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Show StatesmanSports Page 14 Friday, April 11,2008 W( Women lose season series to Cats Men home finale Friday at 1 p.m. ByMATTSONNENBERG staff writer By JACKSON OLSEN staff writer In a season where things just haven't gone their way, the Utah State men's tennis team picked up another loss on the road Wednesday when they faced off with in-state rival Weber State University in Ogden, falling to the Wildcats 7-0. It was the third time this season that the Aggies have come up short against the Wildcats, but never were the losses so decisive. The Aggies were not only swept in their matches, but also in their sets, save one produced by sophomore Alex Thatcher. "[Weber] played very well on their home courts," said head coach Christian Wright. "We didn't play poorly, but they were on." Despite best efforts, when U S U SENIOR JONAS T Y D E N returns a serve earlier this season at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club. TYLER LARSON photo all was said and done the Aggies, now 5-12 on the season, were on the wrong end of a clean sweep. As is the custom, the teams battled it out for the doubles point first. Three doubles matches are played, and one Drivers wanted. point is awarded to the team who wins two of the three. Although they didn't win the doubles point, it was here that the Aggies were able to get their only victory of the \1 See MEN, page IS Utah State women's tennis finished their season series against Weber State University with a 4-3 loss Tuesday. The win was the second in a row for the Wildcats over the Aggies, who are now owners of a three-game losing streak. Utah State claimed victory in the season's first meeting between the two schools. Due to an injury suffered by Bridgette Strickland, the Aggies' lineup was shuffled in both singles and doubles play for the match. Strickland, slowed by leg and back injuries, was paired with Taylor Perry in No. 2 doubles, with Hailey Swenson stepping in to Strickland's place in No. 1 doubles alongside Brianna Harris. The changes in the line-up yielded little results as the Aggies were swept in doubles play for the second straight time against the Wildcats. All three doubles pairings ended by the same final score of 8-2 in favor of Weber State. The singles match-ups for the day had a similar situation as doubles, with two Utah State players moving up one spot in singles play while Strickland was dropped from the No. 3 to the No. 5 singles USU FRESHMAN HAILEY slot. Britney Watts, playing S W E N S O N returns a serve in place of Strickland, was against Nevada earlier this seadefeated by the Wildcats' son. TYLER LARSON photo Ashley Schapper, 6-0, 7-5. Perry, playing up one level over the Wildcat's Inalise to No. 4 singles, responded Pienaar, 6-1, 6-4, in No. 2 sinto the heightened challenge gles, while Marie Livingston by winning her match in defeated Alyssia Payne, 6-2, straight sets over Weber State's Greyce Farias, 6-3, 6-1. 6-4, in No. 6 singles. Utah State's Harris looked Despite the shuffling takto be on her way to a win in ing place with half the team, No. 1 singles after winning three Aggies played in their her first set, 6-4, over Weber regular singles slots, with State's Gabriela Venditto. But two logging straight-set victories over their opponents. [M See WOMEN, page 15 Swenson cruised to a win Front: Experience is always a plus in WAC [J continuedfrompage 13 the team's defensive MVP in 2007, as well as last seasons sack leader in Carl Singleton, the Aggie D-line will return a total of six lettermen. The key player returning from that 2007 unit will be senior Ben Calderwood. Calderwood, who returns after a solid junior season in which he recorded 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, will be moving in from defensive end to defensive tackle in 2008. Asked if Calderwood's move to the inside was permanent, Johnson said, "He'll work inside and outside. He's one of the best tackles we have." Calderwood will join another returning starter in junior Alan Bishop on the interior of the defensive line. On top of the players the Aggies already have returning will be two junior college transfers in Casey Davis and Magnum Mauga, both of who will look to make significant contributions at defensive tackle. With Singleton graduating and Calderwood moving to the interior, both of the starting defensive end positions have been open for competi- tion this spring. Johnson said the current front-runners to fill those positions are junior Darby Golden and sophomore Nate Royster. Golden finished 2007 with 18 total tackles, one sack, and one pass breakup in a reserve role. Royster finished with six tackles and one fumble recovery. One thing that every one of the players have outside of Davis and Mauga is their own fair share of experience playing Division-I football, a claim that couldn't be made for as many players prior to last season. "It'll give us a lot more depth," Johnson said. "You'd like to have five tackles and five ends that you can play with." Hutton agrees that the experience both on the field and in practice will help the front seven operate better as an overall unit in 2007. "Even the guys that haven't started that many games, they know their assignment really well," Hutton said. "Play hard. Do your assignment. Make tackles. Don't miss tackles." -matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu. edu Speed: Aggie