MVC Round-up: Valley thinclads compete in UCM Mule Relays

WARRENSBURG -- The Missouri Valley College throwers led the indoor track and field team last weekend at the University of Central Missouri Mule Relays.

Sophomore William Coleman finished ninth in the shot put (14.56 meters) and 12th in the weight throw (14.42). Also on the men's side, sophomore Darrell Madry was ninth in the triple jump (12.94).

Freshman Sheena Carter of Camdenton came in sixth in the weight throw (14.70) and 14th in the shot (11.14). The Vikings' only runner in the top 12 was sophomore Taylor Whitacre, 11th in the 3,000 meter (11:44.22).

Valley has two qualifiers so far to the NAIA Championships. Carter won the weight throw at the Highland Community College meet on Jan. 31 with a B standard of 14.86 meters, for which she was named the Heart of America Conference's female track "athlete of the week." Senior all-American Thiago Ferreira met the A standard in the 3,000 meter race-walk with a time of 13:07.77 at the Findlay (Ohio) Classic the previous day.

The Vikings will host the Missouri Valley College Invitational on Saturday in the Burns Athletic Center.

Men's Volleyball

ST. CHARLES -- The Valley men's volleyball team was looking for its first victory for new head coach Derick White when it went to Lindenwood for its second straight MAMVIC West match against the second-ranked Lions.

It didn't happen, as Lindenwood won its eighth contest in a row with a 30-21, 30-21, 30-28 sweep of the Vikings. Senior Devin Shiroma led the Lions (8-1, 3-0 MAMVIC West) with 16 kills and 10 digs.

Valley had also dropped a three-set home match against LU last Wednesday, 30-23, 30-28, 30-17, the day after a tough 21-30, 30-25, 26-30, 30-26, 15-9 marathon to No. 9 Graceland.

Through the first five matches of the season, the Vikings (0-6, 0-4) have been led by sophomore Josh DeLeon with 58 kills; freshman Maysam Amanishourbank with 49 skills, a .324-percent attack efficiency, 20 blocks and five aces; sophomore Jay Hanagami with 75 digs; and freshman Jaren Mauricio with 102 assists and five aces.

Valley will be in North Carolina this weekend for the Lees-McRae Tournament.

Women's Wrestling

COLORADO SPRINGS -- Wins were hard to come by for the Valley women's wrestlers Saturday at the Dave Schultz Memorial International Open in Colorado Springs.

The only victory for a Lady Viking came against a teammate, when senior Jenny Germany downed senior Karen Howe in the second consolation round of the 59-kilogram class, 7-0, 7-3. Germany was eliminated in the next match.

Assistant coach Courtney Martell (51 kilograms) and senior Rachel Silverback (63) lost both of their matches during the meet.

Two former Valley grapplers reached the finals, Leigh Jaynes of the New York Athletic Club finishing second at 55 kilograms and the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club's Stephany Lee winning the 72-kilogram round robin with a 5-0 mark.

The Lady Vikings are off for nearly two months before competing in the University Nationals, April 10-12 at Akron, Ohio.