Montana schools rule both Sky polls
Montana State and Montana were picked to finish 1-2 in a preseason poll of coaches and media that cover Big Sky Conference men’s basketball, the conference announced Wednesday.
Montana State received six of the eight first-place votes in the coaches poll and finished with 48 points. Montana, which won the conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, received the other two first-place votes and had 42 points.
Sacramento State was third in the coaches poll, followed by Northern Arizona, Weber State, Eastern Washington, Portland State and Idaho State.
In the media poll, Montana State received 22 first-place votes and 234 points, while Montana received eight first-place votes and 211 points.
Sacramento State was third, followed by Weber State, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State. Portland State received one first-place vote.
“Gonzaga University senior forward Erroll Knight underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday in Spokane.
“We don’t know when Erroll will be ready to play,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. “Naturally, we’d like him to be ready by the season opener against Idaho, but that might be a little soon. It’s really a day-to-day situation.”
Volleyball
Whitworth continued to collect accolades for its season.
Coach Steve Rupe was selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year, while Natalie Danielson and Bekah Hornor were selected to the AVCA All-West Region team.
Rupe led the Pirates (20-3) to the postseason for the third time in five years and is 122-57 in seven years at the Whitworth helm.
The Northwest Conference-champion Pirates host the NCAA Division III West Regional tournament beginning today with four matches. Action begins at 1 p.m. at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
Men’s soccer
Whitworth will host the University of Redlands in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Redlands (17-2-2) beat UC Santa Cruz on Wednesday afternoon to advance and face the fifth-ranked Pirates (16-1-1), who had a first-round bye.
The Pirates beat Redlands 3-1 in their season opener on Sept. 3.
“Whitworth placed six players on the All-NWC team. Led by Defensive Players of the Year Todd Sabrowski, three players were named to the first team and three others named to the second team.
Sabrowski was joined on the first team by forward Niko Varlamos and midfielder Ali Seyendali.
Picked to the second team were defender Trevor Osborne, midfielder Skye Henderson (Lewis and Clark High) and forward Jonathan Carlson.
Sabrowski was picked as Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row and is a three-time first-team selection.
Women’s soccer
Whitworth seniors Jody Rucinski and Ashley Fisk were named to the All-NWC team.
Both players are repeat winners. Rucinski was first-team in 2003 and a second-team pick last fall. Fisk was a first-team selection last season.