Exner-Led Eastern Overpowers Gonzaga

Kim Exner finished with a match-high 14 kills and a .500 hitting percentage as visiting Eastern Washington (19-3) defeated Gonzaga 15-12, 15-9, 15-0 Tuesday in a non-conference volleyball match.

EWU won its 11th match in 12 outings and swept the season series from the Bulldogs (6-19).

GU played without starting setter Nicole Lamoure, Megan Hosek and Casy Murdock, who were suspended for one match for violating team academic policies.

EWU led the first game 7-0 and 11-7, but the Zags pulled to 7-all and 12-all ties. Kim Maxwell and Exner had back-to-back kills to end the game.

The Eagles scored the final five points of the middle game. Whitney Lewis had a kill, solo block and assisted block during the middle part of the lopsided third game.

Diane Pascua of GU had 12 kills and a match-best 10 digs.

Soccer

Amy Schmitt, Caryn Noel and Deszeray Dougherty from Eastern Washington University’s tournament-bound women’s soccer team have been selected to the All-Big Sky Conference second team.

Schmitt is a senior goalkeeper from Stanwood, Wash., Noel a senior forward from East Wenatchee and Dougherty a freshman mid-fielder/forward from Pasco.

Schmitt has recorded three shut-outs this season with a goals-against average of 0.99 in seven Big Sky matches. Noel leads the Eagles offensively with two goals and an assist. Dougherty took just 10 shots during the season and scored twice.

Eastern (3-4, 3-14) will take on regular-season champion Weber State (6-1, 15-3) on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in the four-team conference tournament in Ogden, Utah.

WCC honors Thompson

Gonzaga University midfielder Mike Thompson was named West Coast Conference men’s soccer player of the week.

Thompson, a junior from Coeur d’Alene, scored a game-winning goal against San Francisco and added an assist on a game-winner at Oregon State in a non-conference match. He leads the team with five goals, eight assists and 18 points.

It was the second time this season Thompson was selected player of the week. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in the WCC (4-0-0) and close out the regular season Friday at Loyola Marymount (0-2-1 WCC) and Sunday at second-place San Diego (3-0-0).

The winner of the conference will earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.