NORTHWEST NOTES: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015
NIC 3-on-3 tournament spots still available
There is still time to get in on the biggest 3-on-3 annual basketball tournament in Coeur d'Alene as registration is still open for the Coeur d'Alene Shootout, which will be held on Aug. 22 and 23 on the campus of North Idaho College.
Entries must be received by Aug. 18.
The Coeur d'Alene Shootout is a double-elimination tournament with standard half-court games played to 20 points or 25 minutes.
Cost is $120 per team and includes a t-shirt. Start time is 9 a.m. on Aug. 24. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and the number of teams will be limited.
Registration forms are available at the Sports Cellar, located at 402 Sherman Ave., or downloaded at www.nicathletics.com. Once determined, brackets will be posted on www.nicathletics.com.
Information: (208) 769-3352 or www.nicathletics.com.
Vandal volleyball picked fifth in Big Sky
OGDEN, Utah - The Vandal volleyball team has been slated to finish fifth in the Big Sky Conference this season in a preseason vote by conference coaches, the league announced.
Idaho received 84 points in the poll. Idaho State is the odds on favorite to win the conference, receiving 108 points and four first-place votes. Northern Arizona was second with 106 points and three first-place votes.
"I think [fifth] is a good place for us to be in," Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said. "I think it will fire our girls up, to fight to finish at the top. It is not necessarily where we have set our goals, but it is going to give everyone something to work for. Not being picked to finish at the top we are going to have to prove ourselves; show up every day in practice and work to win the regular season and host the tournament."
The Vandals have finished conference play .500 in the last 12 consecutive seasons. Last season Idaho went 11-5 in Big Sky play and finished with the conferences' top hitting percentage in league play (.253). 2014 first-team all-conference setter Meredith Coba returns for her senior season. Coba led the league with 11.07 assists per set, ranking 26th in the NCAA.
Portland State trails Idaho in the poll with 65 points. Montana (53) was voted seventh, while Eastern Washington (52) and Southern Utah (34) claimed the eighth and ninth spots. Sacramento State and Weber State tied for 10th with 30 points, leaving Montana State (28) in 12th.
Idaho opens the season Aug. 28 at Hawaii.