UI’s Nieman Decides To Concentrate On Basketball Career

Two-sport star Alli Nieman has decided to give up playing for the University of Idaho volleyball team to concentrate on basketball.

The former Sandpoint High School star, who made the Big West Conference’s all-freshman team last volleyball season, has been an All-Big West first-team basketball player two years running. She will be a junior in basketball eligibility next winter.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Nieman said in a university news release Thursday, “but it was difficult to play two sports back-to-back.”

In basketball, Nieman has led the Vandals in scoring and rebounding as a freshman and a sophomore.

“I definitely respect her decision,” volleyball coach Carl Ferreria said. “She’s a talented athlete and a good volleyball player. Any time a dual-sport athlete has the passion to focus on one particular sport, you have to respect that.”

Crews square off

Gonzaga University men’s and women’s crew teams will play host to Washington State University at their annual spring regatta Saturday at Long Lake.

Freshman races start at 10 a.m., followed by races every 15 minutes through 12:15 p.m.

The much-anticipated Fawley Cup rematch between the women’s-varsity-eights-with-coxswain will go off at 10:15. Last year, the Bulldogs defeated the Cougars varsity for the first time in 12 seasons.

WSU’s junior varsity eight also will compete in the race. Varsity wins qualify those crews for the May 2 opening-day regatta in Seattle.

“We’re stronger than we were last year. We’re better than we were last year,” said Gonzaga women’s coach Susie Lueck. “I don’t know if Washington State is any better than they were last year.”

The Bulldogs return three women who were in the winning boat last year.

Gonzaga will host another home regatta, April 11 against Western Washington, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound.

Cougars complete staff

Kasey Dunn, a former standout wide receiver for the University of Idaho, has filled the vacancy on the Washington State University football staff.

Head coach Mike Price announced that Dunn has been hired to take the place of Lawrence Livingston, who became the running backs coach at Texas A&M.

Dunn comes to Pullman from Texas Christian University, where he coached the cornerbacks. He has previously coached at University of New Mexico, Idaho and University of San Diego. At WSU, he will coach running backs. As a player, Dunn earned four letters at Idaho. He was a first-team NCAA Division I-AA All-American in 1991 and ‘92. He played professionally for two seasons.

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