Valley signs two Greyhounds (05/08/08)

MVC's Marguery going to golf nationals (05/08/08) SMITHVILLE -- The Missouri Valley College men's golf team finished third in the NAIA Region V Tournament on April 24-25 at Smithville, but one player will move on. Sophomore Ralph Marguery of suburban Paris, France, shot a four-over-par 220 over three rounds at Paradise Pointe Golf Course to win the regional meet, thus becoming the first Viking to quality for the NAIA Championships...

Softball season ends for Lady Vikings (05/08/08) SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri Valley College softball team dropped two games Friday at the Heart of America Conference Tournament in Springfield, ending its season. The Lady Vikings gave regular season champion Central Methodist a battle in the opener, a 3-1 loss. Junior Kimberly Fuller's single drove in a run in the top of the first inning, but Valley was unable to extend or hold on to the lead...

Vikings roar to Ozark Region title (05/01/08) HARRISON, Ark. -- The Missouri Valley College men's rodeo team didn't need to do anything special last week to secure the NIRA Ozark Region championship. Instead, the Vikings turned in a sensational performance. Valley won the regular season-ending North Arkansas Rodeo at Harrison by a staggering margin, doubling the point total of second-place Troy (Ala.) with an off-the-charts 1,330 points -- 380 points higher than that of any of its four straight victories...

Track & Field Round-up/Chiefs win four I-70 gold medals (05/01/08) A strong group of distance runners paced the Santa Fe boys' track and field team to third place Tuesday in the I-70 Conference Championships at Marshall Junior Darin Buford won the 800-meter run (2:12.19) and ran the third leg of the victorious 3,200-meter relay (9:09.50). Sophomores Jeff Knipmeyer, Derrick Kennedy and Hunter Rolf were also members of the quarter...

Softball/Missouri Valley 6, Avila 5 (04/29/08) Sophomore Tatum Hathcock pitched over three innings of shutout relief to maintain a tie softball game until Missouri Valley College could win its regular season finale against visiting Avila in the bottom of the seventh inning, 6-5. The victory clinched a spot for the Lady Vikings -- as the No. 8 seed -- in the Heart of America Conference Tournament, starting Thursday at Springfield...

Vikings advance to HAAC tournament (04/28/08) The Missouri Valley College baseball team needed to at least split its four-game weekend series against Heart of America Conference East Division rival Central Methodist to gain entry into the post-season. Just to make sure, though, the Vikings won three -- and it may have been a sweep if not for blowing a two-run league in the seventh inning of Saturday's opener and losing 8-7 in the nightcap. ...

Lady Vikings on bubble (04/28/08) OLATHE, Kan. -- The Missouri Valley College softball team finds itself on a precarious perch for a post-season berth. The Lady Vikings could have locked up the eighth and final spot in the Heart of America Conference Tournament with a split Saturday at MidAmerica Nazarene. Instead, the Lady Pioneers swept, 7-1 and 6-4, making Valley's home game tonight against Avila potentially significant...

Softball/Park 6-11, Missouri Valley 5-0 (04/25/08) PARKVILLE -- The Missouri Valley College softball team lost the last two of the nine games it has played over a five-day period, on the wrong end of a non-conference sweep Thursday at Park. The Lady Vikings twice lost one-run leads in the late innings of the opener, a 6-5 loss in eight innings. Junior Kimberly Fuller smashed a pair of two-run homers, giving her eight on the season, to send Valley into the bottom of the sixth inning with a 4-3 lead...

Lady Vikings play Jewell to draw (04/24/08) LIBERTY -- The Missouri Valley College softball team hasn't gained much ground in its effort to secure a favorable position for the Heart of America Conference Tournament, but gain it has. The Lady Vikings are 4-3 against league foes during the past four days, posting their third straight split Wednesday by beating William Jewell -- ranked 10th in NAIA Region 5 -- in the second game of a doubleheader, 3-1, after dropping a 3-2 decision in the opener...

No. 2 Valley heads to last round-up (04/24/08) SENATOBIA, Miss. -- If Missouri Valley College cowboys are walking around with shinier buckles hitching their belts even higher, it's only because they're riding high in the saddle. Equestrian analogies aside, the Vikings' rough stock riders have propelled the team to the No. 2 spot in the NIRA national rankings. Winning will do that -- as Valley proved with its third straight title, last week at the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rodeo at Senatobia...

Valley net squad winds up '08 season (04/24/08) KANSAS CITY -- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's tennis teams closed out their seasons Friday with first-round losses in the Heart of America Conference Tournament at Kansas City. The Valley men lost to Baker, 5-2, despite winning two of three doubles tilts to begin the match. ...

Lady Vikings win two of three HAAC tilts (04/22/08) The Missouri Valley College softball team is trying to move up in the Heart of America Conference standings, but it's tough to gain ground. The Lady Vikings did their part Sunday by splitting a doubleheader at Benedictine, ranked eighth in NAIA Region V, and following that with a 4-2 decision Monday against visiting Graceland...

Vikings win key HAAC East series (04/21/08) After the previous week's tough series at Heart of America Conference East Division leader Lindenwood, the Missouri Valley College baseball team needed a lift. That it got by taking three of four games over the weekend at Osage Field against Culver-Stockton, allowing the Vikings to vault over the visitors in second place in the standings...

Softball/Missouri Valley 4, Avila 3 (04/18/08) A two-run double by junior Heather Sliger in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday turned a one-run deficit into a 4-3 Heart of America Conference victory for the Missouri Valley College softball team during its home game against Avila. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out...

Valley's Ozark Region lead lengthens (04/17/08) MARTIN, Tenn. -- The Missouri Valley College men's rodeo team rubbed salt in the mild wound it earlier had inflicted on defending NIRA Ozark Region champion Tennessee-Martin last week by taking the title of the Skyhawks' show. The Vikings won for the third time in the last four meets to increase their slim lead over UTM in the season standings by 50 points to 285 points. The credit, again, goes largely to a fine group of riders...

Lady Vikings split with BU (04/16/08) The Missouri Valley College softball team was hoping a home twinbill against Heart of America Conference cellar-dweller Baker would mean a boost in the standings, but could only manage a split Tuesday. The Lady Vikings came back from a five-run deficit to win the opener, 10-7, but couldn't keep up in the nightcap, a 6-1 loss...

Vikings pound out three wins (04/14/08) The Missouri Valley College baseball team wasn't about to let a little snow delay what it hoped would be a recovery from its anemic offensive showing the previous weekend at Lindenwood. The Vikings manhandled a pitching staff from visiting Ashford (Iowa), which entered the three-game set with a horrific 10.66 earned-run average, to sweep the series. Valley won each non-conference game by 10 runs, 13-3 and 11-1 on Saturday and 12-2 Sunday...

Vikings claim six gold medals (04/11/08) FAYETTE -- The Missouri Valley College track and field team won six events Saturday at the ASICS Invitational hosted by Central Methodist. Senior Linze Leimkuehler of Marshall won the 400-meter dash (1:00.33) and placed second in the 100 (12.92 seconds), while senior Natalie Reische of Brunswick claimed a gold medal in the hammer throw (40.02 meters) and was second in both the shot put (10.89) and discus (35.29)...

