Vandals Gain Preseason Nod

The University of Idaho volleyball team was unanimously selected by the coaches Wednesday to win the Big West Conference Eastern Division. The Vandals won the title last year with a 13-3 record.

Long Beach State, ranked No. 5 nationally in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll, was picked to win its division. No. 10 Pacific and No. 12 UC Santa Barbara followed.

Spokane Fastpitch advances

Spokane Fastpitch Club beat Pete’s Bar of Wisconsin 4-1 in the American Fastpitch World Series in Fargo, North Dakota.

Mark Anderson sparked Spokane with a two-run home run in the second inning and a run-scoring double in the fourth.

Smoker Marchand struck out 12 and surrendered just two hits.

Spokane plays Kegel Young Guns of Kegel, N.D., this morning in the 64-team, double-elimination tournament.

Vandals plan celebration

A banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vandal Boosters, Inc., and the 1947 University of Idaho football team will be held Sept. 5 at the University Inn in Moscow. Cost is $50 per person.

Information: Mike Marlow (208) 885-0240.

Allen book due

A biography of the late Pokey Allen is scheduled to be released later this month.

Allen, the former Boise State and Portland State University football coach, died of cancer last year. The book was written by Boise-based Bob Evancho.

Whitworth soccer ranked

The Whitworth women received a No. 16 ranking in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll. Last season, the unranked Pirates compiled a 16-5-2 record.

, DataTimes