Exner Helps Eastern Go Undefeated At Tourney

Tournament most valuable player Kim Exner’s 39 kills and 12 blocks led Eastern Washington (6-0) to a pair of wins during Saturday’s final action at the University of Washington volleyball tournament in Seattle.

EWU opened Saturday with a 15-13, 15-5, 16-18, 15-3 win over Georgia, then swept the University of British Columbia 15-8, 15-13, 15-10.

Lacey Coover added 26 digs and 24 kills for the Eagles, who upset the host and 23rd-ranked Huskies on Friday night. EWU’s Kim Maxwell had 87 assists and nine blocks. Maxwell and Whitney Lewis joined Exner on the all-tournament team.

“It was the biggest weekend of our program’s history,” said EWU coach Pam Parks. “We came to win and we accomplished it.

“We opened a lot of eyes in the area and the country.”

Rebecca Dady of Georgia (1-4) had 13 kills and 21 digs in the first match. Barb Bellini of the Thunderbirds had 19 kills in the second match.

Benishe Dillard of Kent, Wash., had 20 kills and five blocks as Long Beach State (6-0) defeated 24th-ranked Washington State 15-13, 15-1, 15-9 at the Brigham Young University tournament in Provo, Utah.

The 49ers are ranked No. 1 in one national poll, No. 2 in another. Brandy Barratt of Gonzaga Prep added six kills and four blocks for Long Beach.

Wendy Rouse had 15 kills and nine digs for the Cougars (2-3), who will open Pacific-10 Conference play with a losing record for the first time since 1990.

Beth Craig had 20 kills as Idaho (4-2) finished 3-1 at the Varsity Clubs of America Classic at Tucson, Ariz.

The Vandals defeated Massachusetts (2-5) 15-2, 15-12, 13-15, 15-3 before falling to Arizona (8-0) 7-15, 4-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-12.

All-tournament selection Jessica Moore added 14 kills for the Vandals. Anna Reznicek was Idaho’s other all-tournament pick.

Stacie Greenwalt had 10 kills and four blocks as Utah (6-2) defeated Gonzaga 15-4, 15-0, 15-4 in the Weber State tournament at Ogden, Utah. Diane Pascua of the Bulldogs (1-6) had seven kills and nine digs.

Sharon Barnett had eight kills and 10 digs as visiting George Fox (7-1, 3-0) defeated Whitworth 15-10, 15-5, 15-12 in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges.

Whitworth (2-6, 1-1) led the second game 5-4 before the Bruins scored the final 11 points. Whitworth’s 12-9 lead in the final game faded with six consecutive Bruins points.

Abby Jo Hornstein had eight kills and Mary Hubele 11 digs for the Pirates.

Women’s soccer

Keri Nichols scored two second-half goals as visiting Community Colleges of Spokane (2-1-0) defeated Lower Columbia 6-0 in a Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges match at Longview, Wash.

The Sasquatch are tied for second place with Columbia Basin in the league’s Eastern Division. The Red Devils are 0-2-0.

Tasha Ockfen scored two first-half goals as Pacific Lutheran University (3-0, 2-0) defeated visiting Whitworth 2-0 in an NCIC match at Tacoma.

Lutes goalkeeper Gloria Cefali had the shutout. The Pirates are 1-3, 0-1.

Men’s soccer

Sau’l Mendoza scored twice as visiting CCS (3-0-0) defeated Bellevue 5-0 in the NWAACC to retain the lead in the Eastern Division.

CCS has outscored conference rivals 17-3. Tony Pass began the CCS scoring with a one-touch volley at 20 minutes, and team scoring leader Herbert Barbosa scored 11 minutes later from 15 yards.

John Evermann’s goal in the 22nd minute held up and PLU (2-0, 1-0) defeated visiting Whitworth 1-0 in the NCIC.

Jonas Tanzer had the shutout in goal for PLU. The Pirates are 2-1, 0-1.