Valley net teams stop skids (04/11/08) The Missouri Valley College men's and women's tennis teams have been busy, if not terribly successful. The Vikings played four matches within a five-day span, but didn't pick up a victory until the final one -- when both the men and women defeated Westminster, MVC head coach Ryan Carney's alma mater, by 8-1 scores...

Lady Vikings swept by Evangel forseventh straight loss (04/10/08) The Missouri Valley College softball team played Wednesday's Heart of America Conference home doubleheader Wednesday in a perpetual catch-up mode, dropping both games to Evangel, 5-2 and 7-5. The Lady Crusaders, ranked third in NAIA Region V, came into the series with a .309 team batting average -- and nearly equaled that (.295), as well as their mean 6.7 runs per game. In both contests, Evangel put up crooked numbers in the first inning...

Vikings drop three of four at LU (04/08/08) ST. CHARLES -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team headed to Lindenwood on Saturday riding an eight-game win streak and hoping to overtake the Heart of America Conference East Division leader. The Vikings left St. Charles the next day with three losses in the four-game series, scoring only four runs and dropping into third place in the standings behind Culver-Stockton -- which took three of four from Central Methodist. ...

Vikings' season ends at home (04/07/08) The final match for the Missouri Valley College men's volleyball team was somewhat of a microcosm for its season: a struggle during the early stages, some success in the middle, but ultimately falling short. The Vikings were eliminated in Friday's opener of the MAMVIC West Tournament in the Burns Athletic Center, sustaining a 30-25, 30-26, 22-30, 23-30, 15-13 loss to Graceland - the only opponent they beat in league play this season...

Lady Vikes swept on HAAC road (04/07/08) CANTON -- The Missouri Valley College softball team left its bats at home Saturday during a trip to Culver-Stockton, losing a pair of one-run Heart of America Conference contests, 4-3 and 1-0. The Lady Wildcats scored twice in the bottom of the first inning of the opener, on back-to-back solo homers by sophomores Jessica Webb and Danielle Kaltmayer, and never trailed during the day. Kaltmayer singled in a run in the third to make it 3-0, but the Lady Vikings came back...

MVC Round-up/Valley cowboys add to Ozark Region lead (04/03/08) MONTICELLO, Ark. -- Having gained a slim lead over defending NIRA Ozark Region champion Tennessee-Monticello to begin the second half of the rodeo season, the Missouri Valley College men lengthened it last week. The Vikings racked up a staggering 950 points, more than 250 points over its league-leading average, to win the Arkansas-Monticello Rodeo. In that, sophomore Jake Shaw played no small part, contributing 225 points to the effort...

Leimkuehler does well at Mizzou meet (04/01/08) COLUMBIA -- Missouri Valley College sprinter Linzi Leimkuehler had a pair of top-20 performances last weekend at the Mizzou Relays in Columbia. The senior from Marshall finished 15th out of 50 entries in the University 200-meter dash (26.48 seconds), following that up by coming in 20th in a field of 35 in the higher-level Open 100 (13.10)...

Vikings sweep four-game Evangel series (03/31/08) SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team worked its way further up the Heart of America Conference standings, getting strong pitching on Friday and devastating hitting Saturday to win both sets of doubleheaders at Evangel. Junior right-hander Andy Jones allowed only six hits in the opener, a 3-2 victory in which the Vikings scored all of their runs in the top of the third inning. ...

Lady Vikings split at Southwest Baptist (03/31/08) BOLIVAR -- Saturday's non-conference twinbill in Bolivar between the Missouri Valley College softball team and NCAA Division II member Southwest Baptist was no joy for pitchers. The teams combined to score 12 runs in each game, the Lady Vikings winning the opener, 7-5 in eight innings, before dropping a 10-2 getaway contest in five innings...

Johnson named all-America (03/28/08)

Lady Vikings win HAAC opener (03/27/08) The Missouri Valley College softball team enjoyed its first home game of the season Wednesday, winning its Heart of America Conference opener over Graceland, 8-7, before rain washed out the second game of the scheduled twinbill. The Lady Vikings gradually built a substantial lead, but had to cling to it at the end while yielding six runs in the top of the seventh inning...

Vikings win fourth straight in HAAC (03/26/08) The Missouri Valley College baseball team tallied 20 runs in 12 innings Tuesday for its second home sweep in a row of a Heart of America Conference opponent. The Vikings put together five crooked-number rallies while defeating MidAmerica Nazarene, 12-2 and 8-4...

Viking bats bash Baker (03/24/08) On paper, it didn't look like a great match-up for the Missouri Valley College baseball team. Baker came into Saturday's doubleheader at Osage Field with a .303 team batting average, third in the Heart of America Conference, while the Vikings' cumulative 6.26 earned-run average was near the bottom of the league...

Valley netters get in some work on break (03/21/08) There weren't many wins to show for it, but the Missouri Valley College men's and women's tennis teams gained considerable experience last week during the Spring Break Tournament at Hilton Head, S.C. "This was a good trip for us," noted MVC head coach Ryan Carney. "I would like to have won more matches, but this trip was more about getting into form...

MVC Round-up/Valley third at Collegiate Nationals (03/20/08) OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team brought home 14 medals Saturday from the Collegiate National Championships at Oklahoma City. The Lady Vikings had only one finalist, top-ranked sophomore Amberlee Ebert of Reedsville, Wis., who beat former MVC grappler Ashley Sword of the host Stars in the 67 kilogram finals, 0-3, 3-0, 1-1. ...

Lady Vikings 3-3 to finish trip (03/18/08) The second half of the Tucson Invitational went much better for the Missouri Valley College softball team, which rebounded from a 1-5 start to split its final six games. The Lady Vikings got the offense clicking with 19 hits in Thursday's opener, a 14-10 victory over Calvin (Mich.). The big inning was the third, and the big blow of that frame was sophomore Sara Irminger's bases-loaded triple. Junior Kimberly Fuller doubled in a run and junior Kristine Escujuri added an RBI single...

Valley, BC play to draw (03/18/08) The Missouri Valley College baseball team let the first game of its home doubleheader Saturday get away, but not the second one as it split with Heart of America Conference rival Benedictine. Winning the nightcap didn't prevent the Vikings from falling out of the NAIA Region V rankings, having gone into the day at No. 5 -- not yet accounting for Thursday's rain-shortened 5-1, five-inning non-conference loss at William Woods. The Ravens (4-2, 3-1 HAAC) moved up a spot to sixth in the poll...

Valley rodeo team knocked out of top spot in region (03/14/08) STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The brawl between the Missouri Valley College and Tennessee-Martin men's rodeo team wages on. The Vikings assumed the top spot in the NIRA Ozark Region standings before the mid-season break, but the Skyhawks took it back in the opening event of the second semester by winning the Mississippi State Rodeo last week. Valley was second, but saw its 50-point lead turn into a 95-point deficit by trailing in points, 870 to 625...

Lady Vikings lose two in Tucson (03/13/08) TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Tucson Invitational schedule gave the Missouri Valley College softball team more than it could handle Tuesday. The Lady Vikings began the day with a 12-3 loss to ninth-ranked Dickinson State (N.D.), an NAIA Tournament team last year, followed by a rematch against Purdue-North Central (Ind.) -- falling 10-5 to a club which beat them by a run two days earlier...

