November 5, 2007

This Week in Walsh University Athletics

Monday, November 5, 2007

Thurs. 8 Men's Basketball at University of Akron (Exhibition Game) pm / AM 900 WCER

Fri. 9 Volleyball at AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament at Mount Vernon Nazarene

vs. Cedarville 1:15 pm

vs. Notre Dame (OH) 3:30 pm

Sat. 10 Football (H) Taylor University 12 pm *

Men's Basketball at University of Northwestern Ohio 4 pm

Women's Basketball at Cornerstone University 1 or 5 pm

Volleyball at AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament at Mount Vernon Nazarene 11 am/1 pm/6:30 pm championship

Walsh (4-6, 1-5 MSFA) snapped a five-game losing streak, with a 54-28 win over visiting Marian College (1-8, 1-5 MSFA) in a Mid-States Football Association Mideast game at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday. The Cavs close the season at home on Saturday (12 pm) against Taylor University.

Clinton Blossomgame (R-Fr., Columbus, OH/Beechcroft) rushed for a career-high 241 yards and scored two touchdowns (1, 1), as Walsh scored in every quarter. Blossomgame has rushed for 1,266 yards on the season, second in the Mid-States. He is averaging 126.6 ypg and has scored nine touchdowns.

Walsh led 17-0 after one period, and 27-0, before Marian scored late in the second quarter. Eric Buchanan (Fr., Green Cove Springs, FL/Clay) also kicked three field goals (37, 45, 30) in the first half, as the Cavs led 37-14 at halftime. Buchanan ended the day with a career best four field goals, tying a Walsh record for a single game. Marc Pullen (Jr., Akron, OH/Ellet) passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns, hitting John Rutan (So., Hartville, OH/Lake) for 15 yards and a score, and Rob Lash (Sr., Shelby, OH/HS) for a nine-yard score. Pullen also scored on nine-yard run. Lash caught four passes for 87 yards, and Rutan three for 70 yards. Walsh totaled a season-high 607 yards total offense and a season-high 54 points.

Walsh closes the season at home against Taylor University (2-8, 0-6 MSFA). The Trojans dropped their sixth straight game on Saturday, 37-7 to Saint Xavier University. Walsh leads the all-time series 6-1 and won 35-15 at Taylor last year. The Cavs have won the last five meetings. Before Saturday's kick-off, Walsh will honor its graduating senior players and cheerleaders. The game will be broadcast live on the Walsh University Football Network on News-Talk 640 WHLO AM and AM 900 WCER at 11:45 am.

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs Travel to Akron for Exhibition Game/Open Season on Saturday

NAIA No. 6 Walsh plays the University of Akron, at the James A. Rhodes Arena, on Thursday at 7 pm in an exhibition game, then open the regular season at the University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday at 4 pm.

Walsh Head Coach Jeff Young (83-25, 4th yr.) returns three starters and eight letter winners from their "NAIA Sweet 16" 28-6 team from last season. The Cavs have made three straight trips to the NAIA National Tournament. For a complete basketball preview, log onto the Walsh University website at www.walsh.edu.

The Cavs first regular season opponent, the University of Northwestern Ohio, is in their first year of intercollegiate basketball. They open the season on Friday, at home, against Indiana Tech.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs Open the Season at Cornerstone on Saturday

Walsh opens the season at Cornerstone University on Saturday. The game time is still to be determined, depending on whether Cornerstone hosts the NAIA Regional Volleyball Tournament.

Head Coach Laurel Wartluft (233-253, 18th yr./5-21 2nd yr. at Walsh) returns six letter winners from 2006-07. Walsh finished 5-21 overall last year and 3-15 in the American Mideast Conference. For a complete basketball preview, log onto the Walsh University website at www.walsh.edu.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Cavs 4th at AMC/NAIA Region IX Championships, Await Possible At-Large Berth/McKee, Groholy, Geabler Earn All-AMC Honors

It was a beautiful day for a race, as Walsh (49-14) hosted the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Championships on Saturday. The Cavs finished a strong fourth (84), behind champion Malone College (24), Cedarville University (69) and Shawnee State University (70). For Malone, it was their 15th straight conference title, which gives the Pioneers the automatic bid to the NAIA Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 17. Walsh still has an outside chance at an at-large berth and an excellent chance for at least two individuals at the meet.

