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Show Friday, September 8, 2006 Sports Amy Dunford follows tradition, bleeds WSU purple The Signpost Givens said. "She was destined to wear purple." Dunford said she came to WSU so she Anticipating her next move, freshman could be close to her family, but still be out of outside hitter Amy Dunford transitions to the house. This seems to be a greatfitfor her; the net, soars in the air and makes another she said she loves her time at WSU. She is majoring in secondary education block for the Wildcats. Dunford joins the Weber Slate University with an emphasis in math, and is adjusting Wildcats Volleyball team as a (i-foot-3-inch to her life as a college freshman. The pressure middle blocker from Davis 1 Iigh School in of college and being able to manage classes Kaysville, Utah where she earned letters and volleyball could be in volleyball, basketball and track. While overwhelming, but she is in high school, Dunford was named to well prepared. "1 played three the 2005 All-Star 5A volleyball team and earned Second Team All-State honors, as different sports in high well as being named to the All-Region First school," Dunford said, "so Team. Not only did she excel in volleyball, I think I should be able to but she also earned Second Team All-State handle it." While adjusting to both school and honors in basketball her senioryear. She was recruited to Weber State for both basketball volleyball does not seem to be a difficult task and volleyball. When asked why she chose for Dunford, she did admit she has to adjust volleyball, she replied, "I just had a really to the level of play in university as opposed good senior year and decided on volleyball." to high school. "Playing in college, the lempo of the game Dunford is the middle of seven children. Her parents, Robert and Jane Dunford. are is quicker," she said, "but I just do my best both alumni of Weber Stale. WSU Mead and go hard for everything." Not only has Dunford shined in her family Coach Al Givens acknowledged the family, stating Dunford's parents prepared her well. and friends eyes, she has also impressed on "Both Amy's parents are alum of Weber," both her coach and her teammates. WSU By Andrea Orvin correspondent I The Signpost junior middle blocker Kolbie Murphey expressed her thoughts on Dunford as a teammate. "She has really picked it up," Murphey said. "She has already improved from when shefirstgot here, and wowed us in our game againstTexasA&M-Corpus Christ! Shecame out ready to play and I am really impressed by her." As forCoach Givens' thoughts, he couldn't say enough. "Amy brings a lot of versatility to our team," Givens said. "She can play both right and middle, and when we need her for a big block, it's easy to just move her around. She is also very aggressive and extremely coachable.She has a competitive nature and really elevates her game. It is great to see her work hard in practice, but better when she can bring that same enthusiasm to the game." As Dunford fine-times her game, the PHOTO BY TKICIA CCRRARD | THE SIGNPOST WSU volleyball team looks forward to an Weber State University middle blocker Amy Dunford, #11, and her teammates celebrate a exciting season. You can reach reporter Andrea Orvin by calling 626-7983. point during their first game at the newly remodeled Swenson Gym. Dunford is starting out her career with a great freshman season. Women's soccer back on track with two wins Activities galore via intramural sports By Brandon Mars sr. sports reporter I The Signpost Intramural sports offer a number of activities to chase away those doldrums between long classes. "It gives them the opportunity to ease the tension of their daily lives," said Clay Brown, the head of intramural sports. Intramurals are not all about easing tension however. "Night classes have become very popular because of full-time jobs, but students need something in the afternoon," Brown said. "In one way, it fills the activity need that each of us are in need of, but it also fills the social need. It is amazing how people meet other people playing intramurals, be it on their teams or teams they are competing against." Intramurals can help people to stay involved with the university. Intramurals also offers a number of different sports for the student who wants to try everything before making a decision. "We offer baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer," Brown said. "We have a lot of weekend tournaments. We are having a disk golf tournament - it is the first weekend in September. We have nine holes, we have nine sponsors. One of the sponsors is Snowbasin, who are going to sponsor four ski passes. Powder Mountain will do the same thing." fqrnpnc One of the major L|B problems for f^ intramurals is they are well-known around not campus. "With 18,000 students, the number of studentsparticipating in Intramurals, we would like to see a little higher," Brown said. "We're going to do a strong job in marketing, letting the students know we are here, especially incoming freshmen." See Intramurals page 8 Football team must right the ship tomorrow P H O T O BV M A T T GLASS ] Till SICKPOSl Weber State University sophomore forward Natalie Ellis, #23, fights for the ball as senior forward Veronica Walker, #12, looks on in the opening exhibition game against the UVSC Wolverines. The