Valley sweeps HAAC twinbill (03/13/08) The wind was blowing out of tiny Osage Field Tuesday, but it didn't help the home team. The Missouri Valley College baseball team smashed four homers in each of its two Heart of America Conference wins over Graceland, which received the home-field advantage of batting last after weather forced the game to be moved from Lamoni, Iowa...

Ferreira takes NAIA silver (03/12/08) JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- There weren't any surprises last week for the Missouri Valley College track and field team at the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson City, Tenn. The Vikings had only one entry expected to come away with a medal, and he did. Junior Thiago Ferreira of Sao Paulo, Brazil, finished second in the 3,000-meter race-walk (13:44.05), coming in 2.87 seconds behind sophomore Chris Tegtmeier of Concordia (Neb.)...

Vikings end nine-game skid (03/11/08) The Missouri Valley College baseball team salvaged a win in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader Sunday, ending its home opener by snapping a nine-game losing streak. A three-run homer by sophomore Mike Luczak broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth inning, all that was needed for Harris-Stowe State to take a 4-3 decision...

Lady Vikings split in desert (03/11/08) TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Missouri Valley College softball team picked up its first win of the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational on Monday, thanks to a nine-run first inning in the opener. Junior Esperanza Reyes drove in the first run of the rally with a single and the last two runs with a triple to lead the Vikings to a 12-5 victory over Patten (Calif.). ...

Vikings sixth at NAIA meet (03/10/08) SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team had five members win medals Saturday at the NAIA Championships in Sioux City, Iowa. The Vikings started the meet strongly, with seven wrestlers reaching the quarterfinal round -- more than any team outside of Lindenwood and McKendree (Ill.) -- but won only two of those Friday winners' bracket matches to drop from fourth place to sixth at the end of the meet...

Lady Vikes lose two heartbreakers (03/10/08) TUCSON, Ariz. -- Losses don't come any harder to swallow than the two which the Missouri Valley College softball team suffered Sunday to begin the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational. Purdue-North Central (Ind.) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out an 8-7 decision over the Lady Vikings in the early game. ...

Valley beaten to begin HAAC (03/10/08) KANSAS CITY -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team lost both ends of a road doubleheader Thursday at Avila to start the Heart of America Conference campaign. Senior Robert Carey tossed a two-hitter in the opener, allowing only one earned run, to give the Eagles a 3-1 victory. The game was tied at 1-1 until junior Kyle Mowatt stroked a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning...

Vikings fourth at NAIA meet (03/07/08) SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team had considerable success on the first day of the NAIA Championships at Sioux City, Iowa, but the path to a fourth national title is strewn with obstacles. On the positive side for the Vikings is that it pulled seven entries through to the quarterfinals, only one fewer than top-ranked Lindenwood and No. ...

Valley drops net debut (03/07/08) ST. JOSEPH -- The Missouri Valley College men's tennis team had only had four outdoor practices leading up to its spring season opener Wednesday at St. Joseph. If that wasn't enough of a hindrance, then there was the Vikings' opponent: Northwest Missouri State, ranked 31st in NCAA Division II and coming off an appearance in the national tournament. The Bearcats easily blanked Valley, 9-0...

Lady Vikings sweep in Springfield (03/05/08) SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri Valley College softball team bounced back from their season-opening setbacks three days earlier to sweep all three of its games Saturday in the Evangel Show-Me Tournament at Springfield. The Lady Vikings had to come from behind all three games, although were only challenged in the finale. In the process, they smashed five homers and allowed only one earned run in 19 innings pitched...

2008 All-Heart of America Conference Basketball (03/04/08) Men First Team Second Team Third Team Honorable Mention Player of the Year: Adam Hepker, MidAmerica Nazarene Freshman of the Year: Mike Malat, Graceland...

Season over for Lady Vikings (03/03/08) OLATHE, Kan. -- The end may have been in sight, but the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team was determined to die hard. The Lady Vikings were trying to knock off a second nationally-ranked opponent on the road in the Heart of America Conference Tournament, but No. 21 MidAmerica Nazarene made the plays necessary down the stretch to avoid a second straight home loss to MVC with a 65-60 semifinal decision...

Vikings blown away in Oklahoma winds (03/03/08) OKLAHOMA CITY -- The nation's second-windiest city proved a boon to home team hitters and a bane on Missouri Valley College pitchers over the weekend. Sixth-ranked Oklahoma City belted 14 homers while sweeping the three-game non-conference baseball series, 17-8 and 22-9 on Saturday and 13-8 Sunday. None of the Star's sluggers shone more brightly than senior David Dennis. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound first baseman from California smashed four dingers, driving in 13 runs and scoring seven times...

MVC Round-up/Lady Vikings stun No. 19 Jewell (02/29/08) LIBERTY -- Keith Lindahl's tenure as head coach of the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team will last at least a couple of more days. Lindahl last week announced his resignation effective at the end of the third year of his contract, to be replaced by top assistant Jolene Christensen, but the sixth-seeded Lady Vikings pulled off the only upset of the Heart of America Conference's quarterfinal round Wednesday by defeating No. 3 William Jewell, 74-64, at Liberty...

Vikings' season ends at Jewell (02/28/08) LIBERTY -- It was a tough end to a tough season for the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team Wednesday, "to say the least," offered head coach Chad Lance. The Vikings fell behind by double digits before the first half reached its mid-point, although rallied later in the game before succumbing to host William Jewell, 71-59, in the first round of the Heart of America Conference Tournament...

Vikings claim regional crown (02/25/08) OKLAHOMA CITY -- In a dual match to open the men's wrestling season, fifth-ranked Oklahoma City defeated No. 10 Missouri Valley College fairly handily. However, when the Vikings returned to the Sooner State capitol Saturday, they had the option of leaving open their vulnerable weight classes and doubling up in strong ones...

Vikings close out regular season with win (02/25/08) Senior Boman Mullings performed to the tune 22 points Saturday in what was likely his last home game for the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team, which beat Heart of America Conference foe Benedictine, 68-66. The Vikings were ahead by four points at halftime, but were out-shot during the second half, 48.4 to 44.0 percent. Fortunately, Valley made all seven of its free throws -- while the Ravens never got to the line -- to hang on to the victory...

Vikings drop three in Tennessee (02/22/08) LEBANON, Tenn. -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team is hoping to escape winter weather by a return trip to Tennessee this weekend. The Vikings got a chilly reaction in the Volunteer State last week, losing three games to eight-ranked Cumberland -- two of them by one run...

Lady Vikings head coach stepping down/Valley splits at Baker (02/22/08) BALDWIN CITY, Kan. -- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team responded to the announced resignation of head coach Keith Lindahl by beating Heart of America Conference foe Baker, 65-51, Thursday at Baldwin City, Kan. Lindahl told The Marshall Democrat-News on Wednesday that his main reason for leaving was to rejoin his wife, Gayle, in Minnesota. He came to Valley three years ago, fresh off a NJCAA championship at Atoka-Ramsey Community College...

No. 4 Evangel pulls out 2OT thriller against Vikings (02/18/08) Instead, the Vikings suffered a 105-104 double-overtime loss at Springfield to the Heart of America Conference leaders. The Crusaders held a 16-point lead three-and-a-half minutes into the second half when Valley began its comeback bid with a long-range shot from senior Jelani Hicks...

