Women's softball 'find themselves' in Sunshine State for tournament action

By Jason Stuebe - Sports Editor

It had the potential to be a disaster. The Stars were coming off a bad showing at the Evangel Tournament and a devastating two game loss to Olivet Nazarene in the home opener. But that didn't seem to phase the resolve of the Stars softball squad as they rallied towards the end of their spring break trip to Pensacola, Fla., and regained some momentum but more importantly, confidence.

Though the seven game University of West Florida Spring Fling Tournament yielded only a 2-5 record for the Stars, the tale of the trip goes above and beyond the raw stats sheet.

“We've got a big group of juniors and seniors who work so hard and when you fall off a bit it takes its toll mentally,” said head coach Joe Fisher. “It started to wear on them, so we made some changes with their warm-up and in the line up and we became more productive in those last two games.”

Those two wins came at the expense of Southern Virginia University, where the Stars produced a 6-0 shutout and #21 Ohio Dominican University who dropped 8-6 to the Stars in extra innings.

The win against ODU was vindication for UIS after an 11-1 rout two days prior and featured plenty of late game heroics.

With the game knotted at six apiece at the conclusion of seven, UIS senior Chikayla Moss stepped up for what turned out to be the game winning single and drove both Christie Wantland and Sarah Boothman home to take a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the inning.

The game did come at some expense, however, as UIS sophomore Angela Becker collided with the freight train that was ODU's Gina Schneider at third base. The collision nearly broke Becker's shin though after a trip to the hospital it was ruled to be a contusion (a deep bone bruise for those of you who are not orthopedic studies) which has put her out for at least 10 days from the time of the accident.

What really improved for the Stars throughout the tournament was the defense. In the two losses to Olivet Nazarene, the Stars committed seven errors. On the road in Florida the Stars committed only nine over the course of seven games.

“I would say that half of that was playing outside for the first time and the other half was the mental aspect,” said Fisher, “everyone's a champion when you practice in the gym, after we got out there and played a bit, we got better which improved our outlook on things.”

In the five earlier games of the tournament, the Stars dropped to Grandview College 5-0, the University of West Florida 12-0, Missouri Baptist 4-1, Ohio Dominican 11-1 and Belhaven 7-1.

Even though the Stars didn't come out of the tournament as was hoped statistically speaking, they did gain some much needed momentum and maybe even a bit of introspection.

“Florida brought us together, which is good,” said Fisher, “we've got two weeks to get back up to .500 and I think we've got a good opportunity to get there.”

Women's tennis gets an education in Florida

By Jason Stuebe - Sports Editor

The Prairie Stars women's tennis squad dropped to 1-3 overall during their 0-3 showing at the University of West Florida tournament.

The Stars dropped matches against some heavy hitters, including Eastern Illinois University (6-3), No. 16 Berry College (9-0) and Mobile University (7-2).

While the defeats left something to be desired on the stat sheet, they did prove to be a valuable educational tool for the squad, who walked into the season ranked No. 24.

“All our girls played really well against some really incredible teams, especially Mobile who should be ranked,” said head coach Dom Giacomini. “In all of those games you look back and say, ‘gosh, those scores could have easily been reversed.'”

Nearly all the matches were decided by a razor thin margin, in particular their third match against Mobile , which saw all but one split their singles sets, though Jennifer Poss was the only one to come out with a decisive win when she defeated Mobile 's Tiffany Crenshaw 6-2, 6-4. Poss then went on to team up with Christine Tabayoyong to defeat the duo of Crenshaw and Maria Aguirre 8-2 in doubles action.

“We lost 7-2, but really it could have been the other way around,” said Giacomini. “Maybe we were overconfident, but all in all, it was good exposure to play other teams outside of our region.”

Apparently, the Stars made a good impression on the host teams as both wanted UIS back next year at their own respective tournaments over spring break 2006.

The Stars will take their No. 26 ranking and hope to improve it and their record as they travel to Kansas City for a three-day tournament which will put them against powerhouse William Jewell, Baker University and Benedictine.

The Stars return home on Friday, April 8,to face McKendree College at Washington Park .

UIS Tennis spanks Harris Stowe

By Jason Stuebe - Sports Editor

Maybe it was because it was a new program for Harris Stowe. Then again, maybe it was just because it was Harris Stowe. Regardless of the reasons, both Men's and Women's Tennis squads soundly defeated the Hornets 8-0.

Both the men and the women went undefeated in both singles and doubles competition. In fact, on the women's side not a single game was won by Harris Stowe in any singles match in which every UIS lady won 6-0, 6-0. Yeah, get out the checkbook and pay Grandma for the rubdown.

Elite 8 a glimpse into the future

By Mark Brockett - Sports Reporter

There are few words that can describe the weekend of college basketball we just had. In my lifetime, I can't recall a weekend in the men's NCAA tournament where all four games in the Elite Eight were filled with excitement, shock and disbelief. But, the best is yet to come as the Final Four promises to leave no fan disappointed.

To best prepare for what is to come this Saturday night, we should reflect on the regional final games from last Saturday and Sunday, starting with Louisville's comeback win against the lovable West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers couldn't have shot any better in the first half than they did. I've never seen a three point shooting display like that from any team at any time. Spearheaded by this year's tournament darling Kevin Pitsnogle, it looked as if the underdog Mountaineers would shoot every light out and break every bracket left that is still breathing. But with great half time adjustments from one of the best coaches in the game today, Rick Pitino, the Cardinals chipped away at the lead, which at one point was at 20 points, and forced overtime after just missing a game winning shot attempt from guard Taquean Dean at the end of regulation.

In the overtime, the Cardinals defensive pressure was too much for the inexperienced Mountaineers and the three point attempts that were falling in the first half were starting to clank off the rim. Louisville puts its name in first for the four teams that would be dancing in St. Louis.

The comeback victory would be a sign of things to come for the final game of the day. In what may have been the greatest and most shocking turnaround that these eyes have ever seen, our beloved Fighting Illini erased a 15 point deficit in the final four minutes of the second half against the hated Wildcats of Arizona and forced overtime at 80-80.

The play of guards Deron Williams and Luther Head, along with the step up job from forward reserve Jack Ingram led the Illini to a one point victory and the hometown crowd in Rosemont, Illinois, went bananas.

A few things stick with me in this game. The question was answered as to whether this team could play through adversity late in a game. Plus, Arizona might have deserved to win the game if college basketball games were only 36 minutes as the passion to succeed was overwhelming for the favored Illini. But the desire of the best team in the country would not be denied on that night and Arizona found out the hard way that the rankings and numbers were no lie or an exaggeration. And it didn't help that they had some horrible ball handling experiences when dealing with the full court pressure. After nearly jumping through the roof of my home, I came back down to earth and realized that we had our first match up for the Final Four, Illinois vs. Louisville.

Easter Sunday brought two match-ups in which the media had pegged as easier games to call or predict as there has been a collective effort from the majority of experts of college basketball all season to dump all over the Big Ten despite having the number one team in the nation.

First game played was the media favorite Tar Heels of North Carolina playing against an overachieving group of Badgers from Wisconsin. In what was a shock, Wisconsin hung with the Tar Heels all game but lacked the number of big plays that it takes to win close games such as this. My feelings about North Carolina are somewhat distorted as I feel Villanova was screwed over against them during their Sweet Sixteen match up. Folks, there are times when you call traveling and this was not one of them unless you are looking to benefit the media's favorite team. All animosity aside, the Tar Heels had superb play for center Sean May and he carried the team to a six point win to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2000.

The final game brought the Wildcats of Kentucky playing against the red hot Michigan State Spartans. Led by great coaching from Tom Izzo and solid performances on the glass, the Spartans hung on to upset Kentucky despite blowing a late lead in the second half and going to two overtimes to determine the outcome. This was a game in which the Spartans matched up well with the higher seeded Wildcats as they have more experience on their team in games like these. Kentucky is one of the younger teams in the nation and will most likely be the top team next season when it all gets going again.

But for now, we have completed the process of determining who would be exiting off to St. Louis on the road to the Final Four. In the games, I see the following taking place. Michigan State will shock the more talented but less than stellar Tar Heels and advance to the championship to play the Fighting Illini, who will have had their hands full with the Cardinals by going to overtime yet again to become victorious. Thus, an all Big Ten final is on the horizon and the Illini will bring it home and send their campus and ours into frenzy. If Illinois is to play in the championship game, I think it would be fitting to see classes put on hold that evening to witness what we may never see again in this state. Yes, last weekend was great, but the best is yet to come.

Stuebe’s Sporting Goods
Finding the light switch

By Jason Stuebe - Sports Editor

Normally when you think of leaving to go somewhere on spring break you try to go someplace that is warm with a beach, a cooler and scantily clad women. You do not think of Grand Rapids , Michigan .

Now, I didn't spend my whole vacation there. In fact, I wasn't even there a full 24 hours. The time spent is irrelevant to the epiphany of sorts that I had while watching the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Elite 8 between Calvin College (not the president, the school) and Millikin University . Yes you may start laughing now. Not only did I drive five hours to watch Division III basketball, I drove five hours to watch women's basketball.

The reason behind my going to Grand Rapids are equally irrelevant to the story; just know that I did have ulterior motives. I quickly realized however that despite my “other” motives, me sitting down at that game was needed. In fact, I wish everyone that cares about sports at UIS could have sat next to me at that game.

This (whatever “this” is I'm not sure, it's probably going to be a long rant that approximates nothing), is not about the game per se, even though the Big Blue (still trying to figure out what that is, to be honest) went on to not only win that game but also the two subsequent games in Virginia Beach, which landed them a national title. Instead, it was about the aura of that game.

When I arrived in that freezing little community just across the lake from Milwaukee, I was expecting to see a lame game of same ol', same ol' women's basketball which features absolutely no rhyme or reason to any aspect of the game (I'm not being sexist by the way, it's not just that its played by women, there's other factors involved, too). What I expected and what I saw however, were completely different.

I saw an incredible game fundamentally played by a solid bunch of undersized girls that ran circles around an oversized opponent. More importantly however, I saw at least 200 fans (not just family mind you) waving their flags, acting like goofballs and dedicated enough to make the five hour trip to support their women's team and charge the floor at the sound of the final buzzer.

Now, I wasn't and am not posing as a fan of Millikin, but it was a great experience to be caught up in, watching the net be cut, talking to players after the game, reveling in having some connection to a team that had just earned a ticket to the Final Four. All of this left me to wonder, why not here? Why not UIS?

Millikin is a school half our size with 10 times the enthusiasm for its sports. And I admit, I've been less than enthused lately – but like I said, that trip to Grand Rapids was an awakening of sorts. So in a way, I would hope that this serves as an awakening for you all out there as well. We do a good job right now, but we could certainly do better.

Some might argue that I'm comparing apples to oranges, they have more money, they are older, this that and the other thing. Well, Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Athletic Director, Mr. Vice Chancellor, go find us some money. Promote our programs better. Find the light switch that illuminates what could and should be a proud aspect of our campus. Because right now, I fear we're just wandering aimlessly in the dark. As always, Go Stars!

Snapshots

Men's Basketball

NAIA National Tournament ( Kansas City , Mo. )

While John Brown was off to the races and stealing the NAIA D-I Men's Basketball Championship, American Midwest Conference foes Missouri Baptist and Columbia dropped in the first round while McKendree was on the outside looking in.

Women's Basketball

NAIA National Tournament ( Jackson , Tenn. )

Union ( Tenn. ) came out of the Women's National Tournament with a championship trophy after defeating No.1 Oklahoma City last Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the AMC was represented by McKendree, who fell out in the first round, and Columbia , who made it to the second round but stood defeated against Point Loma Nazarene.

Women's Softball

McKendree Tournament ( Lebanon , Ill. )

The ladies of the diamond just can't catch a break when it comes to playing, thanks to Mother Nature. Last Wednesday's game against Lindenwood was cancelled thanks to a rainstorm that turned the UIS softball fields into a rice paddy, while the weekend tournament to be held last Friday and Saturday was axed because of rain as well. The Stars are hoping for blue skies and a batter's breeze when they return home this Thursday to open up the conference season against Missouri Baptist.

Get well soon Becker!!!

Men's Tennis

NAIA National Rankings

Last week, the ITA released its national rankings which featured UIS' Alim Mambetov as No. 36 in the national singles and the tandem of Mambetov and Esteban Czwan, who were ranked No. 20 in the nation for doubles competition.

Women's Tennis

UIS vs. Lindenwood ( Washington Park )

The Prairie Stars defeated Lindenwood on March 11, 6-3, which at the time put their record at 3-1. The Stars' victory was led by No. 2 Christine Tabayoyong, who defeated Cardina Correa 6-2, 7-6. Also notching victories were the Jennifers cubed: Poss, Cloyd and Gebben in singles competition and Georgena Wulfers/Cloyd and Tabayoyong/Poss in doubles.

The Stars, who just missed the top 25 in the NAIA ratings, will try to get back in as they begin a three day road trip to Kansas City on April 1-3 to face William Jewell, Baker and Benedictine.

Upcoming Games

March 31, 2005

Women's Softball vs. Missouri Baptist

2:00 p.m. @ UIS Athletics West

April 3, 2005

Men's Tennis vs. Quincy

9:00 a.m. @ Washington Park

Women's softball 'find themselves' in Sunshine State for tournament action

Women's tennis gets an education in Florida

UIS Tennis spanks Harris Stowe

Elite 8 a glimpse into the future

Stuebe’s Sporting Goods

Snapshots