College roundup: YVCC soccer earns playoff berth

PASCO, Wash. — They’re in.

Yakima Valley’s women’s soccer team secured the first NWAACC playoff berth of coach Jake Sagare’s three-year tenure Wednesday, beating Columbia Basin 1-0 on the Hawks’ turf.

The victory, YVCC’s second this season over archrival CBC, improved the Yaks to 9-5-0 in East Region play and 11-6-1 overall despite an unusual number of injuries.

Katy Allen got Yakima Valley’s goal — her team-leading 16th of the year — off an assist from Kaylah Gonzales in the waning minutes of the first half, and goalkeeper Amanda Freisz made it stand up by making eight saves.

“It’s an exciting time,” Sagare said. “It’s a great thing for the girls, even though we did have another injury today.”

Sagare said Adrianna Jones, who already had missed multiple matches with knee problems, sustained another knee injury of yet-to-be-determined severity Wednesday.

Yakima Valley concludes its regular season Saturday at Treasure Valley. The playoffs, with the opponent and site to be determined, are scheduled to start next Wednesday.

First half: 1, Yakima Valley, Katy Allen (Kaylah Gonzales), 43:00.

Second half: No scoring.

Saves: Amanda Freisz (YVCC) 7, Olivia Diaz (CBC) 6.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

Yaks rally, clinch tourney berth

MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Behind 15 kills from Tori Farias, Yakima Valley overcame a slow start to get past Big Bend in an NWAACC East Region volleyball match Wednesday night.

The seventh-ranked Yaks dropped the first game before winning out, 23-25, 25-21, 25-10, 25-16, to clinch fourth place in the East and a berth in the NWAACC tournament.

Yakima Valley improved to 7-5 in the region, opening a three-game lead over fifth-place Treasure Valley, which lost to Walla Walla on Wednesday, with just two matches remaining.

Lauren Smeback and Raini Weaver added nine kills each, with Kylie Huffman collecting 22 assists, and Taylor Flores 17 assists for the Yaks (20-9 overall), who have their final home match at 6 p.m. Friday against Wenatchee Valley.

ACADEMIC HONORS

Franks twins top CWU honorees

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Hillary Franks and Brittany Franks, twins from West Valley, have been honored by the GNAC along with two other Central Washington women’s soccer players.

The Wildcats were named Wednesday to the conference’s Academic All-Conference team.

Hillary Franks has compiled a 3.46 grade point average as a physical education and school health major to make the team for the third straight year. Brittany Franks has a 3.43 GPA as a special education major.

Both are seniors.

Other CWU players making the team were sophomore Tarah Duty (3.65, undeclared major) and junior Carson McKole (3.39, communications).

The Wildcats (8-3-2 GNAC, 9-4-4 overall) visit Seattle Pacific for their final game of the season on Saturday.

Four Yaks earn NWAACC acclaim

YAKIMA, Wash. — Three Yakima Valley volleyball players and one women’s soccer player have been named to the NWAACC All-Acdemic sports teams for fall quarter.

Tori Farias, Traci Schweyen and Raini Weaver from the volleyball squad and Katy Allen from the soccer team met all-academic requirements, which are that athletes must be sophomores in eligibility, must have a minimum of 30 credits earned, must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average and must be recommended by their respective schools.

Allen’s GPA was listed at 3.65 while Farias was at 3.72, Schweyen 3.41 and Weaver 3.65.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

YVCC 8th in preseason poll

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima Valley’s baseball team has been ranked eighth in a preseason poll of NWAACC coaches.

The Yaks, who will be playing their third season under coach Ken Wilson, reached the NWAACC Tournament last spring but did not place.

Bellevue was ranked first in the poll, followed in order by Lower Columbia, Mount Hood, Pierce, Edmonds, Columbia Basin and Everett.