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Show SPORTS B1 Coaches and media tab UVU to finish fourth Aird and Hunsaker selected to preseason All-WAC teams By Kyle Spencer Sports Editor @kyledspencer Basketball season is upon us, and the Wolverines face the challenge of competing in previously unchartered waters as they set their focus on winning the WAC to qualify for the NCAA tournament. With WAC membership also comes a connection to Las Vegas, where the league's annual media day was held Oct. 15. Although UVU is one of six new teams to join the conference, the Wolverines were picked to finish fourth and along with New Mexico State, are the only team to have two of its players chosen to the preseason All-WAC teams. "I don't think I've ever coached a team that's been picked (to finish fourth)," head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "We've either been low or high, and when you're in the middle I guess you're not too far from moving up to the top and you're not too far from the bottom either. "I think that's a very fair assessment of our team, maybe even a little bit high. Holton and Ben, although they are very accomplished players, that's really the crux of what we have returning. We have a lot of new players that are going to have to come in and play well to compete to attain that level. Any aspirations to move up and challenge for a league championship — we're going to have to have outstanding play from new- 66 Any aspirations to move up and challenge for a league championship —we're going to have to have outstanding play from newcomers. DICK HUNSAKER Head Coach PP comers." Ben Aird, who averaged 15.1 points per game, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots on his way to being named to the final All-GWC first team last season, was recognized in both preseason polls as a first team All-WAC performer. Holton Hunsaker also joined Aird on the GWC first team at the conclusion of the 2012-13 campaign thanks to his 13.2 points per game and 3.1 assists. Hunsaker was honored on the preseason AllWAC second team. "Holton has a great court leadership presence as far as directing a team," Hunsaker said. "Ben is a very skilled, large low post player with a lot of savvy and a lot of experience. We're going to build around them without question, but not without a lot of production and assistance from teammates Only four players (Holton Hunsaker, Ben Aird, Keawe Enos and Taylor Brown) return from the 2012-13 roster. and newcomers. We're going to need them to compete successfully in the WAC." Keawe Enos and Taylor Brown are the only other players that are back from the team that went 14-18 last year before exiting the GWC tournament in the opening round. Enos will likely join Hunsaker and Aird in the starting lineup this season after playing in 30 games and tallying seven starts in UVU's ultimate slate of GWC competi- tion. Enos scored in double figures in three of the Wolverines' seven August games in China. The remaining two slots of the first five Wolverines on the court are still in question, but it isn't unreasonable to suggest PHOTO COURTESY OF UVU ATHLETICS that freshman forward Zach Nelson from Yuba City, Calif. and junior transfer Mitch Bruneel, who played his freshman sea- MEN B4 WAC teams getting served by UVU The Wolverines were able to get back over .500 By Jessica Whalen Sports Writer jlhwhalen@gmail.com The UVU women's volleyball team has won nine of their last 11 games. Utah Valley was able to sweep three conference matches earlier this month by beating Texas-Pan American (25-9, 25-11, 25-23), Kansas City (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 15-7), and Chicago State (25-13, 25-14, 26-24). Kalani Norris, a junior outside hitter, helped the Wolverines in I The women's basketball team won the 2013 GWC regular season crown. their three victories, recording 42 kills and 25 digs. Norris has been exceptional in the past few games while also recording a doubledouble of 22 kills and 18 digs. Her help came when it was needed most. Norris leads the Wolverines in kills UVU has been able to turn its season around. As a team, the Wolverines have a hitting percentage of .226 and are averaging 1.23 service aces per set. Sophomore Lauren Stringham is the team-leader in blocks, and junior McKenna Tait is first in the WAC in service aces per set. Utah Valley had its first loss after its three-game winning streak against Bakersfield. The Wolver- ines won eight out of their last nine matches, including a 6-1 record on the road. "It's always a challenge to win on the road," said head coach Sam Atoa. "But we're hoping to feed off of our recent successes