Shock sign first two players
The Spokane Shock announced Monday that they have signed their first two players in franchise history.
Joining the Shock for their inaugural 2006 season will be two former area collegiate standouts, former Washington State defensive back Billy Newman and former Idaho receiver Orlando Winston.
Newman finished his Cougar career with 325 tackles and nine interceptions in four seasons.
A product of Santa Margarita High in Laguna Niguel, Calif., Newman was a team captain and honorable mention All-Pac-10 during the 2001 season. He is currently an assistant football coach at North Central High School.
During three seasons with the Vandals, Winston played in 34 games and caught 122 passes, 11th most in Vandals history. He finished his Idaho career with 1,632 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.The Shock will be entering the arena football ranks in April of 2006. Eight home games will be played at the Spokane Arena.
College soccer
Gonzaga scored three goals in less than 20 minutes as the Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat San Diego 3-2 in West Coast Conference action in San Diego.
With the Toreros (8-5-3, 4-4-1) up 2-0, George Josten pulled GU (5-7-4, 3-4-2) within one in the 69th minute before getting the equalizer, his 10th of the season, in the 79th minute.
Chris Hoyd, a redshirt freshman, then scored his first collegiate goal in the 87th minute to give the Bulldogs the win.
The game was a makeup of a game Oct. 2 that was postponed when Martin Field was deemed unplayable.
College volleyball
Idaho freshman middle blocker Sarah Loney was selected as the XBOX Live WAC Volleyball Player of the Week for her performances last weekend in two Idaho victories.
The 6-2 redshirt freshman, a native of West Linn, Ore., led Idaho to wins over New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. Against New Mexico State, she recorded a career-high 13 kills on .522 hitting percentage and seven blocks. In the win over Louisiana Tech Loney recorded eight kills on .500 attack percentage and five blocks.
T-Birds coach granted visa
Seattle Thunderbirds head coach Rob Sumner has been granted a visa by the U.S. government and will return to the team immediately.
Sumner’s visa was approved Monday morning.
After entering the country in the afternoon, Sumner headed straight for the T-Birds practice facility at Kingsgate Ice Arena in Kirkland.
While waiting for the visa, Rob missed eight games, with the team going 3-3-1-1.
Rob left with the team for the season opener in Prince George on Wednesday, September 21 at 11 p.m. and had not been back in the United States since then. He was gone for a total of 39 days.
College basketball
Washington State’s women’s basketball team opened its season with a 73-58 exhibition win over Baden Sports in Pullman.