Whits dominate All-NWC football
Whitworth University, led by a defensive unit that saw 10 players picked to the first or second team, dominated the All-Northwest Conference football team announced Monday.
In addition to 18 players honored, the Pirates had John Tully earn his second straight, and third overall, Coach of the Year award; sophomore running back Adam Anderson from Riverside, via University of Idaho, selected Offensive Player of the Year; and senior back Jay Tully from Mead share Defensive Player of the Year with Pacific Lutheran senior lineman Andrew Eisentrout.
Joining Jay Tully on the first-team defense are linemen Brandon Martin, and Justin Rundle (Mt. Spokane), linebackers Casey Clifton (University), Greg Caster and Marc Grow (Warden), and backs Philip Entel (Clarkston/Idaho) and Ryan Marshall. On the second team are lineman Peter Clark (Mead) and back Peter Ghilardi. Martin is a junior, the others seniors.
On the first-team offense besides Anderson are running back Chris Ahsing, wide receiver Steve Silva and tight end Drew Griggs (Mt. Spokane). On the second team are linemen Michael Cozad and Jeff Kintner. Wide receiver Nick Koller (LaCrosse-Washtucna) and lineman Kyle Kania received honorable mention. Cozad and Kintner are sophomores, the others seniors.
The second-team offense also included Willamette running back C.J. Washington, a senior from Shadle Park.
•Whitworth junior quarterback Kory Kemp, 16 of 23 for 195 yards and two touchdowns in 2 1/2 quarters in a 34-13 win at Puget Sound, is the NWC Offensive Player of the Week.
•Eastern Washington defensive lineman Jason Belford and quarterback Matt Nichols were named Big Sky Conference players of the week.
Belford, a junior, intercepted a pass for a touchdown and had three tackles for loss and eight total tackles in a 52-24 win over Northern Arizona.
Nichols, a sophomore, hit 17 of 22 passes for 317 yards and five TDs with no interceptions and ran for 48 yards.
College volleyball
The NAIA Region I championships will be Thursday through Saturday at the Valley HUB (formerly Sports USA). Eight teams from the Frontier and Cascade conferences, including Frontier tournament champion Lewis-Clark State, play for a bid to nationals.
LCSC (21-5) has made a big turnaround under first-year coach Jennifer (Stinson) Greeny, the former Washington State standout and ex-Pullman High School coach.
The Warriors, 8-19 last year, are ranked 20th this year and include Mindy Meyer (Lakeland), Katie Hinrichs (Pullman), Brittney Kubik (Ritzville), Kim Fong (Lewiston) and Cintia Alessi (North Idaho College).
Seeded third in the tournament, LCSC has pool-play matches at 12:30 and 6 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday.
All-sessions passes are $15 for adults, $12 student/senior. Day passes are $7 adult, $5 student/senior, with 12 and under admitted free.
• Eastern Washington freshman Alysha Cook has been named a Big Sky Conference co-player of the week.
She had 15 kills, seven blocks and hit .353 in a victory over Portland State and 10 kills in a non-conference win over Boise State.
Swimming
Whitworth had the NWC weekly winners – senior David Dolphay, who had a win and improved two NWC records, and senior Sam Kephart, who won three events, two in NWC-record time and one an NCAA provisional qualifying time, in a Seattle meet.