away from home." The Wolverines didn't let their loss to Bakersfield dictate their upcoming games. Utah Valley was able to sweep Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz. (25-12, 25-14, 25-22). This was the first meeting between the teams. With the win, the Wolverines moved to 11-10 overall and 5-2 in the WAC. "Sometimes it's hard to respond after a loss, but the girls did just VOLLEYBALL B5 i PHOTO COURTESY OF UVU ATHLETICS Wolverines picked to finish fourth in the WAC The Wolverines have capable replacements in their first season without Sammie Jensen By Matthew Baiamonte Sports Writer @baiamontematt WAC Media Day came and went, and now the Wolverines will attempt to venture into this season without the best player the women's program has ever had, Sammie Jensen. "We definitely will be a different a team," head coach Cathy Nixon said. "Just in terms of our philosophy and strengths. For the last three years we built a lot of what we did around Sammie on both ends of the floor. We're excited about the mark that Sammie left on our program, and we hope that we can carry on what she provided for us." Even without the services of Jensen, UVU was picked to finish fourth by the media and sixth by opposing coaches in the WAC preseason polls. Jensen isn't the only departing player who played a large role on last year's team. Kaycee Mansfield, Cydne Gray and Alle Finch Cardwell will be missed as well. Those four players started a combined 237 games for the Wolverines. This year's squad only returns five players who have played for UVU before, and one of those five didn't log a second of game time last season. "With Whitney Jenkins, Ashley Klemz, Sam Loggins and Tina Doughty, we will need them to mature quickly," Nixon said. "We're going to call on them as well as the girls who redshirted. Although they weren't playing last year, they did participate in practice." Kyra Prause, who redshirted last season with a hamstring injury, returns as a fifth-year senior. She is capable of playing lock down defense and because of that she will likely be assigned to guard the opponent's best offensive player. Prause is a two-way player. She has good touch around the rim and can stretch the floor with her outside shooting. The Wolverines are lucky to have such a versatile player returning during a year where experience runs thin. "Kyra brings great energy," Nixon said. "She's very aggressive, athletic, and quick defensively and she has a lot of tools on the offensive end. I think she's a much better player now than before she got hurt." Jenkins and Doughty are the two returning players from last season that played large roles Jenkins started every game as a junior and Doughty was second on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game. Doughty is poised to become the team's leading scorer, and she will have the ball in her hands in late game situations. She can score from anywhere on the floor. If she can prove herself defensively, she has an outside shot at winning conference player of the year. Doughty was selected to the WAC preseason second team by the media. Jenkins is the team leader. Her teammates and coaches both love her work ethic and versatility. She is a good defender and a strong offensive player as well. Her only weak spot is the long ball. She shot 21 percent from three-point range last season. If she can become a threat from the land of plenty she and Doughty could become one of the most feared guard tandems in the WAC. 616 We are seeing how we can mesh our returning kids with the redshirts we have. CATHY NIXON Head coach PP Klemz and Loggins round out the returning players. Klemz was the backup point guard behind Cydne Gray and she will likely start as the point guard this year, though redshirt freshman Georgia Agnew is pushing her for that starting job. Klemz is fast with the basketball and isn't afraid to pull the trigger when she has an open look. Last season she made 30 percent of her three point attempts. The Wolverines will need Klemz or Agnew to step up and run the team this year. Loggins is the type of player that UVU hasn't had in quite some time. The sophomore from Idaho is sixfoot-five. She played sparingly last season, but those days of limited minutes are gone. She will start at center and has a chance to be a gamechanger for the Wolverines. She has a soft touch around the rim and is an above average shot blocker. She only averaged six minutes a game last year so foul trouble and fatigue will be the only things that stand in WOMEN B2 McKenna Tait signals a play to the rest of the Wolverines. Tait leads the WAC in service aces per set. LAURA FOX//UVU REVIEW |