Sports Update for Sept. 8

FOOTBALL

Down 14-3 early in the third period, the Bearkats scored 20 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter to take the lead, then held off a determined group of Indians for the victory over the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference members from Wichita Falls.

Special teams play was a key factor in the game's outcome, both positively and negatively. Bad snaps on punts accounted for setting up Midwestern States's first touchdown and a fourth quarter field goal that tied the game. But a point after attempt block by Mark Hughes and a punt block by DeJuan Davis turned the contest around for Sam Houston State. Davis's punt block early in the fourth quarter was picked up by Jackie Brown on the 11 yard line and returned for a touchdown.

Robert Garmon returned a kickoff 70 yards and made a midfield interception that set up Sam Houston State's first field goal.

Quarterback Vance Smith ended the evening completing 15 of 32 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown.

The Bearkats travel to Flagstaff, AZ, this Saturday (Sept. 14) to meet Northern Arizona University. Sam Houston defeated the Lumberjacks by a field goal with no time remaining in the NCAA Division I-AA first round playoff game in Huntsville last December.

The next home appearance for the Bearkat football team will be Saturday, Sept. 21, when Sam Houston State plays host to Mississippi Valley State.

VOLLEYBALL

The Bearkat volleyball team won its first regular season tournament title since 1997 by sweeping all three matches in the Hartford (CT) Classic Friday and Saturday. The Kats defeated Auburn, Sacred Heart, and Marist all in three games.

Carrie Sartain led the Bearkats with 43 kills combined in the three victories. Sam Houston State defeated Auburn 30-21 30-18 30-26 on Friday, then blitzed Sacred Heart 30-16 30-4 30-15 and Marist 30-8 30-21 30-21 on Saturday.

Sam Houston State next plays in the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14, in College Station. The Bearkats play Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Friday; BYU at 11 a.m. Saturday, and Louisiana-Lafayette at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Sartain, a junior outside hitter from Houston / Jersey Village, was named Southland Conference Volleyball "Offensive Player of the Week" on Sept. 2 after leading the Bearkats to victories in three of their first four matches. Sartain led all five teams in the SHSU Invitational with 84 kills during the tournament Aug. 30-31 at Johnson Coliseum. Sartain has been honored as an all-tournament selection in both the events in which the Bearkats have competed this season.

MEN'S GOLF

The Sam Houston State women's team will begin their fall golf schedule next week with the North Texas Eagle Invitational Sept. 16-17 in Denton.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

CROSS COUNTRY

Joe Amburn paced the Bearkats with an eighth place finish with a time of 21 minutes, 37.2 seconds. Lauren Smith led the Bearkat women with a 16th place finish.

Next action for the cross country team will be the Rice Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 14, in Houston.

- END -

Media Contact: Paul Ridings
Sept. 8, 2002
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