GU sets win streak mark, then loses

Gonzaga University women’s volleyball squad won a school-record eighth consecutive match with a 27-30, 30-23, 30-22, 30-25 victory Saturday night against Sam Houston State at the Nike/LaQuinta Invitational in Forth Worth, Texas, before being beaten by Texas Christian University 30-22, 30-24, 30-25 in the championship game.

Against Sam Houston State (3-6), senior Becky Jones led Gonzaga with a career-high 25 digs. Jones’ previous best was 23. Heather Dunn earned a match-high 56 assists and came one shy of a career-high with 18 digs.

The Bulldogs (10-4) broke the previous school record of seven consecutive wins set in 1994. Dunn and Jones earned all-tournament honors for the third straight tournament.

“Washington State lost 30-22, 30-23, 30-21 to the University of Denver at the Pioneer Classic in Denver. In their first game, Washington State dropped a 27-30, 30-25, 32-30, 30-22 decision to Long Beach State (5-4). Adetokunbo Faleti had a season-high 19 kills for the Cougars (9-5). Jackie Albright added 16 kills and Kelly Hyder had a match-high 20 digs and three aces. Hyder was named to the all-tournament team.

“Eastern Washington earned its first Big Sky Conference victory of the season with a 26-30, 30-25, 30-22, 30-26 win over Idaho State. Hayley Hills collected 30 kills for the Eagles (2-9, 1-1 Big Sky). Amanda Yausie set a personal-best with 21 digs.

“Idaho dropped a 30-18, 30-13, 30-27 decision to Hawaii (7-3, 1-0 WAC) to open Western Athletic Conference play Friday.

“Whitworth University lost a match to George Fox 30-28, 30-23, 18-30, 27-30, 17-15 in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Sarah Rusch had 33 kills for the Pirates (6-4, 1-1 NWC). Nikki Bardwell and Jill Solbrack added 12 kills apiece.

“Ferris graduate Miranda Gouin led Community Colleges of Spokane to two wins at the Valley of the Sun Tournament at Scottsdale, Ariz. CC Spokane lost to South Mountain 30-27, 30-24, but beat Embry-Riddle 30-20, 30-25 and Phoenix College 26-30, 30-26, 15-12. Gouin dished out 60 assists during the day.

Men’s soccer

Matt Friesen scored a goal and assisted on a second one as Whitworth defeated Pacific University 3-0. A pair of goals in close succession helped the Pirates take a 2-0 lead. Keith Kirsch scored in the 58th minute to close out the scoring for Whitworth (3-1-1, 1-0 NWC). Skye Henderson earned the other goal.

“Community Colleges of Spokane used a five-goal second half to fly past Shoreline 7-1 at Spokane Falls CC. Jay Vela scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead the Sasquatch. Chris Windham, Adam Zakrzewski, Neil Bachman, Jesse Dunbar and Kevin Bourland all scored for Spokane.

Women’s soccer

Emily Rohde and Kelly Baker scored first-half goals to lead host Whitworth to a 2-0 win against Pacific University. Rohde scored in the 12th minute and Baker added to the Whitworth total in the 44th minute on a penalty kick. The Pirates (4-0, 1-0 NWC) outshot the Boxers (2-2-1, 0-1 NWC) 20-5.

“Community Colleges of Spokane conceded a late goal and fell to Shoreline 3-2 at Spokane Falls Community College. Stephanie Hopkins tied the game for CCS in the 79th minute, but Shoreline’s Sarah Bingisser earned the game-winning goal in the 86th minute. Christine Almquist also scored for the Sasquatch.

“North Idaho College received a ninth-minute goal from Megan Wells, but the Cardinals fell 3-1 to Colorado State University’s club soccer team. McKenzie Favero assisted on Wells’ goal. Colorado State outshot North Idaho 12-10. Kristin Barta and Alicia Kahler both collected three saves.

Cross country

Eastern Washington’s Paul Limpf finished second overall at the 16th annual Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park in Seattle. Limpf had a time of 23:46 and finished 10 seconds slower than overall men’s invitational winner Jon Harding (Washington). Washington State’s Andrew Jones placed third with a time of 24:02. Diego Moreno Guzman (Idaho) finished seventh with a time of 24:19. Washington finished first in the invitational division with 31 points. Washington State (52) was second and Eastern Washington and UC Davis (116) tied for third. Idaho was sixth with 148 point.

In the women’s invitational division, a trio of Washington runners placed in the top three spots. Eastern Washington’s Mattie Bridgmon finished fifth with a time of 21:19. Melissa McFaddan and Allix Lee-Painter of Idaho finished 11th and 12th, respectively. The team title went to the Huskies with 27 points. Idaho placed second with 76 points and Eastern Washington (130) came in sixth. Washington State (180) placed last.

In the men’s open run, Dak Riek (CC Spokane) finished second to Saint Martin’s John Riak. CC Spokane won the men’s open run team title with 64 points. In the women’s open run, Emily Trimmer (Puget Sound) won in 21:30. Simon Fraser won the team title with 50 points.

“Whitworth took second place in both the men’s and women’s races at the Willamette Grass Course race. Jo Meyer (19:04.06) finished third for the women and Nick Gallagher (22:28.15) placed third for the men.