Cross-country runners shine
Simon Fraser, UBC enjoy satisfying results at their respective meets
The Simon Fraser Clan women’s cross-country program is starting to make its mark in the NCAA.
The Clan produced its best finish at the Division 2 national championship meet, placing sixth overall with a team young enough that six of its top seven finishers will return next season.
“This was the most gruelling course we’ve run on ... ever,” said Clan head coach Brit Townsend of the six-kilometre layout her team competed on Saturday in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region. “So many long hills on thick grass, and in the heat. To accomplish what these girls did today was incredible.”
Leading the way for SFU was its lone senior, Rebecca Bassett, who finished 23rd (21:12.2) in a field of 240 runners. Also scoring points for the Clan were underclassmen Julia Howley, Miryam Bassett, Addy Townsend and Reta Dobie, as SFU finished with 210 points, one shy of fifth-place Southern Indiana. Grand Valley State was the winner with 116 points.
The Clan was ranked 16th in the national polls just two weeks ago.
The UBC Thunderbirds also enjoyed the finest day in its program’s cross-country history at the NAIA nationals in Elsah, Ill.
The women T-Birds claimed their fourth national title in the last five seasons, while the men’s team produced its best result in school history with a third-place finish.
Natalia Hawthorn led the charge of three Thunderbirds in the race’s top 20, taking sixth place on the six-kilometre course. Nicola Symonds was 14th and Brianna Cairns 16th. Also scoring points for the champions were Madelyn Brunt (30th) and Sandra Kilmartin (42nd).
“We thought if the women stepped up and came together as a team that they would have a shot at winning,” said UBC assistant coach Chris Johnson. “To have four women in the top 30 and three in the top 20 was really something for us.”
The UBC men were buoyed by a pair of top-five finishes en route to bronze. Jesse Hooton completed the eight-kilometre course and finished fourth while teammate John Gay finished fifth.
Volleyball
Simon Fraser’s 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-14) sweep of visiting Montana State Billings on Saturday capped the Clan’s most successful women’s season (21-7 overall, 14-6 GNAC) since the turn of the century.
It was an especially memorable night for libero Alison McKay, setter Tamara Nipp and outside hitters Emma Jennings and Devon May who helped the Clan reach new heights while playing in their final home match at the West Gym.
SFU could also garner another first. As one of the top teams in the NCAA Division 2’s West Region, the Clan is expected to be named to the field for the 2016 national championship tournament. The team’s fate will be known following Monday’s selection show.
In Canada West women’s play, UBC and Trinity Western each sit with 5-1 records as part of a four-way tie for second place behind Alberta (6-0). UBC lost its first match of the season Friday as it opened a two-game road set against Thompson Rivers of Kamloops. But after losing 3-0 Friday, the ’Birds rallied to win 3-0 on Saturday behind 18 kills from Danielle Brisebois. Trinity Western swept Edmonton’s visiting MacEwan Griffins by dual 3-0 scores, including Saturday’s capper in which Sophie Carpentier supplied 14 kills.
The Trinity Western men’s team is the only remaining undefeated team in Canada West at 6-0, and on Saturday, the nation’s No. 2-ranked team completed a home weekend sweep of MacEwan with a 3-0 win as senior Ryan Sclater produced 10 kills, five blocks and four digs.
Hockey
It’s 10 straight wins and counting for the nation’s No. 1-ranked collegiate women’s team.
The UBC Thunderbirds rode the third-period performance of their power play to break a 1-1 tie and claim a 3-2 win over the visiting Regina Rams at the Doug Mitchell Arena.
Nicole Saxvik and Kathleen Cahoon each scored on the power play, while Haneet Parhar opened the scoring in the first period.
UBC has four more road games remaining before the Canada West’s winter hiatus. The ’Birds won’t be back on home ice until Jan. 6 when they host the Alberta Pandas.
Basketball
The men’s and women’s basketball teams from UBC are each a perfect 4-0 to start the Canada West season. Over the weekend, each took both ends of Friday-Saturday twin bills against the Manitoba Bisons at War Memorial Gym.
The men completed their sweep with a 75-72 win Saturday, getting 22 points from Conor Morgan and 16 from Jordan Jensen-Whyte. The women were 71-55 winners, as Kara Spotton (16 points), Keylyn Filewich (12), Maddison Penn (14) and Jessica Hanson (10) all hit double figures.
Both teams will play archrival Victoria in home-and-home series starting Friday in the provincial capital and wrapping up Saturday in Vancouver.