November 8, 2007
UVSC triumphs in variety of sports
Women hoopsters clobber Eastern Oregon, 85-59
By Jason Adkins
Deseret Morning News
OREM — In its only preseason warm-up, Utah Valley State's women's basketball team beat Eastern Oregon 85-59 last Friday.
Only up by two with less than 15 minutes left in the second half, a 16-1 run by the Wolverines gave the appearance of an easy win despite Eastern Oregon's tenacity.
Sandy Marvin led all UVSC scorers with 20 points, followed by Robyn Fairbanks putting in 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Eastern Oregon held a 29-23 lead late in the first half before UVSC's 13-1 run closed out the half and gave the Wolverines a 36-30 lead at the break.
UVSC starts the regular season with back-to-back games starting with a 7 p.m. matchup against Mesa State on Friday and then coming back on Saturday afternoon to take on Cal State-Fullerton at 3 p.m.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ryan Toolson showed he hasn't skipped a beat from last year by leading UVSC in scoring in both of its exhibition wins.
A tough game was in store on Monday against Westminster as UVSC pulled through to get a hard-earned 79-67 victory. But the Wolverines had a fight on their hands as Westminster held a three-point lead early in the second half before falling away.
Toolson finished with 27 points and six assists.
Taking on Mesa State on Nov. 1, the Wolverines had an easy time as they won 91-59.
Toolson scored 19 points and led UVSC with eight assists. Joe Walker earned a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Goals have been rare for UVSC this season, and it was shut out once again as it lost 3-0 to Eastern Washington in its last regular-season game on Sunday.
Eastern Washington struck early in getting a goal in the seventh minute. Two more goals were added in the second half to give UVSC its second straight loss.
The Wolverines put up nine shots, but Eastern Washington's 19 put them on the offensive for most of the match.
UVSC returns home to host the United Soccer Conference tournament. The Wolverines earned a first-round bye and face the winner of the New Jersey Institute of Technology/South Carolina State game in the semifinals.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Wins against in-state opponents has been rare as UVSC has only beaten Weber State previously this season.
But the Wolverines got a big win as they swept Utah State last Thursday (30-18, 30-26, 30-26) — their first win over the Aggies in four tries.
Jessica Endres hit .520 and had 15 kills. Camie Manwill earned a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs.
On Tuesday, Weber State got revenge for an early season loss by coming back from an opening game loss in taking the next three (18-30, 23-30, 32-30, 27-30).
WRESTLING: Three wrestlers placed in the Eastern Michigan Open last weekend.
Gehrhart Vuksinick was the highest Wolverine finsher with a fourth-place result in the 165-pound division. Vuksinick went 4-2 in the tournament.
The best record for UVSC grapplers went to Ben Kjar, who went 6-1 — good enough for fifth place — in the 125-pound class. Jeff Newby placed sixth at 141 pounds and won five of his seven matches.
On tap
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: vs. Mesa State on Friday at 7 p.m.; vs. Cal State-Fullerton Saturday at 3 p.m.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: at Boise State on Friday; at Marquette on Monday; at Arkansas State on Wednesday.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: vs. Nevada on Saturday at 1 p.m.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: vs. NJIT/South Carolina State winner on Friday at 1 p.m. in United Soccer Conference tournament; (if UVSC advances) championship on Sunday at noon.
WRESTLING: at Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo., on Saturday.
MEN'S GOLF: at Agua-Caliente Air Force Academy Collegiate Invitational in Palm Springs, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday.