Northwest Notes November 22, 2011

WSU QB Halliday out of ICU, still in hospital

PULLMAN - Washington State redshirt freshman quarterback Connor Halliday has been moved out of the intensive care unit at Pullman Regional Hospital but will remain at the hospital overnight, according to WSU Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training Services Bill Drake.

Halliday suffered a lacerated liver in Saturday's overtime loss to Utah, and was taken to the hospital after complaining about pain after the game.

Drake said Halliday remains in stable condition.

Zags' Pangos named WCC basketball player of week

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga freshman guard Kevin Pangos, who totaled 33 points and 6 assists against Washington State in his first collegiate start, was named West Coast Conference men's basketball player of the week.

Pangos was 9 for 16 from the field, 9 for 13 from 3-point range and 6 for 6 from the line. His nine treys tied the single-game school record held by Dan Dickau, who did it twice. Pangos, from Newmarket, Ontario, added 12 points, three assists and three steals in a win over Hawaii on Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia.

For the week, Pangos shot 12 for 24 from the field, 11 for 16 from 3-point range and 10 for 12 from the free throw line, averaging 22.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals.

The Bulldogs (3-0) plays Western Michigan on Saturday in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic at the Spokane Arena.

Mt. Spokane's Verduci signs to play volleyball at NIC

Marissa Verduci, a 5-foot-10-inch outside/middle hitter from Mt. Spokane, High has signed to play volleyball for North Idaho College in 2012, Cardinals coach Kandice Kelly announced.

Verduci the team in blocks last season. Mt. Spokane went undefeated in the Greater Spokane League and finished fourth in the 2010 Washington Interactive Activities Association (WIAA) state championships.

She has played club volleyball for five years, including two years for Spokane Sky, coached by Mark Springer, and last year for Sideout, coached by former Sandpoint High coach Jamie Pancho, father of current NIC setter Sierra Pancho. Sideout represented the Evergreen Region at the 2011 USA Volleyball Nationals.

"NIC's smaller class sizes and campus location appealed to me right away and after playing with the team, I knew it would be a good fit," Verduci said. "Coach Kelly and the players were all so encouraging and dedicated to the sport."

Verduci plans to study exercise science/pre-physical therapy at NIC.

"Marissa is going to be a great addition to the team and someone who is an all-around dominant player," Kelly said. "Marissa will be able to step in right away and play any position the team needs her to play. That is the great thing about Marissa; she is good in the middle, outside, and great on defense. She fits in well with the team and fits my style of play."

NIC Booster Club moves spring auction to winter

COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho College Booster Club will host the Winter CARDnival and Auction on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn, located at 506 W. Appleway Avenue.

The traditional spring auction has been moved to the winter so attendees can utilize the event's live and silent auctions for holiday gifts.

The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, games and the beginning of the silent auction. Dinner starts at 6:45 p.m. and a live auction kicks off at 7:45 p.m.

Tickets are $30 a person or $225 for a table of eight. Call 769-3348 for reservations.

NIC softball players, coaches to lead winter clinics

COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho College softball coaching staff and players will host a variety of clinics in December and January.

The 2011 Catching Academy will be offered Sunday, Dec. 11 in Christianson Gym on NIC's campus. The two-session clinic runs from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Participants should bring their own lunch and catcher's gear. The clinic will cover stance, framing, blocking, throwing mechanics, pick offs, bunts and more. The cost is $80 for both sessions and the clinic is for ages 8-18.

The 2012 Hitting and Agility Academy will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 5, 12 and 19 at the NIC Hitting Facility on Walnut and 7th Street in Coeur d'Alene. It will consist of one hour of hitting instruction and one hour of agility instruction to improve overall performance on the field. The cost is $75 for all three sessions and it is for ages 13-18.

The 2012 Hitting Academy will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Jan. 7, 14 and 21 at the NIC Hitting Facility. Each session will be progressive in instruction, building on the previous session's lesson. The cost is $85 for all three sessions and it is for ages 12-18.

Enrollment for all three clinics is limited to ensure quality instruction.

Call the NIC Softball Office at 769-7879 to register or download forms at http://www.nicathletics.com/AthleticDepartment/CampsClinicsSpecialEvents.aspx.