LITTLE ROCK — GYMNASTICS
Arkansas to host 2014 NCAA regional
Arkansas has been selected to host an NCAA regional in 2014, the NCAA announced Thursday. The six-team regional will be held April 5, 2014, at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville. It will be the fourth time the Razorbacks have hosted a regional, which they did previously in 2006, 2009 and 2012. “We’re excited to once again be selected,” co-Coach Rene Lyst said in a release from the university. “We’ve had good success when we host. We know Razorback fans enjoy it and will come out and help us perform our best.” The Razorbacks advanced to the NCAA Championship the first three times they hosted a regional. In two of those years (2009 and 2012), Arkansas reached the NCAA Super Six.
CROSS COUNTRY
Friant receives conference honor
University of the Ozarks men’s runner Matt Friant was named second-team All-American Southwest Conference on Thursday after finishing among the top 14 runners at the conference championship in Clinton, Miss. Friant, a junior from Conway, placed 12th in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 27 minutes,18.89 seconds. It is the third consecutive year Friant has finished in the top 14 at the conference meet.
SOCCER
Chandler, Ellenwood earn accolades
Arkansas senior Allie Chandler was named second-team all-SEC for the second consecutive season Thursday and freshman Ashleigh Ellenwood was named to the conference’s all-freshman team. Chandler had four goals this season, including game-winners against Tennessee and Alabama. She also had two assists. Ellenwood scored five goals, including the game-winner against Missouri, and two assists.
Hendrix seniors honored
Hendrix seniors Tresor Mukiza and Connor Silvestri were named to the academic all-district men’s team Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Mukiza, a midfielder from Rwanda, had 2 goals and 2 assists in 14 games this season before suffering a season-ending injury. He has a 4.0 grade-point average in biochemistry and molecular biology. Silvestri, a forward from Conway, had eight goals and four assists. He has a 3.53 GPA in chemistry. To be eligible, a player must be in the second year of competition at their school and have at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
VOLLEYBALL
UCA wins in straight sets
Alicia Dittrich had 10 kills, 3 digs and 1 block to lead Central Arkansas to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Lamar on Thursday in Beaumont, Texas. Jessica Haysled had 12 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces and 1 block for the Sugar Bears (24-4, 12-3 Southland Conference). Scout Brooks had 11 digs and nine kills, while Marissa Collins had 34 assists and seven digs.
Sports, Pages 25 on 11/02/2012