NORTHWEST NOTES March 25, 2011

| March 25, 2011 9:00 PM

NIC softball team returns

home to face Salt Lake

COEUR d'ALENE - One way or another, the North Idaho Cardinal softball team will take on the fifth-ranked Salt Lake Bruins today in a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader in Coeur d'Alene beginning at 1 p.m.

The games will serve as the home opener for NIC (20-14, 13-10 SWAC) at Memorial Field - the Cardinals had a pair of games against Southern Idaho moved to Moses Lake earlier this month.

Should Memorial Field be unplayable, the games may be moved to Coeur d'Alene High, weather permitting.

Salt Lake swept the opening four-game series between the two Feb. 9-10 in St. George, Utah.

"They were the very first team we played in conference," NIC coach Don Don Williams said. "A couple of the games were close. We've improved in all areas and our defense has tightened up. Our pitching is solid and improved, but so have they. They're a really good team."

Salt Lake (30-6, 22-2) holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Southern Idaho for first place. NIC sophomore catcher Shelby Gonzales leads the conference with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs.

The teams conclude their weekend series Saturday with a noon doubleheader.

Ex-Coug Greeny named

WSU volleyball coach

PULLMAN - Jennifer Stinson Greeny was named volleyball coach at Washington State, the school announced.

Greeny was volleyball coach at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston for the past four years, accumulating a 112-24 record and .824 winning percentage after taking over in 2007.

After graduating from Davenport High, she went to WSU on a volleyball scholarship and ranks third in block assists (360), fourth in total blocks (419), seventh in solo blocks (59) and 10th in kills (1,006) and was a three-time all conference selection.

During her playing career, WSU was ranked as high as fifth in the country and made the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.

Shock travel to Iowa tonight

The Spokane Shock (0-2) will travel to Iowa tonight at 5 p.m. PDT to face the Iowa Barnstormers (0-1). The game will be broadcast nationally on the NFL Network (DirecTV 212, Dish Network 154).