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Northwest Notes: Aug. 5, 2021

| August 5, 2021 1:10 AM

Eastern quarterback Barriere named

to Walter Payton Award Watch List

Eric Barriere has the opportunity to finish what he started. The Eastern Washington football player was named to the prestigious Walter Payton Award Watch List by Stats Perform, as announced on Wednesday. The prestigious award is given to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.

Barriere is no stranger to the list, as he's been a finalist the past two seasons. Last year, Barriere finished runner up to Southeastern Louisiana's Cole Kelley, coming just six votes shy (137-131) of the award. In 2019 as a junior, he finished fifth. He is one of 35 players on the list, along with Sacred Heart's Julius Chestnut who finished behind him in voting. More players can join the list during the regular season and a national media panel will select the winner at the end of the year.

The Inglewood, Calif., native adds this to a long list of other preseason accolades the senior has racked up this season. He's been named the Preseason Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP for the second-straight year after winning the honor last season, was named to the Preseason All-Big Sky team, and most recently was named first team All-America by Stats Perform.

He is coming off of a season that saw him lead Eastern Washington to the NCAA FCS Playoffs and was named a first team All-American by six different organizations, including being named the FCS Offensive Player of the Year by the FCS ADA.

The senior made a case for the Payton Award last year by passing for at least 300 yards in five of six regular games and having at least 400 yards of total offense in three of them. Barriere ranked in the top 10 in the FCS in total offense (fifth, 369.0 per game), passing offense (fifth, 348.4), passing touchdowns (third, 19) and points responsible for (ninth, 17.4 per game). He completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 2,439 yards, 19 touchdowns and 2,583 total yards of offense.

Should he win the award this year, he'll join the likes of previous Eastern Washington winners: Cooper Kupp (2015), Bo Levi Mitchel (2011), and Erik Meyer (2005). EWU shares the lead for the most Payton Awards all-time along with Villanova.

Barriere and the rest of the Eagles start fall camp at the end of the week in preparations for the first regular season game on Sept. 2 against UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev., at Allegiant Stadium.

Gonzaga men to open

conference play at San Diego

SAN MATEO, Calif. — The West Coast Conference announced its 2021-22 men's basketball conference schedule Wednesday. The race for the WCC regular season crown will stretch over a nine-week span, featuring 16 conference games. Conference play is slated to begin on Dec. 30 and will conclude on Feb. 26.

Gonzaga has shared or outright won the WCC regular season title the past nine seasons. The Bulldogs will look for the program's 25th conference title in 2021-22. GU has shared or won 20 conference championships in the last 21 years, and 22 out of the last 24 years.

The Zags open West Coast Conference play at San Diego on Dec. 30. The Zags then the new year at Loyola Marymount on Jan. 1.

Gonzaga hosts three consecutive games beginning with San Francisco on Jan. 6, Pepperdine on Jan. 8, ending with BYU on Jan. 13. The Bulldogs are at Santa Clara and Pacific on Jan. 15 and 20. GU closes the month versus LMU and Portland in Spokane on Jan. 27 and 29.

The Zags continues the second half of the conference slate at Pepperdine (Feb. 3) and BYU (Feb. 5). Gonzaga returns to the McCarthey Athletic Center for matchups with Pacific (Feb. 10), Saint Mary’s (Feb. 12) and Santa Clara (Feb. 19). The Bulldogs cap off the regular season on the road at San Francisco and Saint Mary's on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26.

The West Coast Conference Championships will follow March 3-8 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Gonzaga's non-conference schedule, along with game times and television information will be released in the near future.

Gonzaga women to open

conference play at home

SAN MATEO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference has announced the 2021-22 women's basketball conference schedule. The upcoming season will span nine weeks, beginning on Dec. 30 and concluding on Feb. 26.

Gonzaga has won 16 of the last 17 regular-season WCC titles, including the 2020-21 title, along with eight of the last 13 tournament championships.

Gonzaga opens conference play at home, hosting San Francisco on Dec. 30 followed by road trips to Loyola Marymount and Portland on Jan. 1 and 6.

The Zags then return home against Santa Clara on Jan. 8, before traveling to Pacific. GU welcomes San Diego and Portland on Jan. 15 and 20. Three straight road games follow to close the month at Saint Mary’s (Jan. 22), Pepperdine (Jan. 27) and San Diego (Jan. 29).

The Bulldogs host Pacific and BYU on Feb. 3 and 5, and are then at Santa Clara (Feb. 10) and San Francisco (Feb. 12). Gonzaga closes the regular season hosting three of the last four league games, starting with Saint Mary’s on Feb. 17. The Zags travel to Provo, Utah, at BYU on Feb. 19. The final two games of the WCC schedule are against Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount in Spokane on Feb. 24 and 26.

The West Coast Conference Championships will follow March 3-8 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Gonzaga's non-conference schedule will be released in the near future.

Hoyer added to

Idaho volleyball staff

MOSCOW – Lorelle Hoyer joins the Idaho Volleyball coaching staff as an assistant ahead of the 2021 season, head coach Debbie Buchanan announced today.

“I’m really excited that Lo is joining our coaching staff,” said head coach Debbie Buchanan. “She brings a lot of energy, experience and knowledge to our staff. She will be a great fit within our athletic department.”

Hoyer joins the Vandals after spending the previous three seasons as Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator and Learning Specialist with Southern Utah. There, she assisted in all facets of the program, including scheduling, travel logistics and budgeting. As the recruiting coordinator, Hoyer also worked to improve regional and national scouting. Her efforts as a learning specialist led to a major jump in team grade-point average, increasing from 3.23 to 3.62.

Prior to SUU, Hoyer was the Director of Volleyball Operations at the Texas-San Antonio for one season. There, she coordinated travel and worked closely with the coaching and athletics staffs to improve gameday operations, marketing and recruiting. While in Texas, she also served as an Assistant Program Coordinator for the Alamo Volleyball Association.

Hoyer spent two years as the Assistant Director for Triangle Volleyball Club in Raleigh, N.C., prior to UTSA. She got her collegiate coaching career started as a graduate assistant with North Carolina Central prior to joining Triangle.

Hoyer graduated from Connecticut where she also lettered in volleyball. Originally from Minnesota, Hoyer also earned her master’s degree in physical education from North Carolina Central.