Sasquatch split; Pirates swept

It was a busy day for the Whitworth University Pirates and Community Colleges of Spokane Sasquatch volleyball teams – and busy as well for the Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers and Walla Walla University Wolves.

Whitworth and CC Spokane each hosted both visitors on Tuesday.

The Pirates got off to a rough start, falling 25-18, 25-22, 15-25, 25-20 to Walla Walla in the opener and losing 25-16, 25-23, 25-20 to Eastern Oregon in the second match.

Ka’ipo Rocha notched 20 kills on the day to pace Whitworth.

The Sasquatch fared better, losing to the EOU Mountaineers 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 25-21 in the first match, before bouncing back to defeat the Wolves 25-9, 26-24, 25-14.

Nicole Graybeal topped CC Spokane with 24 kills on the day. Kelsey Kurtz chipped in the 27 assists.

Men’s soccer

Ben Funkhouser scored on a penalty kick and added an assist to spark the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 5-1 non-conference, season-opening victory over the Trinity Western Spartans of Langley, B.C., at Gonzaga Soccer Field.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 first-half lead on goals by Tim Muravez at 19:30; James Matern at 23:12; and Nick Barclay on a penalty kick in the 38th minute.

The Spartans’ Shawn Parkes found the net at 59:27 to cut the lead to 3-1, but Gonzaga put the match out of reach with Funkhouser’s netter at 69:33 and Philippe Garre’s score in the 74th minute.

Women’s soccer

Brittany Sparks of Eastern Washington University earned Big Sky Conference player of the week honors for her performance in the Eagles’ 4-1 season-opening win over McNeese State in Cheney.

Sparks tied a school record with two goals in one game. She is the first Eagle to earn the award since Abby Jensen accomplished the feat on Oct. 1, 2007.

Men’s basketball

The Idaho Vandals have released their schedule for the upcoming 2009-10 season.

Idaho hosts an exhibition game against Saint Martin’s on Nov. 6, before hitting the road for games against Utah at Salt Lake City, Texas Southern at Houston at North Dakota State at Fargo.

The Vandals will entertain Sacramento State on Nov. 24 in the first of eight home non-conference contests.

Idaho will open Western Athletic Conference play on Jan. 2 at Hawaii.

The Vandals’ first WAC home game is Jan. 9 against Louisiana Tech.