Sept. 12, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University libero Courtney Schneider has achieved remarkable success in college volleyball, yet she isn't satisfied.

Last year, she led the NCAA Division II in digs per game (7.66) and already is the school and Great Northwest Athletic Conference career-record holder with 2,085 digs. She earned first-team Daktronics and third-team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, and is a three-time GNAC all-star.

But one goal still burns after three consecutive runner-up conference finishes.

"I don't think I will have a successful career without a GNAC championship," Schneider said.

As a senior and team captain, the Snohomish High School graduate knows the time is now.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself," said Schneider, who ranks No. 15 nationally among Division II career dig leaders and could finish as high as No. 3. "If we lose, I take all the blame for it. I'll remember every single ball I didn't dig."

It's that competitive fire that head coach Diane Flick just can't get enough of.

"She's just a special player," Flick said. "Her best attribute is not knowing how good she is."

After watching the other teams at last year's regionals, Schneider realized there wasn't any reason Western couldn't play in the final match for a trip to nationals.

"We have our core together, and it's a perfect opportunity to do it," she said.

Also at WWU

Football: Western (1-0) has a four-game win streak entering its game at No. 8 Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday. It is the Vikings' longest streak since 2002.

Men's soccer: Western (3-3) has already surpassed its 2006 win total.

Seattle Pacific

Men's soccer: Jeff Hallenbeck (Inglemoor of Kenmore) has scored or assisted on each of the Falcons' four goals in three consecutive wins.

Volleyball: Torii Mount (Gresham, Ore.) had a school-record 45 digs in a five-game win over Seattle University -- the third-most in GNAC history.

Seattle U.

Soccer: After falling out of the poll for one week, both men's and women's teams returned to the NCAA II polls this week after 1-0 victories. The men are ranked No. 21 and the women No. 19.

Washington

Men's soccer: Coach Dean Wurzberger , in his 16th season at UW, needs four wins to reach 200 in his career. He is 196-91-34 overall, 188-83-29 at UW.

Volleyball: The No. 8 Huskies (8-0) have dropped only one game all season, which came against Long Beach State last week. They have swept all of their other matches.

Washington State

Women's soccer: Senior Brooke Bemis (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) has scored in each of the first three matches this season. She is the first Cougar with goals in three consecutive games since Megan Hyte in 2005.

Volleyball: Setter Maureen Perez (Heritage of Vancouver) has 1,229 career assists, ninth-best in WSU history. She needs eight assists to reach eighth.

Other colleges

Central Washington: Eleven players had at least one reception in the season-opening football win over Humboldt State on Saturday -- the most in a game since October 1995.

Eastern Washington: Volleyball player Hayley Hills (Quesnel, B.C.) is one of just four Big Sky Conference players to be named to all-tournament teams each of the first three weeks of the season.

Gonzaga: The men's soccer team has cracked the national polls for the first time. The Bulldogs have beaten No. 1 UC Santa Barbara, defending College Cup champion, and No. 15 Washington.

Northwest: Defender Casey Bostock (Sandpoint, Idaho) and midfielder Amy (Simon) Bostock (Shorewood of Shoreline) are a husband-and-wife team on the men's and women's soccer squads. They were married in June.

Whitman: Sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Porter (Inglemoor of Kenmore), who has two shutouts in her first four soccer matches, has strong ties to the school. Her father, Chuck Porter, ranks No. 13 in Missionaries career scoring. Her brother, Ryan Porter, was a defender on the men's soccer team who graduated in 2005.

Elsewhere: Tony Rehn (Skyline of Sammamish) is starting at quarterback for Division III Menlo College (0-2). He is 19-of-35 passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions.