Sports Briefs

CROSS COUNTRY

Eastern teams second XC opener

CHENEY — The Eastern Washington cross country team opened their season on Aug. 30 in Cheney, hosting the Clash of the Inland Northwest meet including runners from Gonzaga, Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, Carleton, Spokane Community College, Whitworth and Whitman College.

The Eagles finished second on the women’s side in a 4K (2.49 mile) with a score of 51 and second on the men’s side with 54 in a 6K (3.73 mile) event.

Gonzaga finished first in both races at the event, the women finishing with 15 points and the men with 19 points.

Senior, Cassidy Walchak-Sloan was the first Eagle across the line, finishing sixth with a new personal record of 14 minute, 9.72 second time.

Senior Noah Hasselblad and Evan Peters led the way for the Eagle men with a fourth and fifth place finish. Hasselblad finished with a new personal record of 18:17.70 and Peters with personal record of 18.21.20.

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FOOTBALL

Chism earns Player of the Week honor

FARMINGTON, Utah - For the first time in his Eastern Washington career, Efton Chism III earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week, the conference has announced. Chism earned the honor after a career game in EWU’s 42-27 opening night win over Monmouth this past Thursday.

Leading the way in the game, Chism caught 12 passes for a career-best 173 yards and scored three touchdowns. His touchdown total matched his career-best and the 12 catches were one shy of a career mark. 

Chism is now eighth all-time in program history with 2,714 yards and tied Kendrick Bourne for seventh all-time with 27 receiving touchdowns.

The national media also took notice of Chism’s game as FCS Stats Perform included him as an honorable mention in their Player of the Week award.

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SOCCER

Willoughby earns BSC defensive honor

CHENEY — After a shutout performance against South Dakota in a 2-0 win Aug. 25, Eastern Washington goalkeeper Kamryn Willoughby was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week announced by the conference. This is Willoughby’s first Big Sky POW honor.

South Dakota recorded 17 shots with five on goal, but Willoughby would shut out the Coyotes and record five saves in the match for the first shutout of the season, and her fifth of her career.

Finishing its road trip with a 1-1 tie at Southern Utah, Aug. 29, where Chloe Pattison scored Eastern’s lone goal, the Eagles host UC Davis Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4 pm.

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VOLLEYBALL

Eagle volleyball first on new Reese Court floor

CHENEY — Eastern Washington volleyball is not only excited just to return home, but will do so when they host Washington State, Monday, Sept. 9 as the first team to play on the brand-new Reese Court floor.

The new surface replaces the original floor that came with the building which opened in 1975.

The Eagles have a Sept. 6 meeting with Wazzu in Pullman where they bring 1-2 season record following play at the Utah Valley State tournament.

Eastern split opening day play Aug. 30 in Orem, Utah losing to the hosts 3-0 before beating Cal State Bakersfield by a similar score. They finished with a 3-1 loss to the University of Missouri at Kansas City on Aug. 31.

Kalista Lukovich led the Eagles on the offensive front with 10 kills and added three blocks, while Makenna Collins recorded 16 digs on the defensive end. Kate Hatch led the team in the assists with 25.

Against Bakersfield Lukovich secured her first double-double of the season behind 15 kills and 12 digs. Quincy Moran added 10 kills, while Bri Gunderson added eight blocks. Hatch led the team in assists with 25.

Lukovich recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 kills and 13 digs. Hatch led the team in assists with 31 and recorded 10 digs, her first double-double on the season .

– Paul Delaney, Cheney Free Press