Valley men, women beat CMU (02/15/08) Sophomore Rouven Haenig's bucket in the final minute proved to be decisive as the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team avenged an earlier loss to Heart of America Conference foe Central Methodist with a 60-58 decision Thursday in the Burns Athletic Center...

Vikings split doubleheader at Lambuth (02/15/08) JACKSON, Tenn. -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team saw its season-opening three game win streak halted Thursday before handing host Lambuth its first loss during a pair of non-conference games at Jackson, Tenn. The Vikings took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning, but a two-out, two-run error keyed the Eagles' four-run rally which allowed them to pull out a 6-4 decision for their eighth straight win...

MVC Round-up/Vikings split pair at MidAmerica Nazarene (02/12/08) OLATHE, Kan. -- Fifth-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene extracted a measure of payback on the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team Monday. The defending NAIA Division II champions suffered their first loss of the season when the teams met Jan. 7 in Marshall, but the rematch went the way of the Heart of America Conference-leading Pioneers, 77-61...

Lady Vikes cruise at home (02/08/08) The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team took control during the second half Thursday to shake off pesky Stephens College for a 76-57 non-conference home win. There were six lead changes during the first half, but the Lady Vikings went into the break up by eight points. Although sophomore Ali Roper dropped in a pair of three-pointers for the Stars early in the second half, Valley broke away with a 21-5 run...

Negro League focus of Valley event (02/07/08) He's one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and no one even remembers his name. "This story has been lost, that's why I tell it as much as I can," said baseball historian Peter Gorton. Gorton is talking about John Donaldson, perhaps the Negro league's most dominant pitcher...

Vikings' Price wins MVC Open title (02/04/08) Missouri Valley College senior Daniel Price got his mat act together Saturday. The all-America transfer from California-Davis won all four of his matches to take the 184-pound championship at the MVC Open in Marshall. In the process, Price -- ranked eighth in the NAIA -- defeated No. 6 Nigel Kinworthy of Missouri Baptist by fall to potentially improve his seeding for the national meet next month...

Valley posts third straight HAAC sweep (02/01/08) After going through the first half of the Heart of America Conference season without a doubleheader sweep, the Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams pulled off their third perfecta in a row Thursday in the Burns Athletic Center...

Viking spikers pick up pair of wins (02/01/08) The Missouri Valley College men's volleyball team beat the opponents it should, lost to favorites and had a potential upset slip away during the past week. The 10th-ranked Vikings split four matches Friday and Saturday at the Lindenwood Tournament, beating unrated Holy Names (Calif.) in three games (30-27, 30-23, 30-24) and Moody Bible Institute (Ill.) in four (30-24, 24-30, 30-18, 30-15). ...

Vikings lose two of three at dual meet (01/31/08) CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team went into the Campbellsville (Ky.) Duals short-handed, but head coach Mike Machholz isn't making any excuses for dropping two of three matches Saturday. "We didn't wrestle well enough to do what we should have done," he conceded...

Post-season football honors go to the Vikings (01/30/08) The Missouri Valley College football team was ranked third for the second year in a row in the NAIA post-season poll, released Jan. 14. The Vikings reached the national semifinals at Sioux Falls, S.D., as it had the previous season, before losing an 11-10 contest to the then-top-ranked Cougars -- who dropped the championship game two weeks later at Savannah, Tenn., to No. 2 Carroll (Mont.), 17-9. The Saints, of course, claimed all 15 first-place votes in the final poll...

Vikings pick up HAAC wins (01/29/08) For the second straight time, both the Missouri Valley College men's and women's basketball teams won Heart of America Conference games on the same day -- against the same opponent, although in different locations. While the Lady Vikings beat Graceland, 69-61, in Lamoni, Iowa, on Saturday, the Valley men rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to pull out an 84-77 decision over the Yellowjackets...

Valley spikers much younger this season (01/25/08) Only the uniforms will be familiar for fans of the six-year-old Missouri Valley College men's volleyball program this season. Gone are such stalwarts as outside hitter Adam Tuifagu and middle blockers Milos Velimirovic and Mirko Jankovic, along with head coach Joan Rickert -- who led the Vikings to third place in the Tachikara/NAIA National Tournament in each of her two seasons...

Vikes get first home sweep of season (01/25/08) The best Missouri Valley College hoops fans had been able to do this season was leave the Burns Athletic Center with mixed feelings, at least until Thursday -- when both the men's and women's teams won Heart of America Conference tilts at home on the same night for the first time...

Vikings second at Northwestern meet (01/23/08) ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team claimed two individual titles Saturday while placing second out of nine teams at the Red Raider Invitational hosted by Northwestern College of Iowa. The Vikings tallied 95 points with seven medalists, second to Augsburg (Minn.) -- the third-ranked team in NCAA Division III -- with 122.5...

Vikings pull out OT decision (01/21/08) ATCHISON, Kan. -- The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday with an 85-80 overtime victory at Heart of America Conference rival Benedictine. The game was close throughout, but the Vikings won it by shooting 60.0 percent from the field and making 22 of 28 free throws during the second half and extra period. Valley's 54.2-percent efficiency from the floor was its second-best figure of the season...

Baker nips MVC at the wire, 60-59 (01/18/08) Senior Aaron Toren got loose inside for a bucket in the closing seconds Thursday to give Baker a 60-59 Heart of America Conference road victory over the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team. The Vikings had come from 11 points down early in the second half, three-pointers by junior Craig Jones and sophomore Rouven Haenig starting and ending a nine-point run, to force a thrilling conclusion...

BU defeats Valley women (01/18/08) Baker isn't among the better Heart of America Conference women's basketball squads at field-goal shooting, but it is reasonably competent on the free-throw line -- which it proved Thursday by making 24 of 30 attempts for a 69-58 win at Missouri Valley...

Vikings sixth at NWCA National Duals (01/17/08) CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- This may not be Mike Machholz's winter of discontent, but there have been seasons which have gone more smoothly for his Missouri Valley College men's wrestling program. Even before the campaign began, the Vikings had to deal with a couple of deaths in their family -- including one to a wrestler. Then the top two back-ups at 165 pounds, one of them an all-American, quit the team after failing to unseat sophomore Chris Jones from the starting position...

Valley/Malta Bend Basketball (01/16/08) Culver-Stockton 66, Missouri Valley (M) 61 CANTON -- A second-half comeback bid fell short Monday for the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team, dropping a 66-61 Heart of America Conference decision at Culver-Stockton. A three-pointer by senior Jelani Hicks and junior Brandon Toliver's two buckets inside allowed the Vikings to open with a 9-4 lead, but junior Chris Booth twice posted up inside and senior Harris Jordan knocked down a jumper with 11:35 left in the first half to put the Wildcats in front.. ...

Valley swept at home (01/14/08) The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team was unable to gain ground in the Heart of America Conference race Saturday, losing a 63-60 home contest against Evangel. After leading by as many as seven points during the first half, the Lady Vikings trailed by six at halftime and never quite caught up -- despite a late flurry which got them to within a bucket...

