By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Whitman College senior point guard Casey Poe, a 2014 Kamehameha graduate, is the latest former BIIF standout to make headlines in the Northwest Conference.
On Friday, the 5-8 playmaker was named to the preseason All-American honorable mention team.
Last season, she was one step below on the awards ladder with All-West Region honors.
Poe was also selected to the All-NWC first team, after she had 123 assists or an average of 4.0 per game and 29 blocks. Those stats were second and third in the conference, respectively.
She averaged 11.0 points per game and led the Blues to the conference tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Division III championship Elite 8.
Poe also had 44 steals, second-highest on the team, and was third with 5.5 rebounds per game.
Whitman (26-5) was ranked No. 7 in the final D3hoops poll. The Blues open their season ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll.
The Blues start their season against Eastern Oregon on Wednesday, Nov. 15 on the road.
Poe is the only former BIIF player competing in basketball in the NWC.
Volleyball
Pacific Lutheran and 2016 Konawaena graduate McKenna Ventura pulled off a shocker in the first round of the NCAA Division II championships.
The unranked Lutes upset No. 4 Trinity (Texas) 25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 27-25 on Friday at Southwestern University’s gym.
“The Trinity match was a battle and every point had to be earned,” Ventura said. “During tight situations, our team didn’t fall apart. We didn’t play tentative when the score was close.
“Winning the match felt as though we just won the championship game. It was a rush of relief and reassurance. There was a lot of emotion.”
Ventura came off the bench and knocked down five kills on 17 attacks for a .059 hitting clip. She also had two digs.
“I always enjoy getting to cheer on my teammates while I’m on the court. While I’m off the court, I get to see how the other team is playing, which helps a lot. I enjoyed hitting some kills because everyone looks at the people who come off the bench to be less effective than the starters. It’s fun to prove them wrong.”
Junior middle blocker Mackenzie Harris drilled 20 kills and hit .432 to lead the Lutes (21-4), who set the tone at the service line with more aces than the Tigers (27-8), 11-2.
PLU plays No. 1 Colorado College in the second round Saturday.
Colorado College swept College of New Rochelle 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 behind sophomore middle Jordan Mullen’s 15 kills. Mullen hit .542 and was named to the All-West Region first team on Thursday.
“If we bring our ‘A’ game, we can come out on top,” Ventura said. “Trinity took them to five, and we went four with Trinity. The best part of today’s win is I get another game with this awesome group of girls. We live to see another game.”
Soccer
Concordia (Ore.) and 2015 Hawaii Prep graduate Gabbie Ewing defeated Chico State 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division II national championships.
Ewing posted an assist for the No. 16 Cavaliers (16-3-1).
Concordia plays No. 3 UC San Diego in the second round on Saturday at Triton Stadium, UC San Diego’s home field.