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Fall
2004
l Capital University Journal
Hornet
Sports 2003-2004 in review
Volleyball
Volleyball captured its seventh-consecutive Big Sky Conference Championship,
and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last seven
years. Five Hornets received all-conference honors including setter Lisa
Beauchene, who was Big Sky MVP and Big Sky Player of the Week five times.
Head coach Debby Colberg was named Big Sky Coach of the Year for the sixth
time in seven years.
Women’s tennis
Women’s tennis won its third-straight Big Sky title, advancing to
the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. The Hornets posted a
program-best 23-4 overall record and a final ranking of 37th in the nation.
The team had three players nationally ranked for the first time in school
history, including ITA All-American Margarita Karnaukhova (33rd), Anna
Erikson (44th) and Roberta Fessenko (124th). Head coach Bill Campbell
was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.
Men’s basketball
Men’s basketball posted numerous Division I records, including highest
finish in the Big Sky (tied for second), most victories at home (10) and
most overall wins (13). The team hosted a Big Sky Tournament game for
the first time ever. Seniors Joel Jones and Joseth Dawson were each named
to the Big Sky all-conference team, with Jones becoming the team’s
first two-time all-Big Sky player.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics sent four athletes to the NCAA West Regional. Senior Binta
Coleman and junior Nirvana Zaher qualified in the all-around, while juniors
Meloney Greer and Stefanie Aeder earned a bid on bars and floor respectively.
The team recorded the top two scores in school history, and has won four
conference titles over the last five years.
Track & field
Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams set school
records for points scored at the Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships
in March. The men’s team added a school record third-place showing
at the Big Sky outdoor championships. The team was also represented at
the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships by Robert Linkul
(hammer) and André Wright (110 meter hurdles).
Baseball
Behind the pitching of junior Ethan Katz, baseball upset second-ranked
Stanford on April 24. The squad had five players named to the all-independent
baseball team, including first team selections Jack Arroyo, Craig Johnson
and Katz. Head coach John Smith was named Independent Coach of the Year.
Arroyo, Johnson and John Acha were drafted in the 2004 Major League Baseball
amateur draft.
Rowing
Rowing won the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia for the first
time, while the team’s varsity eight posted a 7-0 dual-meet record
and earned a silver medal at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association
Championships. Senior Stephanie Brow earned second team all-West Region
honors. The Hornets hosted the NCAA Women’s Rowing National Championships
in May, and will host the regatta next year, at the Sac State Aquatic
Center in Rancho Cordova.
Softball
Softball finished with a 32-28 overall record and tied a school record
with five all-conference
selections (seniors Nicole Deatherage and Amy Walter, and juniors Brianne
Ferguson, Erin Coyne and Lesley Mayhorn). Deatherage, a pitcher, was named
all-West Region, wrapping up a year in which she was named Hornet Bookstore
Female Student-Athlete of the Year, first team academic all-district,
and second team all-Pacific Coast Softball Conference.
Football
Quarterback Ryan Leadingham was named Division I-AA National Offensive
Player of the Week after helping the Hornets defeat 12th ranked Idaho
State, 47-21. He set the school record in the game by throwing six touchdown
passes. Offensive lineman Marko Cavka was selected in the sixth round
of the 2004 NFL draft by the New York Jets, joining former teammate Ricky
Ray who signed as a free agent with the Jets in January. Lineman Chris
Frank signed a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.
Men’s Soccer
Men’s soccer midfielder Sam Sneed was named Hornet Bookstore Male
Student-Athlete of the Year. A three-time all-Mountain Pacific Sports
Federation selection, Sneed led in scoring as a starter in all 18 games.