The conference basketball openers are just around the corner, this Saturday in fact. Both teams were in action this past Tuesday with the men traveling to Marshall, Minnesota to face the NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. Knew going in that this was going to be tall task, Southwest had played in the Elite Eight last season with a team that caught lightning in a bottle with a very balanced squad last year while building a 28-7 record. Defenders played tight with the hosts for about ten minutes and then Southwest went on a roll to put the game out of reach by halftime. Defenders were never able to make a serious charge at the talented bunch and took the 120 mile trip back south with their first loss of the season. Trevor Wolterstorff had 16 points on a night where Dordt struggled to shoot the ball well as a team.
Meanwhile, back in Sioux Center, the Defender women were putting a stop to a four game losing streak with a 91-70 win over Dakota State that wasn’t that close. Defenders had 85 points with about six minutes left when they called off the dogs. Amber Soodsma lit it up for 24 points and six three-pointers, one shy of the Dordt single game women’s record held by Serena Van Beek. From what I was told Dakota State tried to pressure a little bit and Dordt put the foot on the gas and never let up, getting lots of open shots and making the most of them.
Hoping to see some milestones this weekend. Kate Du Mez is poised to score her 1000th career point and has 992 at this point I believe (doing this from home and I don’t have all the stats in front of me). McKinzie Schmidt is very close to joining the 700 rebound club which would put her in pretty elite company as the 5th player to get to that point. We’ll see if it’s a historic weekend or not.
The opponent this weekend will be tough on both fronts. The Wesleyan women and dordt have finished near each other in the final standingss the last several years. If the Defenders want to make a move out of that pack this is the kind of game you need to win at home. On the men’s side it’s the team that was picked first in the pre-season poll against the team that was picked fourth. Looks like a great early season match up….hard to believe it’s time to get geared up for basketball conference play already.
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NAIA playoffs start this weekend for women’s and men’s soccer, football and volleyball. Hastings men’s soccer is the only soccer team to draw a first round game at home on Saturday. Volleyball has Northwestern and Morningside already in the field of 24 at Sioux City in a week and a half. Doane hosts Black Hills State Saturday afternoon with the winner going to Sioux City. Football has Morningside and Sioux Falls at home and Hastings is on the road to Kansas.
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Greg Van Dyke, Michelle Steiger and Brent Van Schepen are in Washington preparing for the NAIA National Meet on Saturday. Keep in mind the time change between here and there as results will probably be available late Saturday afternoon.
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Tought night for the Blades hockey team tonight. Down 9-3 at last check. Hopefully better days ahead over the next two days.
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Football coaches have hit the road for recruiting trips before Thanksgiving rolls around.
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A little of everything tonight.