Wildcats won their last two games against Northern Iowa University and Univeristy of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The win against NIU was the Wildcats' first of the season. Ellis scored the final goal of the Wisconsin-Green Bay game. "We played together Road trip continues with winsreally well the controlling well," McCoy said, "and now we just need to pull the whole game together for the The Weber State University whole 90 minutes." women's soccer team was finally McCoy is succeeding in her given the chance to redeem personal goal for the season of itself on both Friday Sept. 1 and wanting the team to be able to Sunday Sept. 3. count on her. The team played in Reno, "1 want to be a consistent Nev. against Northern Iowa player that the team can count University on Friday and held on for the season," McCoy said. victory over NIU with a shutout The second goal of the game score of 2-0. was a career-first for WSU The Panther's flight into Reno sophomore Molli Nielson. was canceled, N i e I s on which pushed achieved the match her goal by a back to 9 p.m. header, with instead of the an assist from scheduled 4 a flip throwin by Kelsie Ehlers in the 49th p.m., with the 'Cats giving the minute. Panthers a few hours to rest. WSU sophomore Hay ley Ehlers said the team played McCoy earned the first goal in well together, in spite of the the 26th minute of the first half. delay and the heat. McCoy said she thinks the team Women's Head Coach Tim played well with plenty of time Crompton said WSU adapted to left in the season, the time change well and had "I think we're passing well, heavy competition from the By Frances Kelsey asst. sports editor I The Signpost other team. Though Crompton said it was a "kinda crazy game," he seemed pleased with the outcome. "It's a good way to start the trip," Crompton said. The shutout was a career-first for WSU freshman goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie who was selected as the Big Sky defensive athlete of the week for her spectacular performance in both the Iowa and Wisconsin games. The Wildcats tasted victory again, two days later at the Wisconsin-Green Bay game on Sunday. The team had a stellar game, winning with a score of 4-2. Hayley McCoy was on the ball again, getting the first goal for WSU only 14 minutes into play, shooting a long shot past Wisconsin goalkeeper Brooke Wikgren, making the score 1-0. Thirty minutes later, the'Cats got off a second shot with freshman Kelly Gaughan, making her first career goal with a pass from Linsey McFarland. first game, we got into our passing game. We had a lot of confidence in each other. We talked, had good communication. Overall, we probably played the best so far this year." - Natalie Ellis, WSU junior foward Ehlers made the third shot of the game after the half, stealing the ball from a Green Bay defender, making her first career goal. Wisconsin scored on WSU See Soccer page 8 Alright, it's that game just one more pretty Standing Out day until we quickly and can all see improve By Jon McBride some real before sports editor | The Signpost live college conference football at play comes Weber State around University. when they have to face Portland The University of California- State at home later this month and Polytechnic comes to town to take then Montana State in Bozeman, on the Wildcats in what could Mont, in October. prove to be a very important If the Wildcats' goal this season game. is to win the Big Sky Championship, Last week, the Wildcats got which it is, they need to right the spanked by Colorado State ship and be ready to play these University 30-6. Honestly, when conference teams. I saw the score, I wasn't too You can always learn something surprised. After all, CSU is a from playing a difficult team, I Division I-A team and WSU is a don't doubt that, but I know you I-AA team - there is definitely a learn more from beating a difficult big difference between the two team as opposed to losing to a divisions. But regardless of CSU's difficult team. That is an early credentials, the Wildcats need to advantage PSU and MSU have. play better to be ready for some Other scores from the major challenges ahead. conference were Eastern Last weekend saw Montana Washington University losing to State University, a I-AA team Oregon State University 56-17, playing in the same conference as Idaho State University lost to the Weber State, beat the University University of Nevada Las Vegas of Colorado Buffaloes, a I-A team, 54-10, the University of Montana 19-10. This game was at Colorado. lost to the University of Iowa 41In another upset last weekend, 7, Northern Arizona University Portland State University, another lost to Arizona State University I-AA school playing in the same 35-14 as the game was close into Big Sky Conference, beat the the fourth quarter and Northern University of New Mexico, a Colorado University lost to the I-A team playing in the same University of California-Davis 38conference as CSU, 17-6. This 7. Sacramento State University lost to Boise State University 45-0 game was at New Mexico. joining WSU as the only teams not So it doesn't really matter right to score a touchdown in its first now what intangibles Weber State gained last weekend from playing a better team in a better division. It only matters if they learn from See Standing Out page 8 |