By DON O'BRIEN
Herald-Whig Sports Editor
The Hannibal-LaGrange College men's soccer program will try to continue the best season in program history at 5 p.m. Saturday when it plays at Hastings, Neb., in a first-round NAIA Tournament game.
The Trojans (16-2-1) earned their first-ever NAIA playoff berth by winning the American Midwest Conference Tournament title last weekend at McKendree. HLG is ranked third in the lastest NAIA rankings, but has to hit the road, HLG coach David Erskine said, because its power ranking -- known as Longo points -- wasn't very high.
Erskine said earlier this week on WGEM SportsCenter presented by Hardee's that he doesn't mind playing on the road. HLG had not allowed a goal on the road this season until its 5-1 victory over McKendree last week.
The Trojans were led by six players who earned first-team All-AMC honors. Junior
forward Kevin Zimmerman, a native of Cancun, Mexico, leads the offense with 13 goals.
Midfielders Estavo Franco, a senior from Brazil, and Sergi Beltrol, a sophomore from Spain, defenders Gilberto Romero, a senior from Honduras, and Emilio Penules, a junior from Spain, as well as sophomore keeper Jeff Jelinek were also first-team All-AMC.
Jelinek, a Merrillville, Ind., native, had 15 shutouts during the season and a goals against average of 0.31. He's made 54 saves this season. Hastings (17-3) has won 15 straight matches coming into the game and was the Great Plains Athletic Conference champion. The Broncos are 11-0 at home this season. They are making their ninth-straight NAIA Tournament appearance. The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the NAIA nationals Dec. 1-6 in Fresno, Calif.
Harvey to join Mizzou Hall: Quincy High School graduate Dave Harvey has been voted into the University of Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame. Harvey, a 1960 QHS graduate, was a letterwinner for the Missouri baseball team from 1962-64. He was a second-team All-American in 1963 and was a first-team All-American in 1964 while leading the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the national tournament. Harvey will be honored during the Missouri-Baylor men's basketball game on on Jan. 31, 2009, a day after he's enshrined.
HLG wins first meet: The HLG women's swim team captured the first victory in program history Saturday with a 102-79 victory at Principia. HLG junior Rebecca Campbell led the way, swimming a NAIA national qualifying time of 2 minutes, 20.69 seconds in the 200-yard individual
medley. Also winning for the HLG women were Hilary Cook (200 freestyle), Hannah Franke (100 butterfly), Bethany Wells (100 freestyle), Ashley Garner (100 breaststroke). The HLG men's team lost, but senior Jayd Diggins, a South Shelby product, won two events -- the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Area products lead IC volleyball team: Quincy Notre Dame product Angela Siebers and Central graduate Katie Miller represented Illinois College on the Midwest Conference's all-conference volleyball team.
Siebers was a first-team pick, while Miller was a second-team selection. They finished one-two in kills for the Lady Blues, who finished 13-16 overall and 5-4 in league play. Siebers had 2.14 kills per game, while Miller had 2.02 kills per game.
Siebers, a senior middle hitter, was a three-time all-league pick during her career. She had 186 kills and 100 blocks this season. She finished her career with 1,124 kills, 512 digs, 338 blocks and 171 aces. Miller, a senior outside hitter/middle hitter, led the Lady Blues with 194 kills this season. She finishes her career with 835 kills, 409 digs and 110 blocks.
Solid freshman season for Rodriguez: Quincy Notre Dame graduate Kayley Rodriguez finished a succesful freshman season with the Maine Maritime Academy
volleyball team.
Rodriguez finished in a tie for 24th in the NCAA Division III ranks with .75 aces per match in helping the Mariners to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Rodriguez, a freshman setter/outside hitter, finished with 88 kills, 54 aces, 169 digs and 43 assists for the Mariners (19-8). She was named the North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Week once.
McColez named to All-AMC team: Quincy High School graduate Tori McColez was named a first-team selection to the American Midwest Conference's all-conference volleyball team. McColez, a senior setter at the University of Illinois at Springfield, had 1,190 assists, 410 digs, 68 kills and 17 aces. She leaves UIS as the school's all-time leader in assists (3,837). She's also sixth in aces (87) and third in digs (1,527).
Hannibal-LaGrange College had one player earn honorable mention. Sophomore Shannalei Seau-Gibson, an outside hitter, was the lone HLG honoree. Gibson led HLG (15-23) with 377 kills.
This 'n that: The Quincy University baseball team signed three players during the early signing period -- Trent Tagliarini, an infielder/outfielder from Tampa, Fla.; Ryan O'Hayer, a catcher from Chicago; and right-handed pitcher Mike Mueller, a transfer from Southwestern Illinois College. ... QU football players Tyler Truttmann and Alex Beard earned Mid-States Football Association Midwest Player of the Week honors for their performances in the Hawks' season-ending 45-42 win at William Penn. Truttmann was the Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more scores. Beard won the special teams honor after going 6 for 6 on point-after touchdown attempts and kicking a game-winning field goal from 33 yards out as time expired. ... QU senior Jessica Keller was named the GLVC women's basketball Player of the Week after scoring 45 points in two games during the Lady Hawks' run to the QU/Subway Tip-Off Tournament title last weekend. ... Culver-Stockton College junior guard Phil Peugh was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference men's basketball Player of the Week after averaging 17.5 points in two games last week. ... The C-SC men's basketball team's exhibition game at Southeast Missouri State tonight will be shown live on the Internet. To follow the action, go to www.kfvs12.com. Coverage is expected to begin around 5:15 p.m.
-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3365
