Cougars Open With Two Wins In Volleyball

Washington State, ranked seventh in the nation, launched its volleyball season with two wins in the first day of the Baskin-Robbins Cougar Challenge in Bohler Gym.

More than 1,400 fans watched WSU dispatch Texas-Arlington 15-9, 15-4, 15-9 after the Cougars beat Santa Clara 18-16, 15-9, 15-4.

In other matches, Gonzaga defeated Wichita State 12-15, 15-7, 15-6, 15-12 and TexasArlington 18-16, 15-13, 10-15, 15-11 and Santa Clara beat Wichita State 15-4, 15-9, 4-15, 15-7.

Senior Shannon Wyckoff led the Cougars with 23 kills in the two wins and junior Jennifer Stinson added 20. All-American setter Stephanie Papke had 64 assists in the two matches.

Theresa Spink had 37 kills for GU, 22 in the second-match win, and 28 digs, 18 in the latter match. Aimee Wilson added 27 digs, 17 against Texas-Arlington.

The University of Idaho rallied from behind to knock off Michigan 10-15, 15-10, 9-15, 16-14, 15-12 in its opener in the University of Washington Tournament in Seattle.

Jessica Moore, the Vandals’ returning All-Big West Conference hitter, drove 25 kills while compiling a .419 hitting percentage. She also had 13 digs. Anna Reznicek set the table with 64 assists, Beth Craig added 17 kills and Kyle Leonard had 14 kills and 14 digs.

Hockey

The Spokane Chiefs’ annual intrasquad game, the Red and White scrimmage, is Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Arena.

Admission is free.

Chiefs coach Mike Babcock and assistant Mike Pelino ran 85 players through a spirited first week of training camp. The Western Hockey League club opens its exhibition season Sept. 6-7 in Lethbridge against the defending WHL champion Hurricanes.

The Chiefs’ only home exhibition is Sept. 14 against the Portland Winter Hawks. Spokane opens the regular season at home Sept. 27, with the Tri-City Americans.

The Chiefs continue training sessions today at the Arena, with intrasquad scrimmages starting at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

Softball

Mark Arland had a two-run home run in the first inning and Dan Dwyer a three-run shot to highlight a six-run second as Brymile of Spokane won its opener in the Amateur Softball Association Men’s Major Modified National Tournament in Burlington, N.C.

Brymile, the 1995 national champion and fourth last year, got four-hit, seven-strikeout pitching from Wade Liberty and saw its first five batters go a combined 11 for 17.

Spokane Grinders opened with two wins in the ASA Men’s A Modified National Tournament in Hialeah, Fla.

The Grinders defeated New York LP Tree Service 13-8 and Boston Billy Jacks 14-12.

Dana Schmerer pounded out four hits, including a home run and a double, in the first game. In the second game, he had three hits, including two home runs, as the Grinders rallied from an 11-0 deficit.

Golf

Led by the MeadowWood duo of Bob Scott and Chris Curran, Clint Wallman of Birdies Golf Center and Dave Christenson of Indian Canyon, the pros maintained their mastery over the amateurs in the windup of the Athletic Round Table Pro-Am Series.

The pros scored a 14-1/2-5-1/2 win in the two-day cup matches that wound up Friday at Stoneridge. Scott, Curran, Wallman and Christenson figured in three points each, scoring victories in the Chapman, best-ball and individual competition.

Scott was named the Most Valuable Pro. Tim Rypien, who collected 1-1/2 points on a best-ball win and halving his singles match, was named Most Valuable Amateur.

With an 8-over-par 80 Friday, Darin Vaughan of Spokane shot himself out of contention in the Sahalee Northwest Players Championship at Redmond, Wash.

Vaughan finished at 230, 23 shots behind winner Arron Oberholser of San Mateo, Calif., whose 71-207 won by 10 strokes.

, DataTimes