Volleyball Teams in NCAA Action this Friday
Three teams will represent the BIG EAST in the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship - Louisville, Notre Dame and Cincinnati. This is the first time since 2006 and second time in league history that three conference teams have advanced to the NCAA Championship.
Louisville earned an automatic bid to the championship this season after winning the BIG EAST Championship on Nov. 22. Cincinnati and Notre Dame were chosen among the 33 at-large bids.
All three teams play on Friday. Louisville faces No. 11 Minnesota in Knoxville, Tenn. at 4:30 p.m. ET, Notre Dame plays Ohio at 5:30 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Cincinnati takes on Ohio State at 8 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio.
The Irish to Face North Carolina in Women's Soccer College Cup Semifinals
Notre Dame women's soccer team (21-3-1) will face North Carolina (21-3-1) on Friday in the semifinals of the College Cup as one of the four remaining teams in the NCAA Championship. The teams will square off at approximately 8 p.m. ET at the Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Texas. The match will be televised live on ESPNU with the advancing team facing either UCLA or Stanford for the title on Sunday. The Irish are riding a 19-game unbeaten steak (18-0-1) and enter the College Cup for the 11th time since 1994.
Villanova's Procaccio Named Division I Cross Country Coach of the Year
Villanova head Gina Procaccio earned women's Division I National Cross Country Coach of the Year honors as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Procaccio led the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country National title as well as Mid-Atlantic Regional and BIG EAST championship crowns this season. This was Procaccio's first NCAA title as a head coach. She was an assistant when Villanova won it all in 1998. It is the 27th national title won by a BIG EAST institution.
Connecticut's Loren Sherer Adds Three More to Growing List of Accolades
Connecticut senior forward Loren Sherer continues to collect postseason recognition as she was named one of four finalists for the NCAA Honda Award for field hockey. The Honda Award recognizes the National Player of the Year. She also was named ECAC Division I Offensive Player of the Year. Sherer was joined on the ECAC First Team by Syracuse junior back Maggie Befort and freshman back Amy Kee. Kee also earned ECAC Rookie of the Year honors. Orange sophomore midfielder Martina Loncarica was named to the second team.
Sherer 2009 Postseason Recognition
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
All-BIG EAST First Team
BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player
NFHCA All-America First Team
NFHCA Mideast Region Player of the Year
NFHCA All-Mideast Region First Team
Honda Award Finalist
ECAC Offensive Player of the Year
ECAC First Team
BIG EAST Soccer Teams Earn NSCAA Team Academic Awards
A total of 16 men's and women's soccer squads posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2008-09 academic year.
Of that total, 97 had both their men's and women's programs recognized, including five BIG EAST schools. Those BIG EAST squads include - Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame and West Virginia.
On the women's side, 10 teams made the list - Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, St. John's, USF and West Virginia.
On the men's side, six teams were recognized - Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, USF and West Virginia.