athlete of the year. Tasha Luu (Colville) was named women’s soccer athlete of the year and NWAACC Eastern Region MVP.

CCS cross country coach Sean McLachlan was named NWAACC coach of the year. CCS soccer coaches Kenny Krestian (men) and Jim Martinson (women) were honored as NWAACC Eastern Region coaches of the year.

Volleyball

Washington State’s Kyra Holt was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year on Tuesday.

Holt, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Hercules, Calif., led the Cougars this season with a 3.89 kills-per-set average, ranked seventh best in the conference, and a 4.53 points-per-set average, also seventh best in the Pac-12. She also had a 0.28 service-aces-per-set average, eighth best in the Pac-12.

The region’s coaches vote on the award. It is the 12th time a WSU player received an AVCA Regional honor.

• Gonzaga sophomore Savannah Blinn made the AVCA Pacific North region honorable mention team.

Football

Whitworth safety Casey Monahan, the Northwest Conference leader in interceptions and takeaways, has been named to the D3football.com All-West Region second team. The senior from Mead was Whitworth’s leading tackler with 54, including 40 solo stops. 

Men’s soccer

Gonzaga senior midfielder Nick Hamer, senior defender Josh Phillips and junior forward Clark Phillips were named to the 2013 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men’s All-Far West Region third team.

Hamer, of Mead High, scored three goals and had a team-leading six assists. Phillips anchored a defense that allowed opponents 0.95 goals per match and recorded seven shutouts. Phillips led GU in scoring for the second straight season with nine goals and 19 points. The Far West Region honors are the first for GU since 2008, when Tye Perdido was a third-team pick.

• Whitworth seniors Balin Larson and Sam Selisch were named to the NCAA Division III Men’s All-West Region team. Senior teammate Andrew Flint made the third team.

Track and field

Eastern Washington pole vaulter Keisa Monterola is the Big Sky Conference women’s field athlete of the week after clearing 13-5 1/4-inches in the Candy Cane VI Invitational in Cheney last Saturday. The mark qualified Monterola for the Big Sky Championships and is the third-best mark in the nation this season.

Basketball

North Idaho College guard Bryce Leavitt was named men’s basketball Player of the Week for the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

Leavitt, a sophomore from Kennewick, was also named Most Valuable Player for the Bigfoot Classic on Sunday. For the three tournament games he averaged 18.6 points, eight rebounds and six assists