All-State Volleyball Expands
The All-State volleyball matches improved by 50 percent for 1998.
With the added classification for Washington high schools, the coaches association added a third match for the series that begins Thursday night at North Central.
The 2A/A/B match is at 4 p.m., 3A is at 6 p.m. and the 4A is at 8 p.m. The teams move to Fife for matches on Saturday.
The series, which began in 1986, is the longest-running girls all-star event in Washington.
East Valley has the most local representation with three players on the East 3A team. Deb Asbury and Christie Grochowski were picked for the team and alternate Jennifer Kann was added after another player withdrew. Those are the only Frontier League selections.
Knights coach Jim Dorr and Steve Beck of Shelton will guide the team.
The Greater Spokane League has five players in the 4A match, Missy Blackshire and setter Janelle Morrisette of state champion Ferris, Abby Hornstein and Staci Schuerman of Mead and Erin Naipo of Lewis and Clark. Monica Abrahamson of Rogers is an alternate. Central Valley’s Bernie Hite is co-coach along with Bobbi Kuntz of Wenatchee.
Sandy Martin of St. John-Endicott is coaching the East 2A/A/B team along with Kelli Taylor of Okanogan. Area players include Molly Carlson of Selkirk, Christie Emery of Davenport, Andrea Hay of Tekoa-Oakesdale, Shannon Russel of Ritzville, Laura Widman of Colfax and Melissa Wollan of Colville. Alternates are Sara Driscoll of T-O, Kylene Marriott of Davenport and Angie Pierce of Colfax.
Basketball
Former North Idaho College center Steven Ryan expects to return to his native Sydney, Australia, to play professional basketball.
Ryan attended a Nike camp last weekend in Portland, apparently catching the eye of the expansion West Sydney Razorbacks of Australia’s National Basketball League.
“I’m going to fly home in two weeks and sign,” Ryan said. “They’re working on the contract right now.”
Ryan had signed a letter of intent with Colorado. “They kind of knew (about Australia) but I’ve got to tell them 100 percent I’m not coming,” he said.
Ryan averaged 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last season for NIC.
Golf
The deadline for signing up for the Wandermere Amateur Tournament is July 20. The tournament is Aug. 6-9. For information, call 466-8023.
Karate
The Spokane Karate Center will present kickboxing and pancratium fights Saturday at 7 p.m. in the karate center, 1818-1/2 E. Sprague Ave.
The open amateur competition will include 8-12 fights. Jason Matovich of Missoula will challenge Canadian Rob Hardy for his Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Kickboxing title.
For information, call 534-9633.