Playing without its head coach, the ASU water polo team split four games over the weekend to take 10th place at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Berkeley, Calif.
Fourth-year coach Vicki Gorman was told not to travel with the team, an ASU spokesman said. University officials declined to reveal why Gorman stayed home.
Gorman has been with the team since its 2002 inception. Assistant Todd Clapper coached No. 19 ASU at the MPSF Championships.
The Sun Devils (11-21, 5-11 MPSF) dropped their first-round match against No. 5 Long Beach State but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Pacific and No. 12 UC Irvine.
Freshman Caylinn Wallace recorded nine saves in ASU's 6-5 win against Pacific. Freshman Katy Lawlor had two goals.
Sophomores Katie Hedley and Raelyn Ritchie scored three goals apiece in ASU's 9-7 victory over Irvine. It marked Hedley's sixth hat trick of the season. It was Ritchie's second hat trick.
ASU finished the 13-team tournament with a 7-5 loss to No. 6 UC Santa Barbara. Five players scored, although ASU couldn't recover from a 3-0 deficit.
The Sun Devils are eligible for one of three at-large berths to the NCAA Championships, scheduled for May 13-15 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Track and field
For the ASU men's and women's track and field teams, state bragging rights will remain in Tempe at least one more season.
Powered by 10 individual victories, the ASU men's squad downed UA 108-91 and NAU 132-40 on Saturday \in the NAU/UA Double Dual at Sun Angel Stadium. The ASU women's team won 11 individual events in defeating UA 116-81 and NAU 131-55.
The men's 4x100m relay team broke a 26-year-old school record by finishing in 38.71 seconds. Still nursing a minor knee injury, junior anchor Lewis Banda was replaced by freshman Kelvin Love. Banda is expected to run in the Pac-10 Championships, which will be held May 14-15 in Los Angeles.
"When it's Pac-10 time and NCAA time, I'm confident that Lewis Banda will be where Lewis Banda needs to be," ASU track and field coach Greg Kraft said.
Freshman Jessica Pressley broke her school record in the hammer throw at 208 feet, 4 inches. Senior Angela Tavlarides broke the school record in the pole vault for the fifth time this season, upping her mark to 13 feet, 5 inches.
Sparky's Awards
The best in ASU athletics will be honored in the second annual Sparky Awards, scheduled for 7 p.m. today at Wells Fargo Arena. Admission is free.
The Sparky's recognize individuals in 10 separate categories, ranging from Male and Female Athlete of the Year to the Unsung Hero Award.
Finalists for Male Athlete of the Year are senior forward Ike Diogu, former quarterback Andrew Walter and former shortstop Dustin Pedroia.
Finalists for Female Athlete of the Year are cross country runner Amy Hastings, track and field standout Jacquelyn Johnson and gymnast Ashley Kelly.
A lifetime achievement award will be presented to former ASU women's golf coach Linda Vollstedt. Former guard Betsy Boardman and former cross country runner Juan Reyes each will receive a Golden Heart Award.
To be considered a finalist, student-athletes must show leadership and commitment to academics and community service.
Reach the reporters at brian.knapp@asu.edu, thomas.j.kelley@asu.edu, and matt.reinick@asu.edu.
