Bendeck named WAC Player of Week
The Western Athletic Conference has honored junior tennis player Jose Bendeck as its player of the week.
During last week’s match play Bendeck helped the Vandals win their20th match of the season by going 3-0 against Texas-Arlington, Oklahoma State and Sacramento State.
“Jose has really made some huge strides with his game this spring and he really earned this player of the week award,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said. “He has stepped up his singles game to a new level, winning high in the line-up after Marius’ injury, and he and Cristobal have continued to be a dominant doubles team.”
Kyle Barone shines in Portsmouth
Senior Kyle Barone competed Thursday evening in the Portsmouth Invitational, a scouting tournament for collegiate seniors. Barone competed on the eight-man Cherry Bekaert team, defeating Sales Systems, LTD 81-74.
Barone collected 11 rebounds, 4 offensive, and scored 8 points in 25 minutes of action. He struggled early from the field but heated up late in the game, scoring half of his points in the final three minutes of action — Including one bucket a 19-foot jump shot.
Barone’s team will be back in action Friday night at 6:00 p.m. PDT against Roger Browns Restaurant.
The tournament takes the top 64 senior basketball players from the nation, breaking them into teams to showcase their talents.
Barone, who finished his Vandal basketball career as the best post player in school history, and was ranked No. 14 in efficiency by the Hollinger NCAA Division 1 Basketball Efficiency rankings last week, is hoping to impress scouts and get a shot at the NBA.
“We had a basketball hoop in our driveway and that’s where it all started,” Barone said. “Having an older brother helped me because when he had games I would go and watch. He helped me get a head start on it because I was always playing with him and older people. It started from a young age and I knew what I wanted to be.”
Cycling competes at UW
The University of Idaho’s club cycling team competed in the University of Washington’s omnium race last weekend.
Seven racers represented the Idaho team in all four divisions with two riders racing in the A division.
The races are divided into different categories so that riders of every skill level face relatively similar competition.
Neal Joslyn placedNo. 4 in the Men’s A Criterium, a race held on a small enclosed track usually about 1 mile long.
Jenna MacPherson placed fifth in the Women’s A Road Race, Andi Oden had a seventh-place finish in the Women’s B Criterium, Nick Stroud finished ninth in the Men’s C
Criterium, Nick Stroud finished ninth in the Men’s C Criterium, Caleb Bertch finished 14th in the Men’s C Criterium, Trevor Glynn finished 16th in the Men’s D Criterium and Yusen Lin finished 20th in the same race.
The UI team will head to Bozeman, Mont., this weekend to compete and return to Moscow to host the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference Championships (NWCCC) during April20-21.
Lacrosse to host Mom’s Weekend events
The Idaho club lacrosse team will be selling tickets for its Mom’s Weekend fundraiser, which will take place during an April 20 game against Washington State University. During its game against the University of Washington Sunday on the SprinTurf, the team will sell raffle tickets, with those proceeds going to the lacrosse program. Those who purchase tickets will have an opportunity to earn a number of prizes on Mom’s Weekend, including a golf weekend at the Riverhouse Resort in Central Oregon.
The team will also sell Idaho Lacrosse mini frisbees for $5 throughout next week. During halftime of the April 20 game against Washington State, those who have bought frisbees will get a chance to toss them into a circle on the field. The participant with the throw that lands closest to the circle will earn a $300 gift certificate to Les Schwab.
Volleyball begins spring play with WSU, Gonzaga
The Idaho volleyball team will open up its spring schedule Saturday, when the Vandals host regional foes Washington State and Gonzaga at 9 a.m. at Memorial Gym. After advancing to the WAC Tournament championship game last fall, the Vandals return seven letter-winners and one redshirt, including All-WAC first teamer Alyssa Schultz, as well as All-WAC freshman team honoree Katelyn Peterson. Idaho’s first match, against WSU, is set to start at 9 a.m. before the Vandals meet the Zags at 10:45 a.m. Rounding out its spring schedule, Idaho will play Gonzaga in Spokane on April 20, before concluding it on April 27, when the Vandals visit the University of Portland.