NIC volleyball dominant
North Idaho College, which won the Region 18A volleyball championship, dominated the postseason awards with five players and coach Bret Taylor singled out for honors.
The Cardinals had three first-team selections, including sophomore outside hitter Cintia Allessi, who was named the Region 18A Player of the Year. Joining her on the first team were sophomores Lauren Stern from Lake City High School, a setter, and Konae Purcell, an outside hitter.
On the second team was freshman outside hitter/middle hitter Amanda Misa, while sophomore middle hitter Daidre Mendenhall from University High School received honorable mention.
Taylor, whose Cardinals are ranked eighth nationally and take a 34-6 record into the national junior college A nationals in West Plains, Mo., next week, was named the Region 18A Coach of the Year.
Men’s basketball
University of Idaho has signed two more players to national letters of intent.
Demetrius Crowell, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward at Mesa, Ariz., High School, younger brother of current Vandal Michael Crowell, and Luis Augusto, a 6-8, 235-pound forward who will transfer from Western Oklahoma State College, are expected to enroll at UI next fall.
Crowell was a first-team all-state player who average 21.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as a junior while shooting 45 percent on 3-pointers. Augusto, originally from Brazil and ranked No. 48 by hoopmasters.com on its list of the top junior college players in the country, average 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks as a freshman.
•Eastern Washington doesn’t have much time to dwell on its disappointing opening performance, a 90-75 loss at Gonzaga on Friday night. The Eagles play at Nevada-Las Vegas tonight at 7:30.
The Runnin’ Rebels beat Hawaii 73-59 in their opener, holding the Rainbows to 33 percent shooting and forcing 19 turnovers.
Eastern shot poorly and committed numerous turnovers against the Bulldogs.
“Offensive execution and taking care of the basketball” must be improved, EWU coach Mike Burns said. “If you don’t do the little things when you play in an environment like Gonzaga or Las Vegas it’s going to be cause for trouble. If you can, you give yourself a chance to win.”
Eastern’s home opener is Saturday night at 7:05 against Lewis-Clark State.
Women’s basketball
Eastern Washington moved to 2-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season with a dominating 80-60 road win at UC Irvine on Monday night.
Eastern went on a 22-5 run early in the second half to break open the game. The Eagles last went 3-0 in 1984-85 and play host to Corban at 7:05 p.m. Friday in their next contest.
The Eagles were led Katy Baker, who recorded a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, her first in the Southern Utah transfer’s second game as an Eagle.
Three other Eagles contributed double-digit point totals: Ashley Knight (14), Tara Holgate (10) and Joanna Chadd (10).
EWU had a 51-37 rebounding edge.
Leah Gonnella’s only three points gave Eastern a 33-30 halftime lead which the Eagles expanded on after intermission.
•Gonzaga senior forward Stephanie Hawk is the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after averaging 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in two wins.
Hawk had 18 points and eight rebounds against Utah, an Elite Eight team last season, and 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four blocked shots and four steals against UC Davis.