MVC Round-up/Five Vikings medal at Dana mat meet (01/11/08) BLAIR, Neb. -- The Missouri Valley College men's wrestling returned to the mat Saturday by taking five medals at the Dana (Neb.) Open. The Vikings had two finalists. Junior Jon Gerhold (133 pounds) won three matches before dropping the title contest to Missouri's K.C. Pescaglia, a Hickman product, 5-0. Senior Daniel Price only had to wrestle twice in the sparse 165-pound weight class, winning the first by fall, before being pinned by Brent Pankoke of NCAA Division II power Nebraska-Omaha...

Vikings shock No. 1 MidAmerica (01/08/08) Even when it started the season with 11 straight losses, the Missouri Valley College faithful felt that the men's basketball team had potential, if only the talented pieces could be fit together. The combination head coach Chad Lance put together Monday worked well enough for the Vikings to hand No. ...

No. 24 MNU Edges Valley women (01/08/08) The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team couldn't quite get over the hump, while staying within striking distance in a contest which featured six lead changes and seven tie scores, during a 61-58 Heart of America Conference home loss Monday to 24th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene...

Valley men pick up HAAC win (01/07/08) The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team returned to Heart of America Conference action Saturday with a 72-64 home win over Avila, but the Lady Vikings suffered an 82-68 setback in the opener of the doubleheader. The Eagles led by as many as seven points in the first half of the men's game, when junior Jerome Douglas nailed a three-pointer. Avila's advantage was still five points at the break, but it was quickly erased...

Lady Vikings split on California trip (01/03/08) SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- After nearly three inactive weeks, the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team spent much of the GSAC Challenge Classic at Santa Clarita, Calif., playing catch-up. The Lady Vikings couldn't mount a comeback Friday during a 104-60 disaster against The Master's College, the host school which came into the contest ranked sixth in NAIA Division I. However, Valley rallied the next day, beating Biola (Calif.) in overtime, 65-63...

No. 6 Drury pulls away from Vikings (01/03/08) SPRINGFIELD -- For a little more than a half, the struggling Missouri Valley College men's basketball team gave an NCAA Division II power trouble Saturday at Springfield. Eventually, though, No. 6 Drury was able to run away from the Vikings for a 93-72 non-conference victory...

Valley men suffer road loss (12/17/07) DAVENPORT, Iowa -- The opportunity to avenge a one-point home loss to St. Ambrose (Iowa) went by the wayside for the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team Saturday. The Vikings, trying to catch up from a nine-point halftime deficit, missed all eight free-throw attempts during the second half -- while the hosts made 11 of 17...

Vikings end 11-game skid (12/14/07) LAMONI, Iowa -- It took a dozen games, but the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team finally got a win for its effort Thursday with an 81-76 Heart of America Conference decision at Graceland. The Vikings had their best offensive performance of the season, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and making eight of 15 three-point attempts. Four players scored in double figures, led by senior Boman Mullings 22 points...

2007 Heart of America All-Conference Football (12/13/07) Offense First Team Second Team Third Team Honorable Mention # Defense First Team Second Team Third Team Honorable Mention # # -- Missouri Valley only Conference Player of the Year: K Derek Doerfler, Baker. Offensive Player of the Year: QB Matt Schneider, MidAmerica Nazarene. Defensive Player of the Year: LB Reggie Singletary, Missouri Valley. Ken Gibler/Charlie Richard Coach of the Year: Pat Ross, Lindenwood...

Vikings drop to 0-11 (12/12/07) HANNIBAL -- The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team continued to struggle on the court Monday during a 68-51 non-conference road loss at Hannibal-LaGrange. While the Vikings took care of the ball, with only eight turnovers, they had difficulty putting it into the basket -- as their 23.0-percent field-goal shooting figure attests. The Spartans, who led 40-18 at halftime, nearly doubled that number at 45.8 percent...

Singletary earns AFCA All-America honor (12/11/07) WACO, Texas -- Missouri Valley College linebacker Reggie Singletary has been named to the American Football Coaches Association NAIA All-America team for his play during the 2007 season. Singletary (24), a 6-foot, 243-pound senior from Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, was the Heart of America Conference "defensive player of the year." He recorded 54 total tackles -- 33 solo -- and 17 tackles for a loss, including five quarterback sacks. ...

Valley's Simpson a study in persistence (12/11/07) Sheena Simpson, a sophomore at Missouri Valley College, nearly lost her life entering a crosswalk on Oct. 5, 2006. Simpson was on her way to cross country practice when she was struck by a car and launched thirty feet. Miraculously, she came away from the accident without any serious injuries and was released from the hospital later that night. ...

Jewell sweeps HAAC twinbill at Valley (12/10/07) It was worth it for the William Jewell basketball teams to negotiate the treacherous highways Saturday to get to Marshall, since they both left with Heart of America Conference victories over Missouri Valley College. The sixth-ranked Lady Cardinals had a little more difficult time of it. After taking a 15-point lead into the second half, Jewell had to fend off a charge by the Lady Vikings to claim a 53-40 decision...

Lady Vikings survive slugfest (12/07/07) CANTON -- Culver-Stockton held the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team more than 20 points below its scoring average Thursday, but had trouble making its shots during a 50-46 Heart of America Conference home loss. The Lady Vikings went into the contest fourth in the NAIA in field-goal efficiency, hitting 49.4 percent of their shots, but managed only 41.2 percent -- two-tenths of a point above their season low -- for the game. ...

Troth named top NAIA Region III coach (12/06/07) The American Football Coaches Association has selected Missouri Valley College's Paul Troth as its NAIA Region III "coach of the year." He will be recognized during the 2008 AFCA convention Jan. 9 in Anaheim, Calif. Troth led the Vikings to a 10-3 record and, for the second year in a row, the NAIA Championship Series semifinal round, where they lost Saturday at top-ranked defending champion Sioux Falls (S.D.), 11-10. ...

Vikings' Jones medals at LVI (12/06/07) LAS VEGAS -- Missouri Valley College wrestler Chris Jones gave every indication he was going to accomplish some fine feats this season when he won the 165-pound championship at the Central Missouri Open. The sophomore from Edmond, Okla., a transfer from Bacone (Okla.), became the Vikings' first medalist in three years Saturday at the Las Vegas Invitational. Jones won five of his seven matches during the two-day meet, winding up in seventh place...

Valley swept at home (12/05/07) A positive streak was stopped and a regrettable one extended during Missouri Valley College's non-conference basketball doubleheader Tuesday in the Burns Athletic Center. The Lady Vikings were seeking their fourth straight win, but were derailed by top-ranked College of the Ozarks, 102-86. Still, it wasn't easy for Hard Work U, an NAIA Division II finalist a year ago...

Sioux Falls rallies to nip Vikings, 11-10 (12/03/07) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- A day late and a point short is how the Missouri Valley College football team's second straight attempt to reach the NAIA championship game turned out. Instead, top-ranked Sioux Falls (S.D.) will try to defend its title Dec. 15 against No. 2 Carroll (Mont.) due to a 99-yard drive which ended a touchdown with under a minute remaining to beat the Vikings, 11-10, on a frigid, windy Sunday...

Lady Vikings 2-0 in HAAC (12/03/07) The Missouri Valley College women's basketball shot high-percentage shots for a high percentage Saturday during its 92-76 Heart of America Conference home win over Graceland. The Lady Vikings made 59.3 percent of its field-goal attempts to take a 12-point lead into halftime, then shot a commanding 67.6 percent from the floor the rest of the way to subdue the visitors. ...

