Sports Update for Oct. 14

FOOTBALL

Sam Houston State, 5-1 for the season and 2-0 in SFL play, faces Stephen F. Austin State, 4-2 for the year and 2-0 in league play, at 6:35 p.m. Thursday at Bowers Stadium. The game will be telecast by Fox Sports Cable to fans in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

The Bearkats upped their 2001 record to 5-1 with a come-from-behind 35-32 victory over Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., Saturday in the longest football game in Sam Houston State history. The contest lasted five hours and 20 minutes thanks to a two-and-a-half hour lightning delay that occured with 14 minutes to play in the second quarter.

Quarterback Josh McCown threw for four touchdowns (three to Jonathon Cooper) and ran for another to lead the victory. After falling behind 32-28 with nine minutes to play, the Bearkats had to drive 55 yards for the winning touchdown. Then P. J. Traylor blocked a Colonel field goal attempt that could have tied the game with two minutes to play.

Tickets for the Stephen F. Austin State game priced at $10 for west side chairbacks, $8 for west side reserved, and $5 for east side general admission are on sale at the athletic department office at the Bowers Stadium Field House.

Students who wish to sit either in the "Couch Potato" section on the field in the north end zone or on the west side must pick up their free student tickets by noon Wednesday at the Student Activities Office. Students may sit in the east side general admission section by presenting their student I.D. on game day.

VOLLEYBALL

Tuesday, the Bearkats defeated Louisiana-Monroe 30-18 30-26 30-20 as Sartain totaled 16 kills. Friday night Sam Houston State played a hard fought match with Texas-San Antonio before falling 30-25 30-26 27-30 30-26 as Sartain had 16 kills and Liz Dahlstrom and Dana Jefferson each had 14 points. Saturday afternoon the Bearkats posted their first victory over Southwest Texas since 1997 by a 32-30 30-19 30-24 score.

Sam Houston State stands 5-5 in Southland Conference play and 8-10 for the season. The Bearkats face four matches on the road this week, traveling to Texas-Arlington Tuesday, TCU Wednesday, Louisiana-Monroe Friday, and Northwestern State Saturday.

Next home action for the volleyball team is Tuesday, Oct. 25, when the Bearkats play host to Texas-Arlington at 7 p.m. in Johnson Coliseum.

CROSS COUNTRY

Led by Raul Villarreal, the Bearkat men finished 12th as a team. Villarreal placed 17th in the individual competition with a time of 27:06. Joe Amburn was 31st (27:31), Vance Bridges 72nd (28:41), and Matt Rodgers 74th (28:43).

Karina Mancias, who finished 13th individually with a time of 24:22, led the Bearkat women to a 13th place finish. Kelli Alexander placed 62nd (26:05), Casey Jones 81st (27:00), and Vanessa Gnatzig 86th (27:27).

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Centenary, Lamar, and Lee College were the other teams participating in the round robin format event.

GOLF

The men's team is competing at the Stephen F. Austin / Crown Colony Classic in Lufkin. The women's team is in Little Rock playing in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Classic.

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Media Contact: Paul Ridings
Oct. 14, 2001
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