Northwest Notes: Sept. 12, 2013

Cardinal volleyball

ranked 16th

in NJCAA poll

The North Idaho College volleyball team, unranked in the preseason NJCAA poll, was ranked 16th when the first poll of the regular season was announced on Wednesday.

NIC went 3-1 in last weekend's Starr Corporation Invitational in Twin Falls, with wins over seventh ranked Miami-Dade and Hutchinson College, ranked No. 11. The team's only loss came to new No. 1 Blinn College in five games.

Shock reload

roster for 2014

SPOKANE - The Spokane Shock have made several new additions through the offseason assignment process as well as exercised rookie contract options for the 2014 season.

Wide receivers Kamar Jorden and Duane Brooks will return, along with Demario Ballard, who did not see the field in 2013, but Spokane exercised the league rookie option on him.

Spokane will also return four offensive linemen, all of which saw time for the Shock throughout the 2013 season - Will Falakiseni, Samuel Tupua, Tyrone Novikoff and Miniya Smith.

Also back is Arvell Nelson, who possessed the ability to play multiple positions and serve as a utility player. Spokane also exercised the league rookie option for the former Baylor defensive back Antaries Bryan, who did not see the field in 2013 as he spent time with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.

During the AFL's offseason assignment process the Shock have also added a trio of players - receiver Thomas Mayo from California University of Pennsylvania, defensive back Josh Pleasant and former Oklahoma Sooner offensive lineman Duke Robinson.

In free agency, Spokane signed former Jacksonville Sharks defensive lineman and linebacker Derrick Summers.