Vikings split HAAC debuts at Lindenwood (11/30/07) ST. CHARLES -- Lindenwood had no answer to the inside attack of the Missouri Valley College women's basketball team Thursday, dropping a 91-83 decision in the Heart of America Conference opener for both clubs. Meanwhile, the Valley men came away still seeking their first win of the season, falling to the Lions, 96-71...

Vikings-Coo, Part II (11/30/07) Life doesn't often allow mulligans, but here is the Missouri Valley College football team again preparing to play Saturday at Sioux Falls, S.D., in the NAIA Championship Series semifinal. The Vikings get a chance to avenge their 25-18 loss a year ago to the eventual national champions, which looked like a strong possibility when the current season began. Valley almost didn't hold up its end of the deal, slipping from the preseason No. 3 spot in the polls due to a 2-2 start...

Valley kicker has taken unusal journey (11/30/07) Offense 13 James Justus, Sr., 166 Defense 48 Matt Pepito, So., 220...

Vikings return to the NAIA semifinals (11/26/07) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Near the hallowed ground of Woody Hayes, Missouri Valley College played Buckeye football to beat third-ranked Ohio Dominican, 48-34. Behind a power rushing game which produced 284 yards and enough big play firepower to earn red-shirt freshman quarterback Chris White his second straight playoff award for top offensive performance, the Vikings demonstrated the style of hard-nosed football advocated by legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes...

Vikes eye high-flying Ohioans (11/23/07) While digital reproductions don't flicker light in the dark as did film, the eyes of Monty Roe, Charlie McFail and the rest of the Missouri Valley College defensive staff are reddened by wear. These defensive gurus have been swelling MMU's coffers by the megakilowatt hour in dissecting the potent passing attack of Ohio Dominican and its record-setting quarterback, junior Cris Reisert -- whose numbers are, in the approving view of Vikings head coach Paul Troth, "ridiculous."...

Valley's Singletary finds strength in families (11/23/07) For Missouri Valley College's Reggie Singletary, it's all about family. By that, the fifth-year senior linebacker from Kansas City North doesn't just mean the family in which he was raised, but also the Vikings football family and the family he created by the son and daughter which arrived this summer. Fatherhood has engendered a different outlook on life...

Tale of the Tape (11/23/07) Offense Defense Individual Leaders Offense Defense Special Teams...

NAIA Championship Series (11/23/07) Depth Chart Offense Defense...

Vikings win Murray State Rodeo, lead Ozark Region at mid-point (11/21/07) MURRAY, Ky. -- The Missouri Valley College men's rodeo team will go into the second half of the season in March atop the NIRA Ozark Region. The Vikings scored a huge victory last week at the Murray State Rodeo, beating second-place Tennessee-Martin by 300 points (825-525) to pass by the defending champion Skyhawks in the season standings at the halfway mark...

Vikings win dual; two medal at MU (11/20/07) The third-ranked Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team won their first home dual match of the season Friday, downing No. 8 McKendree (Ill.), 24-18. While both teams won five bouts, the Vikings got the nod due to the bonus points produced by pins by freshman Alex McKinney (165 pounds) of Marshall, junior Billy Exline (125) and sophomore Brian Graham (149) -- the last of which concluded a match which was tied at 18-18...

Vikings bump off Friends (11/19/07) WICHITA, Kan. -- Chris White has come a long way since he was installed as the Missouri Valley College football team's starting quarterback in the third week of the season. The red-shirt freshman from Brielle, N.J., directed the Vikings' offense flawlessly Saturday, throwing for a career-high 312 yards and two touchdowns -- without an interception -- during a 34-21 victory over eight-ranked Friends in the first round of the NAIA Championship Series at Wichita, Kan...

Vikings open playoffs at No. 7 Friends (11/16/07) The road to the NAIA playoffs was roundabout and hazardous for the Missouri Valley College football team. When the season began, the Vikings were ranked third in the nation based on their run to the semifinals the previous year -- nearly upsetting eventual champion Sioux Falls (S.D.) -- and the number of returning starters on the roster. ...

Tale of the Tape (11/16/07) Offense Defense Individual Leaders Offense Defense Special Teams NAIA Championship Series Depth Chart Offense Defense...

Vikings share UWA crown (11/15/07) LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- With the NIRA Ozark Region schedule reaching its midway point, a pitched battle for supremacy is being waged between the Missouri Valley College and defending champion Tennessee-Martin men's teams. The longtime rivals entered the West Alabama Rodeo last week only 150 points apart in the standings, with the Skyhawks holding the edge. ...

Vikes' Jones wins UCM Open (11/14/07) WARRENSBURG -- With Sunday's Central Missouri Open at Warrensburg dominated by NCAA Division I and II wrestlers, there were few opportunities for smaller schools to take home hardware. Of the 60 medals awarded, 47 went to Division I and II grapplers. Only two of the finalists were from NAIA schools...

No. 23 William Penn throttles Vikings, 96-72 (11/13/07)

Vikings smash Lindenwood, return to NAIA post-season (11/12/07) The Missouri Valley College football team may have been more dangerous without the ball than with it Saturday. An interception of a deflected pass set up the go-ahead touchdown and blocked kick and fumble returns produced two more scores as the 12th-ranked Vikings scored 33 straight second-half points to upend No. 7 Heart of America Conference champion Lindenwood, 33-13, and land a berth in the NAIA Championship Series...

Vikings host HAAC champ Lindenwood, playoffs on line (11/09/07) Since starting the season 2-2, the defending Heart of America Conference champion Missouri Valley College football team has been on the brink of elimination from the NAIA playoff picture. "We've know for quite a while that a third loss would end any chance of post-season," noted MVC head coach Paul Troth. "We've got one game left, and it's a big one."...

College Men's Basketball/Hannibal-LaGrange 60, Missouri Valley 59 (ot) (11/08/07) The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team came back from an eight-point first-half deficit to send Tuesday's non-conference home game into overtime, only to fall to Hannibal-LaGrange, 60-59. Senior Wayne McPike scored 18 points and senior Naim Benjamin had 15 for the Spartans (3-0), who out-shot Valley 42.6 to 33.9 percent from the field...

Vikings 1-2 at OCU Duals (11/07/07) OKLAHOMA CITY -- The 2008 season has gotten off to a rough start for the Missouri Valley College men's wrestling team. The first meet was wiped out by two deaths in the family -- including that of freshman J.D. Steenburgen, killed in an Oct. 10 car wreck near his home town of Sapulpa, Okla. -- which forced the withdrawal of the Vikings from the season-opening Lindenwood Open to attend their teammate's funeral...

Lady Vikes go 1-1 to open season (11/06/07) DES MOINES -- The Missouri Valley College women's basketball team's fate turned different directions during second halves over the weekend at the Grand View Classic in Des Moines. Valley came from eight points down in Friday's season debut to beat the host Lady Vikings, 69-53, but then blew a 15-point lead over the final eight minutes Saturday to fall to Mount Mercy (Iowa), 63-62...

