RECENT HEADLINES
November 17, 2009

North Region MVP Patti Reeves (background) and Bellevue Crossover Tourney MVP Savannah Feist (foreground)

VOLLEYBALL TAKES NORTH REGION TITLE

Bulldogs Volleyball hit the road Tues., Nov. 10, to play Whatcom in a match-up to decide the North Region champion. Though Bellevue came out fired up, it was sophomore night in Bellingham and the Orcas had other plans. In set one, the Bulldogs fell behind and ended up dropping the set 21-25. In the second set, Bellevue jumped out to an early lead, but the Orcas stormed back to win 29-27. Set three was a back-and-forth battle until a key dig by BC freshman Stazi Edmonds, followed by a kill by sophomore Danielle Rehm (17 kills), saved match point, tying the set at 25-25. The Bulldogs grabbed the momentum and the lead, winning 28-26 on the next point off a kill by freshman Heidi Bell. This kept the match alive at 2-1.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 13-7 lead in the fourth set. Aggressive serving and defense by sophomore co-captain Patti Reeves (41 digs, 4 aces) helped BC take the set 25-11. The Bulldogs, firing on all cylinders in the fifth and final set, capped off their comeback with a 15-6 win, securing the NWAACC North Region title. BC Volleyball ended the season 11-1 in division play; 28-8 overall.

BC sophomore Libero Patti Reeves was selected NWAACC North Region MVP. North Region All-Star honors went to sophomore Savannah Feist, First Team, and sophomore Danielle Rehm, Second Team. BC sophomore Hannah Fox was also recognized on the 2009 North Region Volleyball Sophomore Team. Bellevue Volleyball Head Coach, Kim Culliton, was named North Region Coach of the Year.

-- contributed by Andrew McAllister, Volleyball Assistant Coach

In Week Ten for Volleyball NWAACC Players of the Week, Bellevue sophomores Savannah Feist and Patti Reeves were North Region selections for this honor.

Up next: The NWAACC Volleyball Championship Tournament at Mount Hood CC, Gresham, OR, Nov. 19-21. This marks the seventh consecutive Championship appearance for Bellevue College Volleyball. Bulldogs face Lower Columbia (West fourth, 5-7, 20-22) at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov.19. Complete bracket and tournament information at the NWAACC website nwaacc.org

MEN’S SOCCER SCORES FINAL FOUR

Having earned a first-round bye, Bellevue Men’s Soccer hosted Treasure Valley (8-5-0, East third) Sat., Nov. 14, under the lights at Robinswood, and what a battle ensued. TVCC was first on the scoreboard with a goal at the 20th minute, but shortly before halftime, BC freshman Josh Strasser ripped in a goal on an assist from sophomore midfielder Jordan Correa at 38 minutes.

The second half remain tied at 1-1 until the 55th minute when Luiggi Montero scored a solo goal, followed five minutes later by the tying goal from TVCC and another Chukars goal at the 65th minute. With 10 minutes left in the match, BC took a shot on goal and were awarded a penalty kick on a TVCC hand ball. BC’s Riccardo Di Julio took the kick and scored, tying the match at 3-3. Hoping to close the deal with five minutes regulation time left, Correa dribbled past his defender and was fouled. BC was awarded another penalty kick which was effectively blocked by the TVCC keeper.

The match headed into two 10-minute sudden death overtimes. Four minutes in, Bellevue’s Strasser beat his defender, took a shot on goal and though the keeper got a hand on it, BC freshman Radcliff McDougald was there to finish it off. Score! Bellevue walked away with a 4-3 win over Treasure Valley.

Bellevue Men’s Soccer scores the NWAACC Final Four! The NWAACC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament takes place the weekend of Nov. 21 and 22, 2009, at Tukwila’s Starfire Stadium. Bellevue, Spokane, defending Champion Walla Walla and Chemeketa make up the Final Four out of the 20 teams comprising NWAACC men’s soccer. Bellevue will take to the field against Spokane on Sat., Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. GO, BULLDOGS!

WOMEN'S SOCCER GREAT SEASON ENDS WITH SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF

At the completion of regular season play, the Bulldogs Women’s Soccer team earned hosting rights for the first-round playoff match against Edmonds (6-5-2, third in North) Weds., Nov. 11 at the Sammamish HS soccer field. Bellevue scored first at 14 minutes with a corner kick by freshman Brittney Conway, slipping by the Tritons’ goalkeeper. Edmonds’ tie goal came at 55 minutes and despite scoring opportunities neither team was able to score again, ending regulation time at a 1-1 tie.

The match churned on, with two 10-minute overtime sessions -- also scoreless -- and moved into penalty kicks. After the five penalty kick shootout (with shots for BC being made by Kayla Kasper, Conway and Morgan Wood) resulted in yet another tie at 3-3, penalty kicks continued. In 6th set of penalty kicks, Edmonds made their goal, then BC freshman Wilhelmina Giese made a critical shot to keep Bellevue in the game. In 7th set of penalty kicks, Bellevue’s goalkeeper sophomore Kristina Myles made save to give BC the chance to win, but BC was unable to make goal. In 8th set of penalty kicks, Edmonds’ shot missed over the crossbar, and freshman Shelby Blair converted the Bellevue shot for the win! Bellevue advanced to 2nd round playoffs with 5-4 penalty kick decision over Edmonds.

The second-round playoffs took the Bulldogs to Salem, OR, Sat., Nov. 14, to face the Chemeketa Storm (11-1-1, first in South). Chemeketa struck with an early score in the 9th minute, then BC’s Conway responded with a strong looping shot over the ChCC goalkeeper in the 21st minute on a pass from freshman Deirdre Dornay. Chemeketa slipped in another goal, bringing the score at halftime to 2-1. Chemeketa was again the first to score in the second half, followed by a long shot by BC’s Blair at 75 minutes, bringing the score to 3-2. Bellevue searched for the tying goal, but ChCC closed the match with a goal at the 85th minute for a final of 4-2, knocking Bellevue out of the Women’s Soccer NWAACC Final Four.

Head Coach Frank Lee commented that he was pleased with how the team came together strong at the end of the season, noting that prior to the final game, the Bulldogs were on a five-game winning streak. Congratulations and thanks for a great season, Bulldogs!

BC BASKETBALL

Both the men’s and women’s Bulldogs basketball teams continue with pre-season scrimmages, both at home and away, but official seasons start SOON!

Women’s Basketball @ Yakima Valley College Tournament, Nov. 20-22         
Men’s Basketball @ Pierce College Tournament, Nov. 27-29

MORE NEWS

Please visit the BC Athletics website bellevuecollege.edu/athletics for additional team information. For complete standings, coaches’ polls and up-to-the-minute results, go to nwaacc.org

GO, BULLDOGS!