Brendan McKee (Jr., Akron, OH/St Vincent-St. Mary) and Mike Groholy (Sr., Parma, OH/Valley Forge) finished sixth and seventh respectively, to earn first team All-AMC and Region IX honors. Both should qualify as individuals. They will find out on Tuesday. McKee finished in a time of 25:59.75 and Groholy in a time of 26:11.15.

Tim Geabler (Sr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) earned second team All-AMC-NAIA Region IX, with his 14th place finish in a time of 26:35.5. Geabler has an outside chance at a berth. Jon Winnyk (Jr., Strongsville, OH/Holy Name) placed 26th (27:06.95) and Chris Zundel (Sr., Madison, OH/HS) 31st (27:38.45).

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Women's Cross Country 5th at AMC/NAIA Region IX Championships, LeFever Awaits Berth, Earns All-AMC/NAIA Region IX Honors

Walsh (37-28) placed a strong fifth (133), at the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Championships, held on campus last Saturday. Cedarville University (25) won the race going away, with Malone College second (40), Houghton College third (114) and Shawnee State fourth (125). Cedarville earns the automatic berth to the 28th annual championships, held in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 17.

Walsh's Kristen LeFever (So., Alliance, OH/Marlington) earned third team All-AMC/Region IX honors and a possible at-large individual berth with her 19th place finish (19:11.25). Individual at-large berths will be announced on Tuesday. Andrea DiNinno (Jr., Harrison City, PA/Greensburg CC) also earned third team All-AMC/Region IX honors; with her 20th place finish (19:21.45) and has an outside chance at an at-large berth. Megan Case (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS) finished 25th (19:54.90), Lindsay Cooper (Sr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) 34th (20:30.50) and Jen Birney (Fr., Dover, OH/HS) 35th (20:31.40).

VOLLEYBALL: Cavs Bounce Ranked Mount Vernon/Earn Second Seed at AMC/Region IX Tournament

NAIA No. 24 Walsh (28-7, 10-2 AMC S) closed the regular season with three straight AMC South wins, and now prepare for the AMC/Region IX Volleyball Tournament at Mount Vernon Nazarene this weekend. Walsh earned the number two seed in "Pool B". Notre Dame College (OH) is the top seed and Cedarville University is the number three seed. Walsh opens pool play on Friday at 1:15 pm against Cedarville, then plays Notre Dame at 3:30 pm. Walsh split with Cedarville in the regular season and won at Notre Dame in five games. On Saturday, matches are scheduled for 11 am., 1 pm and the championship match at 6:30 pm.

Walsh swept American Mideast Conference South leader, and NAIA No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene at home last Thursday, by the scores of 30-28, 30-25 and 30-16. Jill Barry (5-6, Sr., Salem, OH/HS) led the Cavs with 42 assists and 11 digs. Heather Hernandez (5-9, Sr., Oakdale, CA/HS) had a team-high 19 digs and Megan Kelly (5-10, Fr., Brook Park, OH/Holy Name) led with 20 kills on a .461 hitting percentage. Erica Parker (6-0, Jr., Concord, OH/Mentor) had a team-high 1.5 blocks, with two service aces and seven kills. Sophomore defensive specialist, Amy Police (5-5, So., Perry, OH/HS) added 12 digs and Megan McDonald (5-10, Jr., Kirkland, IL/Rockford Lutheran) had 10.

Walsh swept Shawnee State University (30-21, 30-21, 30-21) and University of Rio Grande (30-8, 30-11, 30-12) on Saturday to end the regular season. Walsh was led by Jill Barry's 47 assists in the Shawnee State win. Heather Hernandez led with 23 digs, and Megan Kelly with 16 kills. Amy Police had a team-high four aces, and Erica Parker and Caitlin Whealy (6-2, Jr., Avon Lake, OH/HS) each added 2.5 blocks. Barry led with 41 assists and Hernandez had 28 digs in the Rio Grande win. Kelly led again with 13 kills, and Whealy had a team-high 2.5 blocks. Parker, Police, and Hernandez each had three aces.

Jill Barry leads the AMC and is second in the NAIA in assists, averaging 14.1 per game. Erica Parker leads the AMC, and is eighth in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.420). Heather Hernandez is second in the AMC, and tied for 14th in the NAIA in digs per game at 6.7.