No. 14 Vikings pound Culver-Stockton, 56-26 (11/05/07) CANTON -- Some of the Missouri Valley College football players who got caught up in "Cleatgate" responded well to a week of rest, turning in impact performances Saturday. Sophomore David Allen ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns and senior Reggie Singletary and junior Larry Wentzel came up with sacks as the 14th-ranked Vikings turned the lights out by halftime at Culver-Stockton, their 56-26 victory setting up a one-game shot this week against Heart of America Conference champion Lindenwood for a possible NAIA playoff berth.. ...

College Basketball/Harris-Stowe State 77, Missouri Valley 73 (11/05/07) Sophomore Dustin Fox scored 32 points to pace Harris-Stowe State during its season-opening 77-73 non-conference road win over the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team. Fox made 13 of 24 field-goal attempts, including five of 12 from three-point range, as the Hornets (1-0) turned 22 takeaways into a 22-7 advantage in points off of turnovers...

Vikings knocking on HAAC door (11/02/07) Serbia. The Bahamas. Bosnia. Brazil. Germany. These are some of the far-flung locales from which the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team has filled its roster for the coming season. With seven international players, three of whom were on the team last year, what language will the Vikings' use on the court?...

Vikings have another ‘trap' game at Culver (11/02/07) Two weeks ago, Missouri Valley College head football coach Paul Troth seemed unduly concerned about his team's upcoming contest at unheralded Avila. The Vikings, coming off an emotional victory over MidAmerica Nazarene, struggled to beat the Eagles, 20-14 -- even though Troth now concedes that "we graded out better than I thought we were going to."...

Lindahl: National tourney or bust for Lady Vikings (11/01/07) Missouri Valley College head women's basketball coach Keith Lindahl has regained some of his swagger. Two years ago, fresh off a NJCAA Division III championship at Atoka-Ramsey (Minn.), Lindahl was convinced his Lady Vikings would contend in the Heart of America Conference. They didn't, but a strong recruiting class pushed them up to third place last season -- the program's best showing since tying for second in 2000...

Heart of America Conference/Pre-season Basketball Polls (10/31/07) Men Women...

Valley stays alive with fourth straight win (10/29/07) Even for a rookie, Chris White gets it. White and his Missouri Valley College teammates didn't allow the absence of six players -- including all-Americans Larry Wentzel and Reggie Singletary -- to effect them whatsoever Saturday as they took out another of their challengers for second place in the Heart of America Conference, and a possible NAIA playoff bid, by whipping Baker, 34-20, on Gregg-Mitchell Field...

Vikings host Baker in key HAAC showdown (10/26/07) Defending Heart of America Conference football champion Missouri Valley College got the win it needed last week at Avila, but the 20-14 decision was hardly encouraging. Even if the opportunity had existed, which it didn't, the Vikings' pedestrian performance would not likely have elevated them from their 15th spot in the NAIA rankings -- a key consideration at this stage, with four league teams tied for second place in the loss column and fighting for a playoff berth...

No. 15 Vikings hang on to beat Avila (10/22/07) KANSAS CITY �" Missouri Valley College head football coach Paul Troth considered Saturday’s Heart of America Conference contest at Avila a “trap” game. The Vikings were coming off an emotional upset of then-10th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene and the Eagles were an opponent without stature...

Vikings in second place in region (10/18/07) TROY, Ala. �" Both the Missouri Valley College men’s and women’s teams moved up in the NIRA Ozark Region standings by virtue of second-place finishes last week in the Troy (Ala.) Rodeo. The Vikings got a pair of wins, from sophomore steer wrestler Jake Shaw of Cocoa, Fla., and senior bull rider Cooper Link of Louisburg, Kan., the first contributing to their 745 points. ...

Valley notches impressive Homecoming win (10/15/07) It was a day for plowhorses, not racehorses. Heavy rain which persisted until halftime Saturday made conditions miserable for the high-powered offense of 10th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University, but were suitable enough for No. 18 Missouri Valley College's vertical running game during a 32-7 rout which kept the defending Heart of America Conference champions in contention...

Vikings return to action against No. 10 MNU (10/12/07) After a week off halfway through the season, it's time for defending Heart of America Conference football champion Missouri Valley College to get back to work playing catch-up in the league race. In one sense, it was a good thing for the battered Vikings to get some rest and prepare for 10th-ranked Homecoming guest MidAmerica Nazarene, but since it came on the heels of their finest offensive performance of the season -- a 56-7 thrashing of Central Methodist -- the benefits may be mixed...

Vikings third at SAU Rodeo (10/04/07) MAGNOLIA, Ark. -- Call them Boll Weevils or Cotton Blossoms, the University of Arkansas at Monticello made the short, 110-mile trip to Magnolia a productive one by taking both the men's and women's titles last week at the Southern Arkansas Rodeo. Led by the Brunson brothers, Wes and Bart, the Weevils racked up an impressive 1,045 points to pass Missouri Valley (640 points) for second place in the NIRA Ozark Region team standings behind defending champion Tennessee-Martin (865)...

Vikings' offense finds groove at CMU (10/01/07) FAYETTE -- The Missouri Valley College football team turned the lights out early on Central Methodist's first night game in over 50 years during Saturday's 56-7 Heart of America Conference romp at Fayette. The Eagles' lone highlight was an 87-yard touchdown return of the opening kickoff by junior Jeremy Jefferson. The 22nd-ranked Vikings took command late in the first half and put the hammer down after the break...

No. 22 Vikings' backs against wall (09/28/07) With two losses in the last three games, thoughts of a repeat Heart of America Conference championship or NAIA playoff appearance are now secondary for the Missouri Valley College football team. "We're just trying to figure out how to win a game," remarked Vikings head coach Paul Troth on the eve of Saturday's contest at Central Methodist. "We're not making plays when we need to."...

Vikings second in Stampede (09/26/07) The NIRA Ozark Region rodeo season is starting out much like the previous one ended: with Missouri Valley College challenging defending men's champion Tennessee-Martin. Valley came in second to the Skyhawks last week in the season premiere Viking Stampede at the Saline County Fairground, the 900- to 680-point spread roughly proportional to the gap of 6,513.33-4,891.66 which existed at the end of the 2006 campaign...

No. 8 Vikings fall to Evangel (09/24/07) The last thing Missouri Valley College head football coach Paul Troth wanted to see Saturday was the first thing that happened. When junior Jonathon Nunez fumbled away the opening kickoff at the Vikings' 23-yard line, it set up visiting Evangel for an early touchdown. Valley would never catch up during a 22-12 loss to the Crusaders, severely damaging its hopes for repeating as Heart of America Conference champion...

Evangel seeks payback on No. 8 Vikings (09/21/07) A year and four weeks ago, it was an upset of fifth-ranked defending Heart of America Conference champion Evangel which launched the unheralded Missouri Valley College football team on its path to 13 straight wins, a league title and the NAIA semifinals...

Vikings hand William Jewell first loss (09/17/07) LIBERTY -- The Orange Crunch is back. Faced with a struggling offense which replaced its starting quarterback with another rookie, and coming off one of its least effective outings in two years last week, the Missouri Valley College defense turned in a performance reminiscent of the type which led it to being No. 1 in the NAIA against the run a year ago during a 25-14 Heart of America Conference victory Saturday at William Jewell...

