By By Andrew Scharff
WOMEN’S BBALL
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is beginning the season on top of the conference, starting the season 3-0. James Madison University (JMU) junior center Meredith Alexis was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Week after averaging 18.5 points per game and notching two double-doubles. Ashley Feldman of Northeastern was awarded the CAA Rookie of the Week honor as she scored 20 points in her collegiate debut against Holy Cross.
X-COUNTRY
The 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships ran two weeks ago on Indiana State’s campus. The William & Mary (W&M) men finished 22nd and the Tribe women finished 23rd. CAA Individual Champion Ian Fitzgerald was the top male finisher for W&M, as he finished 72nd overall in the 10K race. The W&M women were led by Meghan Bishop, who claimed 76th place overall in the 6K.
FIELD HOCKEY
Old Dominion University (ODU) lost in the NCAA Tournament field hockey semifinals to top seeded Maryland, 3-2. Maryland’s Jackie Ciconte added the game-winner at the 62nd minute off a rebound.
MEN’S SOCCER
All three CAA teams have been eliminated from the 2005 NCAA College Cup Tournament. Along with the Pride (first-round loss to Providence), ODU and JMU both lost their respective games. ODU suffered a 2-1 loss to Wake Forest. Edson Elcock scored the lone goal for ODU, which finished the season with a 15-4-2 record.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Tom Koucheravy of George Mason was named men’s CAA Swimmer of the Week. Koucheravy won three events at the Patriot Invitational including the 500, 200 and 1,650 freestyles and set school and meet records in each event. UNC-Wilmington senior Dean Berman was named men’s Diver of the Week after helping the Seahawks finish third at the Patriot Invitational as he captured the championship with a score of 310.6.
On the women’s side, Davidson senior Megan Hollar was named Swimmer of the Week. Hollar won seven events (four individual and three relays) at the Davidson Invite, which led to a second place Wildcat finish. JMU sophomore Ali Miller was named Diver of the Week, scoring a 209.20 on the 1-meter and a 219.15 on the 3-meter as the Dukes won the Bucknell Invitational.
VOLLEYBALL
VCU is set to play the Purdue Boilermakers in the NCAA Volleyball Championship on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C. VCU earned an automatic bid after winning its first conference championship, with wins over Georgia State, the Pride and Towson in the CAA tournament.