Category Archives: Volleyball

Geoducks Battle In Season Openers

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SPOKANE, Wash. – Opening up a new era, the Evergreen Geoducks battled tough but fell in both of their season opening matches on Thursday at the Red Lion Cascade/Frontier Challenge in Spokane, Wash.  The Geoducks went four sets with 25th-ranked Carroll in their first match before falling to Great Falls in the day’s finale.

#25 Carroll 3, Evergreen 1

In their first match of 2013, the Geoducks gave the nationally-ranked Saints all that they could handle, taking the second set before falling in four.

Junior Victoria Love (Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Hartnell College) shined in her Evergreen debut, throwing down 16 kills with just two errors on 39 attempts for a .359 clip.   Senior Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Mountain View HS/Trevecca Nazarene Univ.) had a solid match as well, putting down 13 kills.  Kelsey Delagrange (Longview, Wash./Kelso HS/Mt. Hood CC) had 35 assists on the afternoon while Liza Domingo (Ka’a’awa, Hawai’i/Kahuku HS/Lower Columbia College)  had 13 digs.

As a team, the Geoducks hit .180 on the match, connecting for 42 kills with 18 errors on 133 total attacks.  Evergreen finished with seven blocks and eight service aces in the loss.

Great Falls 3, Evergreen 0

In their final match of the first day, the Geoducks struggled to find their swing as the Argos of Great Falls took advantage to collect the sweep.

Love added eight kills in the loss, adding a pair of blocks.  Delagrange put up 21 assists with Domingo finished the match with 18 digs.

The Geoducks will be back in action on Friday when they take on North Idaho in a scrimmage at 10 a.m. and Montana State-Northern at 4 p.m.  Both matches will be played at the HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake, Wash.

Geoducks Gear Up For Fall

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Having opened fall camp on Monday, the Evergreen Geoducks are working hard to get ready for the fall sports season.

The Evergreen men’s soccer team starts the 2013 season as the favorite to take second place in the Cascade Conference standings this season after earning a trip to the conference title game last season.  The Geoducks will be led by 2012 CCC Defensive Player of the Year Brady Espinoza (Pasco, Wash./Walla Walla CC) and 2012 CCC Newcomer of the Year Willie Spurr (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt HS). The green and white open up the 2013 season on August 17 with a home match against Trinity Lutheran.

The Geoduck women’s soccer team was predicted ninth in the preseason conference poll and will be led by senior midfielder Sophie Krauza (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial HS), who earned Honorable Mention All-CCC honors as a junior.  Also returning will be senior goalkeeper Kaitlin Mackenzie (Lake Stevens, Wash./Shoreline CC) after posting a 2.48 GAA with a .698 save percentage last season.  The team opens up the season on Aug. 31 when they play host to Rocky Mountain in an NAIA non-conference match.

A new era in Evergreen volleyball begins this season as Angela Spoja takes over as head coach following a successful run at Tacoma Community College. Selected 10th in the CCC coaches’ poll, the Geoducks will be led by seniors Cassidy Watkins (Tucson, Ariz./Trevecca Nazarene Univ.) and Brittany Covert (Chino Hills, Calif./Northern Michigan Univ.).  Watkins averaged 2.95 kills per set in 2012 while Covert put down 1.88 kills per set and secured 0.61 blocks per set as a junior.

The Geoducks will open the 2013 season on Aug. 22, taking on traditional power Carroll (Mont.) as part of the Red Lion Cascade/Frontier Challenge in Spokane, Wash.

While not on campus yet, the Geoduck cross country program looks to rebound this season under head coach Chris Ertman.  Aaron Jones (San Bruno, Calif./Capuchino HS) should be the number one runner for the men’s squad while sophomore Jamie Cummins (Lopez, Wash./Lopez HS) will lead the Evergreen women.  The Geoducks are set to open the season on Sep. 7 at the Apple Ridge Run in Yakima, Wash.

Geoducks Honor Own at Annual Recreation and Athletics Banquet

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – With the 2012-13 year nearly behind us, the Evergreen Geoducks took an opportunity to look back and honor extraordinary achievements at the annual Recreation and Athletics Banquet on May 30 at the CRC Gymnasium.

Following a catered dinner, Evergreen Director of Recreation and Athletics Matt Newman took an opportunity to honor retiring Vice President for Student Affairs Art Costantino, presenting him with a lifetime season ticket, as well as a lifetime pass to work out at the CRC.

Each of the Geoducks varsity sports, as well as aquatics, The Outdoor Program, Challenge Course and CRC Operations and Event Staff, had the opportunity to reflect on the last year and hand out awards for outstanding achievement.

Evergreen Student-Athletic Advisory Committee handed out an inaugural Contributor Award, which allowed Geoduck student-athletes to recognize an individual for all their support of Evergreen athletics.  The initial award went to Chris Balske, Director of Sports Medicine, for his endless support of Geoduck athletes.

The Geoducks also handed out participation awards to all the student-athletes.  First year varsity athletes received a felt letter while second year letter winners were awarded a Speedy Q. Geoduck pin.  Third year letter winners received a scarf while five four year letter winners were awarded an embroidered blanket.

Graduating seniors from across Recreation and Athletics were also honored for their academic achievement, receiving a portfolio that can be used as they enter the professional world.

The final awards presented were the Student-Athlete of the Year awards, which were presented by Assistant Athletic Director Monica Heuer.  Senior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) was named Female Student-Athlete of the Year after a record-breaking career as a member of the women’s basketball team.  Sophomore Les Jones (Tacoma, Wash./Mt. Tahoma HS) was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year after setting three school records during the indoor and outdoor track and field season.

Evergreen Selects Spoja as Next Volleyball Coach

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Following a nationwide search, The Evergreen State College has selected Angela Spoja as the fifth volleyball coach in school history.

Spoja joins Evergreen after a successful eight-year run at Tacoma Community College.  A three-time NWAACC Coach of the Year, she led the Titans to a record of 155-60, including undefeated marks in league in both 2007 and 2010.

“I am excited to be joining the Evergreen family,” said Spoja.  “I am anxious to start building a winning volleyball program that reflects the college and the community and I’d like to thank the administration and student-athletes for giving me this opportunity.”

A two-year letterwinner at Eastern Washington University, she also oversees operations for The Edge Volleyball Club and South Sound Volleyball Club in Tacoma, Wash.  Following her collegiate career, she was a member of the American Volleyball Professionals (AVP) from 1997-2009.

“Angela emerged from a very strong pool of applicants as the top candidate,” said Matt Newman, director of recreation and athletics.  “She positions us very well to move forward with a solid volleyball program, something our student-athletes and supporters deserve.”

The Geoducks open up Cascade Conference play on Sep. 6 when they play host to Concordia.

Evergreen Announces Search for Volleyball Coach

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Evergreen State College has officially opened the search for its next head volleyball coach.  A position description and information about Evergreen and application procedures can be found at http://evergreen.edu/employment/staffjobs.htm.

About Evergreen

The Evergreen State College is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences college known for its distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum, high level of student/faculty engagement and emphasis on putting learning into action. The Evergreen State College campus is just west of Olympia, Wash. and is about 1,000 acres in size. In total area, Evergreen has the largest campus of any public four-year school in Washington state. Much of the campus consists of undeveloped woodlands and beautiful Puget Sound waterfront. Major college guidebooks have spotlighted the strong academics and affordability of The Evergreen State College. The 2005 Princeton Review specifically noted Evergreen as the “Best in the West,” and a “Best Value College.” U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 edition lists Evergreen as #15 of 20 for students graduating with the least amount of debt, and one of the 26-best schools in the nation for “learning communities.” In 2003, Outdoor magazine named Olympia as one of the best college towns in the nation.