December 22, 2008

South Dakota State joined the Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the first time entering the rankings at No. 25. UConn was No. 1 for the 113th time in school history, matching Tennessee as the all-time leader of appearances atop the poll.

Maryland defeated Old Dominion 74 - 65.

No. 3 Texas A&M continued its unbeaten streak with a win over TCU 64-50.

No. 24 Florida upset No. 19 Pitt. 90-83.The Gators (11-1) won their 11th consecutive game and snapped Pitt’s nine-game winning streak.

Oklahoma 94 Tulsa 42 The Paris twins and Danielle Robinson contribute double-doubles to OU’s rout of Tulsa.

No. 21 Arizona State tops Xavier 75-57  Briann January scored 16 points to lead Arizona State to the win.

Undefeated UConn over Florida State 83 -71. Will the perfect season continue?

December 20, 2008

Tonight they played for the ultimate goal: a national championship. After a 3-0 sweep over no. 2 Stanford, the Nittany Lions have it. A second consecutive NCAA championship.

Stanford, playing in the title match for a record 14th time, had extra motivation: seniors Foluke Akinradewo, Cynthia Barboza and Erin Waller were playing in their final match, hoping to finally win an NCAA title. For the third year in a row, they went home empty handed. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Megan Hodge, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row, pounded nine of her 16 kills in the third set as Penn State finished off its NCAA-record 64th straight match since a September 2007 loss to Stanford.

The Penn State Women’s Volleyball team may be the best team you’ve never heard of - they may also be the best team ever.

December 19, 2008

The reigning world junior champion, U.S. silver medalist and 2010 Olympic hopeful carries a 4.0 grade point average and is an avid reader, despite her rigorous skating schedule.Reading is Fundamental and Flatt have partnered to demonstrate the important role reading can play in achieving one’s goals.

“My favorite fictional character is Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia because she is very brave, creative, curious and willing to take chances and explore the unknown,” says Flatt. “Sometimes in skating, you have to step beyond what you are comfortable with, much like Lucy does in Narnia.”

Such inspirations will continue to propel Flatt as she trains for a spot on the 2010 Olympic Team.

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December 19, 2008

In the opening match, Stanford became the first team to rally from two sets down to win, defeating Texas in a thriller 3-2.  A year ago, Stanford forced a fifth set in the NCAA title match and nearly pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in Final Four history. Last night at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., the Cardinal actually did it.

Then year-long number one Penn State (37-0) , which hasn’t lost a set since last year’s final, was pushed to the brink by Nebraska in front of a home crowd of 17, 400. The Lions won the first two sets against Nebraska to run their NCAA record to 111 in a row before they lost the third and fourth.

Huskers fans – forming a sea of people dressed in red - hoped their team could do what the Cardinal did but ultimately they left brokenhearted.

So, defending champion Penn State and Stanford set up a rematch in the NCAA women’s volleyball title match with five-set victories.

The final will be played on Saturday evening. Penn State was clearly shaken last night and will surely use the experience as motivation to dominate. But Stanford, who’s made it to the big game three times in a row, sees an opportunity and they’re determined to exploit it.

This should be a really great championship. If you can’t make it to Omaha to see the match in person, be sure to catch it at 7:00 PM CT on ESPN2.

December 18, 2008 -

What: NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Semifinals
When: Tonight
Who: No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Stanford, 7 p.m.; No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 4 Nebraska, 9 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Where: Qwest Center, Omaha, Neb.
Finals: 8 p.m. Saturday

A capsule look at the teams participating in the semifinals:

Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 36-0
Head coach: Russ Rose (30th season, 961-159)
Notes: The defending national champions are making their seventh national semifinal appearance, have been in the title match five times and have won the crown twice. (Penn profile)

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Record: 31-2
Head coach: John Cook (eighth season, 442-91)
Notes: The Cornhuskers are making their 11th semifinal appearance, including their third in the last four seasons, and have won three titles, including in 2006 at the Qwest Center. … Nebraska’s Lincoln campus is 60 miles from Omaha.

Texas Longhorns
Record: 29-3
Head coach: Jerritt Elliott (eighth season, 235-73)
Notes: The Longhorns are making their fifth semifinal appearance and their first since 1995. They won the title in 1988. … Texas is riding a 14-match win streak. 

Stanford Cardinal
Record: 30-3
Head coach: John Dunning (eighth season, 675-138)
Notes: The Cardinal has been in the Final Four more than any other program (18), been in the finals more (13) and won more titles (6) than any other school. … Stanford lost to Penn State in last year’s title match and was the last to beat the Nittany Lions, 3-2 in September 2007.

December 16, 2008

Over at the University of Arizona, LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member and U of A alumna Annika Sorenstam will serve as guest speaker at Dec. 20th winter commencement ceremony. As a member of the Wildcat’s women’s golf team from 1990-92, Sorenstam won seven NCAA titles, and was the first freshman to win the individual NCAA Championship.  (via LPGA.com)

It was just a year ago that Venus Williams walked across the commencement stage at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale to earn her associate degree in fashion design.

Although graduation may be a life-altering transition and a memorable time for student-athletes, the toss of the tassel to the other side of the cap means more than just a testament of hard work and dedication. For many, it also shows the ability to be a team player as well as the tenacity to succeed in competition amongst the best in the nation.

Congrats to all the winter graduates!

December 16, 2008

Nogueira was also one of 11 players nationwide nation to the Soccer America MVP (All-America) first team while junior midfielder Tobin Heath and senior midfielder Yael Averbuch were both named Soccer America second-team MVPs. While NCAA runnerup Notre Dame and NCAA semifinalist UCLA both had two first-team choices, UNC led all schools with total selections to the first and second teams with three.

Nogueira, who wanted so badly to play for North Carolina that she moved from her home in Cedarburg, Wis., to Raleigh to be near the Tar Heels in high school, has backed up her commitment with superb performances in two Women’s College Cup finals in three years at UNC. (via press release)

Last week, Nogueira was named one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy. Christina DiMartino from UCLA and Kerri Hanks of Notre Dame are also in the running for the the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. The Hermann will be awarded at a banquet in January.

Casey Nogueira
Position: Forward
Class: Junior
Age: 19
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
High School: Needham Broughton
Youth Club: CASL Spartan Elite
International: U.S. national team (1 cap)
Major: Interpersonal Communications

It won’t be long before Nogueria is drafted by the WPS who today announced the home openers for the inaugural Season. Headlining the list of games is the “WPS Inaugural Match” featuring the Los Angeles Sol against the Washington Freedom at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, March 29, 2009.

December 15, 2008

Just fill out an application form and send it to the Ski Areas of New York with a copy of your student’s 4th Grade report card, progress report or letter from the school stating that your child is in 4th grade, along with a $19 processing fee.  

You will receive a Ski & Ride Passport with three coupons per participating ski area. When an adult lift ticket is purchased the child presents the 4th Grade Passport booklet and a coupon for that ski area is redeemed for a free lift ticket for the day.

Participating Resorts:

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Pre-race, the competition was expected to be from 2006 Champ Kathy Kroeger and 2007 Champ Ashley Brasovan (Hasay was the 2005 champion herself).  But for all but the homestretch, Allie McLaughlin of Colorado Springs stole the show.  McLaughlin had taken the lead early and went through the 1st mile marker  seconds ahead of the next runner.  She had only finished 4th in her Regional and had only started running the previous year.

After 2 miles, McLaughlin’s lead had lengthened.  Hasay led the chase pack until finally Brasovan couldn’t stand it any longer and began to go after McLaughlin.  With 300 meters to go, Brasovan caught up to McLaughlin, who resisted but was futile in her attempts as Brasovan accelerated past her.

Meanwhile, Hasay was chasing from behind.  With 150m to go, she dug down for that extra power we all have seen her find before and blew by Brasovan to come home with the win in one of the greatest Footlocker showdowns ever.

Watch the video of the race courtesy of  Dyestat California 

December 14, 2008

This event honors the memory of Maggie Dixon, the former Head Coach of the Army Women’s Basketball team, who passed away of a congenital heart ailment at the age of 28, just weeks after leading Army to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

I’d heard of Maggie Dixon before, but was surprised to learn she grew up a couple miles from where I live in Los Angeles and attended Notre Dame, the nearby Catholic high school. Once I started mentioning her name, I ran into all sorts of people who remembered watching her play in the 90’s.

The local connection piqued my interest in the tournament and I was pleased to find out that Madison Square Garden and C.A.R.E. teamed up to offer FREE HEART SCREENINGS to all fans.  Also, a portion of the proceeds from the event benefit C.A.R.E. - an organization that works to fund research and raise awareness of sudden cardiac death due to acquired heart disease and inherited rhythm disorders.

So what about the basketball? Well in the opener, No. 14 Rutgers beat Army 59 - 38. Growing up in New York, Rutgers’ Epiphanny Prince has always been comfortable playing in the Garden.  The Brooklyn native was instrumental in leading her high school to four consecutive public school championships playing at there. Today, Prince scored 25 points and Kia Vaughn added a season-high 12 to help Rutgers beat in the first game of the Maggie Dixon Classic.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Tina Charles had 29 points and 18 rebounds to help top-ranked Connecticut beat Penn State 77-63. Connecticut, who had been on an 11-day break for exams,  struggled to put away Penn State.  The rust showed as Connecticut was sloppy in the early going but Charles took over and her double double made the big difference in the game.

Sad that the event even had to take place but some great basketball nonetheless.