The Crossover Classic may burst its seams in the coming years, but organizers aren't acting yet to stop its growth.
The daylong volleyball tournament, scheduled Saturday at four sites, has expanded from 32 to 36 teams this year. Eight other teams are on the waiting list.
Tourney co-founder Linda Sheridan, coach at Shadle Park, has a profound theory as to why the Crossover had more than doubled during its four-year history.
"Buzzie doesn't know how to say no, is the bottom line," Sheridan said of co-founder Buzzie Welch, Lewis and Clark's coach.
Returning to this year's field are 17 of the top 18 placers. Area teams who finished in the top 10 in 1996 were Ferris, first; Gonzaga Prep, fourth; Colfax, sixth; Coeur d'Alene, seventh; Rogers, eighth; and LC, ninth.
All Greater Spokane League teams are entered and will play at least one league match. Tourney sites are Shadle, LC, Ferris and North Central. Finals are scheduled at 7:45 p.m., with the title match at NC.
Cavanaugh's Inns is the tourney's new sponsor.
Etter should be better
Shadle junior middle blocker Michelle Etter didn't injure her ankle as badly as first feared.
Highlanders coach Sheridan expects Etter to return as early as next week.
Etter, a returning all-leaguer, came down on a teammate's foot while attempting a block against Rogers last Thursday. Shadle's trainer told Sheridan that similar mishaps often result in broken bones.
Program notes
The fifth annual Ferris volleyball media guide arrived at the office last week.
One yearly highlight is the cover photo, which displays the Saxons in colorful garb with a resplendent background. This year's backdrop is the U.S. Pavilion at Riverfront Park.
Players' biographies are the other high point. A sampling of this year's:
Erin Beaumont: "Hopes eventually to be a housewife with 10 children."
Missy Blackshire: "Plans either to become a lawyer or a backup singer for Whitney Houston."
Amy George: "After graduating from college, Amy would like to be a regular on American Gladiators."
Holly Kirschke: "Plans to get an academic scholarship to college, then join the international pingpong circuit."
Katie Lee: "Future plans include going to WSU before taking over as host of Talk Soup."
Janelle Morrisette: "Plans to 'find her sphere in order to prevent chaos in the world."'
The humorous Saxons take aim at a GSL first-place tie on Tuesday, when they welcome Mead. The match should determine the league championship. Ferris owns six GSL titles, Mead four.
Top at the Mountain
LC's girls topped 18 teams at last Saturday's Mountain West Classic, a college and high school cross country meet in Missoula, Mont.
Fifth-place Jamie Borgan, 19 minutes and 14.5 seconds for 3 miles, led the Tigers. Emily Hawkins, second in 18:19.2, and Jill Johnson, fourth in 19:08.4, guided Ferris to third place.
Dan Schruth, in 18:34.3, and Tyson Magney, 18:40.8, went 1-2 to lead the Ferris boys to second place among 22 teams. Nick Vollmer placed 10th in 18:55.2 for third-place LC. The exact race distance wasn't announced.
Cooke keeps smoking
Senior forward Mark Cooke of St. George's boys soccer team has 19 goals and five assists.
Milk money
The Dairy Farmers of Washington has signed a two-year extension of its sponsorship of prep state championships with the WIAA. The deal is worth $195,000 this year and $205,000 in 1998-99.
