Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Big Red Sports

The Western Oregon Volleyball Team [Click to enlarge]

Western Oregon University was treated to a wildly successful sports season this fall. It seemed that all of Western's fall athletes were not about to be outdone by another sport. With the success of the fall programs, there will be additional pressure on the winter sports.

Western football went
6-4 in 2006 and looked to build on their success under head coach Arne Ferguson. In the first game of 2007 the Wolves beat mid-valley rival Willamette 23-9 and gave their fans a glimpse of the successful season that was in store. For the next ten weeks the Wolves would play inspired football and finish the season 8-2. The Wolves were surprised on Nov. 13, with an invite to the 22nd annual Dixie Bowl. On Dec. 1, the Wolves travel to Utah to take on the Colorado School of Mines' Ore Diggers and seniors Mark Thorson and Zach Christopherson look to lead Western football in its first post-season appearance since 1997 and the first bowl appearance since the Oregon Bowl in 1979.

The Western Oregon Volleyball squad finished a disappointing 7-19 in 2006. Entering the 2007 season the Wolves had one senior on the roster and looked to be growing as a team. Picked to finish no. 7 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) race, the Lady Wolves surprised the conference by dominating opponents and finishing the year
13-5 as runner up to Western Washington. Despite a first round playoff exit, the Wolves lose only one senior to graduation and the future looks bright. Head coach Joe Houck is eagerly anticipating next season when 2006 team MVP Laura Sakala, GNAC Newcomer of the Year and first team honoree Kayla Mainer and All-GNAC second team members Stacey Bennett and Amy Herron look to lead the Wolves even higher.

The fall cross country season was a success as well here at Western. The men's team finished fourth in the west region while Western's women took seventh. With the successful season behind them, the teams look to regroup and head into the spring season. With no seniors on their roster this squad looks to have success for years to come. Mike Schmidt (sophomore) earned All-West Region honors by finishing ninth at the regional meet. First year runner Jessica Harper led the women by finishing no. 28 overall and was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year.

The fall athletic teams have given Western a great fall season. With a bowl game, a trip to the volleyball playoffs and a fourth place finish at the cross country regional meet, the teams' successes will facilitate the growth of Western's athletics. This fall's success will put pressure on the winter sports to exceed last year's and continue Western's success in 2007. Hopefully the teams will respond to the challenge and continue the success started during fall term.•

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