secondary hoping they have it Must be 18 with clean driving record. Have own car. Flexible hours. Perfect for student! To apply, meet with Ray, 874 So, Main, Smithfield, 563-6088. Hourly wage plus tips! Also, gas reimbursement. A Great Job! 01 continuedfrompage 13 Brindley is joined at safety by senior Caleb Taylor, a starter at the position last year. Senior outside-linebacker-turned-safety De'von Hall adds size, speed and experience as he shifts from the front seven to the defensive backfield. "The experience builds Asscher Cut! confidence; you know what to corner position gives Rushing expect," Brindley said. "You some options for different can't just come up here from match-ups. high school, it's a lot different. "If we're playing a more Experience puts a whole new physical, run team, I've got level on it. You're just so much some great run guys. We can more comfortable back there, mix it up," he said. and once you feel comfortable, One question may be how that's when you start making Hall and Hurst adjust to their plays." new positions. Even before the addition Hall seems pretty comfortof Hurst—who played corner able, saying he thinks the his whole life until last seamove back to his natural posison—the Aggie cornerbacks tion is something he's been were equally as experienced as expecting for a while. And the safeties. They return two neither Hurst nor Rushing seniors who've seen significant are worried about the senior's playing time, in Joshua Taylor switch back to corner. and Marquise Charles, as well "One thing is, Roy is an as junior Keyjon Murphy and athlete," Rushing said. "So sophomore Chris Randle, who he's picking up things fast, started two games at right cor- as far as what we want from ner in 2007. the corner position, as far as Having depth, with four or technique. And he's played five guys who have a combina- it before, so it's not like he's tion of speed and size, at the playing a position he's never played before. He's adjusting well... I wouldn't have a problem throwing him in the game to play corner right now." With all the experience in the secondary, the Aggie DBs are looking to rack up more interceptions, giving the ball back to the offense, Rushing said. "We play teams that throw the ball, and now we're going to be fighting for (interceptions)," Brindley said. "Teams are going to throw the ball, regardless, so we've just got to make more plays on it." "This is a fun conference ' for a corner, and we've got a lot of guys who are going to get a chance to get out there and-show what they can do," Rushing said. - da.bake@aggiemail.usu. edu Home: Six gymnasts in Regionals I continuedfrompage 13 Asscher cut is a unique, new look in diamonds. Its simple, clean lines make a remarkable differentiation to the traditional round or princess cut diamonds. If you want a unique shape of diamond in your engagement ring, an Asscher cut diamond will make a lasting impression. Store Hours.Monday-Saturday 10.00-7.00 Where Utah Gets Engaged/ 141 North Main •752-7149 www.seneedham.com f Mt the tlgm of tht thth, Tschida said she is excited for the regional meet and is fortunate for the opportunity to perform on floor, which is her best event. "I'm at the point in my career where I'm hurt enough that I can only do one or two events, and I'm just glad that it's floor and I was selected to regionals," she said. "I just hope to do my best and have fun." In order for it not to be her last meet, Tschida will have to qualify for the NCAA National Championship meet and duplicate her WAC Championship performance in winning the apparatus. "I do believe that if we have anyone qualify for the national championships, the performance that Megan had at the conference meet would have to be repeated and hopefully we'll be going to Georgia," Corn said. Felley who has an RQS of 38.595 in the all-around, is ranked 17th in the region. Felley said she anticipates the weekend and her goal is to qualify for nationals. "I'm going to have to be doing my best on every event," she said. "I'm excited because I feel that we've all trained pretty well these past two weeks." Heinrich, who has a 38.320 RQS, is ranked 19th in the region. For both Felley and Heinrich, Corn said the two gymnasts will have to have "the meet of their lives" to give themselves the opportunity to the national championships. "It's not impossible but they are going to have to be absolutely perfect (to have a slot into the national championships)," he said. Minion qualified to regionals with a 9.840 vault RQS, ranking 10th in the region. Boone has a 9.600 RQS on beam, which ranked her 47th regionally. Because Boone is ranked 47th, Corn said it will be tough for her to get into the national championships because of where she stands on a national basis. Simoneau, who has an 9.845 RQS, is ranked sixth in the regionals. Only event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships scheduled to take place April 24-26 in Athens, Ga. "We entered our season at the WAC championships, and we feel this is our kick-off for the 2008-2009 season," Corn said. "I just want the team to continue to compete to their potential and represent Utah State, and it's a very big opportunity to do recruiting." This is just the fifth time in 31 years the Aggies have not advanced to regionals as a team, and the second in the last three years after not qualifying in 2006. •candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu |