Gonzaga Recruits 6-8 Forward

Casey Calvary, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, became the first men’s basketball player to sign a letter-of-intent under what will be the Dan Monson era at Gonzaga University. Calvary averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks a game as a junior last season. He led the Narrows League in scoring.

Calvary had 17 coaches visit his home and had narrowed his selection to Gonzaga and Colorado State University.

Monson, current associate head coach for the Bulldogs, will take over at the end of this season when Dan Fitzgerald steps down.

Four women athletes choose UW

The first recruiting class of June Daugherty, the new University of Washington women’s basketball coach, includes two Washington state players.

Signing national letters of intent were Megan Franza, a 5-l0 guard from Cascade High School in Leavenworth; LeAnn Sheets, 6-2 forward, Tumwater High; Melissa Erickson, 6-3 forward, Littleton, Colo.; and Carli Halpenny, 6-3 center-forward, Victoria, British Columbia.

Erickson’s older sister, Kristin, is a senior basketball player at Washington State.

Daugherty, 40, came to Washington from Boise State where she was the women’s coach for seven seasons. Chris Gobrecht, the UW coach for 11 seasons, resigned to become coach at Florida State.

On the volleyball court

After pushing the University of San Diego in games one and two, Gonzaga University faltered in game three and lost 15-12, 15-11, 15-6 at Martin Centre.

Gonzaga, 11-19 overall, 4-8 in West Coast Conference play, hit .143 for the match. San Diego improved to 20-6, 9-2. Making their next-to-last appearance at home, Jennifer and Christine Kubista once again led the Bulldogs in kills with 18 and 12, respectively. Christine added her 11th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs

Jeri Hymas landed 16 kills to lead the University of Idaho to a Big West Conference win at Utah State in Logan, 15-11, 15-8, 15-12.

The win improved the Eastern Division-leading Vandals to 23-5, 12-3. The Aggies, losers of 12 of their last 14, are 7-26, 3-12.

On the soccer field

The Whitworth women closed out their season with a 1-0 loss to Willamette at the Pacific Northwest Region championships in Salem, Ore. The Pirates finished with a 16-5-1 mark. Willamette, 19-1-1, will play Simon Fraser in the title game today at 1. The Clansmen (15-2-1) defeated Concordia College 5-0. … Gonzaga University sophomore defender Betsy Platt was named to the All-West Coast Conference women’s second team, the first Gonzaga player to receive higher than honorable mention in the school’s four-year WCC membership. Portland midfielder Justi Baumgardt was named the league’s player of the year. WCC regular-season champion Portland will join San Diego and Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament.

Hoop it up

The Whitworth men’s and women’s basketball teams will participate in “Hoop Hysteria” tonight, beginning at 6. There will be alumni games along with various contests.

, DataTimes