Vikings look to bounce back at Jewell (09/14/07) Knocked off its perch at the top of the Heart of America Conference football standings, the defending champions are now in a fight for survival. Third-ranked Missouri Valley College's disappointing 29-23 loss last week to Graceland may have been a wake-up call, but it was probably more of a reality check...

Graceland stuns No. 3 Vikings (09/10/07) Sometimes heart isn't enough. It doesn't always overcome dropped passes, poor throws, missed tackles and blown assignments -- all of which plagued the third-ranked Missouri Valley College football team Saturday during its 28-23 home loss to Graceland, ending an 11-game Heart of America Conference win streak...

Troth: Vikings 'have to get better' in Week 2 (09/07/07) Some consider it among the Heart of America Conference's classic games: third-ranked Missouri Valley College's season-opening 33-27 triple-overtime victory Saturday at No. 19 Benedictine, where the Vikings hadn't won in 17 years. To MVC head coach Paul Troth, it only means one thing: "Our hope is we learn something from it...

MVC Round-up/Viking kickers claim win in 1-0 home opener (09/07/07) Freshman Ian Sheridan's goal with 16 minutes remaining gave the Missouri Valley College men's soccer team a 1-0 non-conference victory in its home premiere Wednesday against McKendree (Ill.) Although the Bearcats (2-1) out-shot Valley, 11-9, the Vikings had sophomore Igor Lima in the net to make all the stops. It was a United Kingdom connection which did it for Valley (2-2), freshman Mark Evans from Wales feeding the Englishman Sheridan...

Vikings survive 3OT slugfest (09/04/07) ATCHISON, Kan. -- The Missouri Valley College football team made clear Saturday that it was serious about defending its Heart of America Conference title. The Vikings came from behind three times to eventually pull out a 33-27 triple-overtime victory at 19th-ranked Benedictine, where they haven't won since 1990...

Valley begins defense of HAAC title (08/31/07) Even since the 2007 football schedule came out, no conversation with Missouri Valley College head coach Paul Troth could conclude without him referring to the importance of defeating Benedictine in the season opener. If Troth appears obsessed with the Ravens, then its entirely possible veteran BC head coach Larry Wilcox is thinking along the same lines...

Valley fourth in S&S grid poll (08/01/07)

Valley hires new net coach (07/19/07) Illinois State assistant Curt Sivertsen has been hired as the new head men's and women's volleyball coach at Missouri Valley College. Sivertson takes over for Joan Rickert, who took the men's program to two appearances at the Tachikara/NAIA Championships -- finishing third in 2006 -- and guided the Lady Vikings to a 6-18 record during her one season at the helm...

Valley has four NAIA scholar-athletes (07/02/07)

MVC's Heaton named all-NAIA (06/19/07)

Shaw finishes ninth at CNFR (06/18/07) CASPER, Wyo. -- The rest of the week may be a fond memory, but Jake Shaw would probably just as soon forget the final night of the College National Finals Rodeo at Casper, Wyo. The Missouri Valley College freshman from Cocoa, Fla., headed into Saturday night's short "go" in an enviable position: third in the steer wrestling standings among the 12 finalists after posting three top-10 times -- 5.1, 5.4 and 5.7 seconds for a 16.2...

Vikings entering stretch run at College National Finals (06/14/07) CASPER, Wyo. -- Jake Shaw is sitting pretty right now, if only the cattle will cooperate. A freshman from Cocoa, Fla., Shaw enters the third and final preliminary round of the College National Finals Rodeo at Casper, Wyo., in enviable position to make the top-12 cut in steer wrestling. He may be the only Missouri Valley College cowboy performing Saturday night...

Valley to hold youth basketball camp (06/07/07) The Missouri Valley College Little Dribbler Basketball Camp is set for June 18-21 in the Volney Ashford Gymnasium. The camp is designed to teach each athlete, from third to eighth grade, the basic fundamentals and advanced skills of the game according to his or her age and ability. Directors are Vikings head men's coach Chad Lance and assistant Chris McGill...

Valley seeking new net coach (06/06/07) Missouri Valley College men's and women's head volleyball coach Joan Rickert has accepted an assistant's position at NCAA Division I member Missouri-Kansas City. Rickert guided the men's program to appearances in the Tachikara/NAIA Tournament during both of her years at the helm, having arrived three days before the Vikings' 2006 season opener. During that campaign, Valley posted a 20-9 record, finished second in the MAMVIC West regular season race and won the division tourney...

Vikings get two medals at NAIA meet (05/31/07) FRESNO, Calif. -- There was a simple rule of thumb for the Missouri Valley College track and field team during the NAIA Outdoor Championships last week at Fresno, Calif. When the Vikings exceeded their season-best marks, they medalled -- or came very close to doing so. Not so when they didn't meet their standards...

MVC, MHS swap administrators (05/24/07) Taking over new Marshall athletic director Scott Latham's job at Missouri Valley College will be the man he succeeded. Tom Sandwith has been hired as Assistant to the Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at Valley, from where he graduated in 1977. Sandwith, who will take over July 9, is a former football and baseball player at the school and was inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame in 2005. He has worked in the Marshall School District the past 28 years...

Ten Vikings named all-HAAC (05/17/07) The Missouri Valley College baseball team had four first-teamers among 10 players selected to the 2007 Heart of America all-conference squad. Among the leaders for the Vikings, 28-22 overall and 19-9 in league play to finish second in the East Division, was senior infielder Justin Larkin of Yelm, Wash. He topped the club with a .398 batting average, scoring 36 runs with five home runs and 46 runs batted in during regular season play...

Vikings' season ends at Avila (05/10/07) KANSAS CITY -- While the NAIA Region V Tournament began Wednesday at St. Charles, the Missouri Valley College baseball team sat idly by. The Vikings were eliminated from the post-season over the weekend by losing two of three games at Avila in the Heart of America Conference playoffs. In the battle between the second place teams in the East and West Divisions, the Eagles (34-15) prevailed 10-3 in the first game Friday and 9-1 in Saturday's finale...

Lady Vikings 0-2 in regional (05/09/07) SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri Valley College softball team didn't make it to the second day of the NAIA Region V Tournament at Springfield. The Lady Vikings were blanked by Columbia in Tuesday's opener, 2-0, and were eliminated later in the day by McKendree (Ill.), 5-3...

Vikings third at HAAC track meet (05/03/07) BALDWIN CITY, Kan. -- Three sprint victories led the Missouri Valley College men's track and field team to third place at the Heart of America Conference Championships, held Friday and Saturday at Baldwin City, Kan. After finishing second to freshman Tommy Gayfield (10.81 seconds) of St. ...

Santa Fe's Christopherson signs with MVC (05/03/07) ALMA -- Santa Fe senior Sarah Christopherson is hoping to continue her softball career, signing an NAIA letter-of-intent last week with Missouri Valley College. Christopherson has been the Lady Chiefs' No. 1 pitcher since her first game as a freshman, posting a 29-14 record with a 1.87 earned-run average in 44 career starts. ...

Valley golfers place second in NAIA Region V (05/03/07) ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley College men's golf team is probably tired of chasing Lindenwood, but then so is the rest of the NAIA's three-state section. As they were the previous week during the Heart of America Conference Tournament at Marshall, Valley had to settle for second place behind the Lions during the NAIA Region V Championships. ...