Area roundup: EWU’s Bogdan Bliznyuk, Brendan Howard earn preseason honors

Eastern Washington Eagles senior Bogdan Bliznyuk and freshman Brendan Howard were named to the preseason All-Big Sky Conference men’s basketball team by College Sports Madness it was announced on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-6 Bliznyuk was a first-team pick last season. He’s joined by Idaho’s Victor Sanders, Montana State’s Tyler Hall; North Dakota’s Geno Crandall; and Sacramento State’s Justin Strings.

Howard, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Montana, was the pick for Freshman of the Year honors.

Women’s soccer

EWU’s Jenny Chavez earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors. Chavez scored two goals in the Eagles’ 4-0 win over Southern Utah.

Men’s golf

Tyler Munetake finished with a 6-over-par 219 to tie for 14th place as Gonzaga placed 13th in the Nick Watney Invitational in Fresno, California.

BYU won the tourney behind medalist Peter Kuest (210).