The Runner 5-27-15

May 27, 2015

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Vol. 40, No. 24

The comeback kids of Bakersfield

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Baseball wins first WAC Tournament in school history

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By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

The Western Athletic Conference Tournament finale was fitting for a screenplay from CSU Bakersfield baseball coach Bill Kernen as the drama was at an all-time high.

The CSUB (36-22-1) baseball team rallied behind a four-run eighth inning to beat Seattle University 5-4 on May 24 and won its first WAC Tournament title.

CSUB will play against topseeded UCLA in the NCAA regionals at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles on May 29 at 8 p.m. The winner of that matchup will play the winner of Ole Miss and Maryland.

After keeping its season alive on May 23 by winning 6-5 in the tenth inning over SU, CSUB saw itself down 4-1 heading into the top of the eighth inning. After redshirt senior Kris Cayton drew a walk and two back-to-back singles by sophomore Joey Sanchez and senior Jordie Hein, junior Mylz Jones ripped the ball down the right infield line for a three-run double to tie the game.

“I was trying to hit the ball hard somewhere because I knew the bases were loaded, and I just needed to put the ball somewhere,” Jones said.

“Fortunately, it found a gap and got through. I was so pumped just to tie the game and to put ourselves in a position to take the lead, it was unreal.”

Sophomore David Metzgar

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

followed and delivered once again with a single to right center field driving in Jones from second base.

“It was unreal,” Metzgar said.

“I knew that the game was on the line. We came back, and I knew we weren’t going to go down. I didn’t have any doubt in my mind that I was going to get it done. With Mylz Jones coming in clutch, I think pressure was taken off, and I was like, ‘this game’s over’ because I had all the confidence. We had all the momentum and once I get this in, [senior Nick Rogowski] is going to shut them down.”

He added that as he drove in the game-winning run he couldn’t breathe from the excitement.

“I couldn’t breathe as I was rounding first because I was so pumped up, and I took a big turn,” he said. “When I got back to the bag, I was just screaming and enjoying the moment with my coach.”

The Roadrunners pitcher Rogowski, who relieved WAC Pitcher of the Year and senior Hayden Carter in the sixth inning, came back out in the eighth and went put out the side of the order.

Then after CSUB was unable to add to its lead, Rogowski came back in the ninth to close out the game. He forced Seattle’s senior Brian Olson to ground out and then forced another groundout to junior Sheldon Stober.

However, with only one out left for the Roadrunners, Rogowski hit sophomore Brock

Carpenter, who hit a home run in the second inning. He then walked sophomore Griffin Andreychuk.

Rogowski then got some much-needed help from freshman outfielder Drew Seelman and forced senior Grant Newton to line out to right field for the final out.

“Our team never gives up,” said Kernen to gorunners.com.

“I can’t say that I wasn’t concerned, as we only got one run out of a couple situations where we had the bases loaded. We got another chance, and we broke it open in the eighth inning.”

Jones went two-for-five hitting and drove in three runs.

Metzgar also went two-for-five hitting and drove in one run.

Metzgar won WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

He hit .409 with one home run and five RBIs for the tournament. Junior Chance Gusbeth, sophomore Steven Gee and Sanchez joined Metzgar on the All-Tournament team.

Carter pitched for 5 1/3 innings, struck out four batters and gave up three runs.

Rogowski (4-5) pitched 3 2/3 innings, struck out two batters, gave up only one run and earned the win. Seattle’s Skyler Genger (6-7) received the loss.

“I was pretty familiar [with coming in for relief] and I was just glad I was able to come in after Hayden and try to keep the score down,” Rogowski said.

“We were threatening all game so I knew our offense would probably score some runs later

on the game.”

He added that things got interesting at the end, but he thinks games like these will help them down the road.

“It’s always harry at the end but we always seem to come out on top. I think that’s going to help us later down the road against teams like UCLA, Maryland and Ole Miss.

They’re used to killing teams like us, and we’re used to beating big teams like them.”

Metzgar said that he was a little nervous as the ball was hit.

“I was thinking ‘oh no it’s in the gap.’ Then I see Seelman, who came up big for us this weekend, he made the catch look so easy. I was proud, and I was so pumped. I couldn’t even take it all in. I’m still taking it in right now.”

Carter said that it was kind of a relief to win the title.

“We have come up short the last two years, so to be able to win it the last season of my baseball career is definitely very rewarding,” he said.

“Kernen brought every single one of us in and so it was definitely cool to send him off like this because it’s his last year.”

He added that it will be fun getting to play against the teams in the NCAA regionals.

“We’re looking forward to playing UCLA, Ole Miss and Maryland,” he said. “Three bigname schools and it’ll be pretty fun getting to match up against them, and hopefully, we do well down there.”

[See BASEBALL, Page 4]

Smoke on the water: CSUB saves over 12 million gallons of water.

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I eat heavy metal: The Curious Kitchen channels his inner Iron Chef. Page 3

Steal my sunshine: Our editorial board thinks graduation should be indoors.

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News

Features

Opinion

Courtesy of Darryl Webb/WAC

CSUB vs UCLA Preview Friday, May 29 8pm @ Jackie Robinson Field, UCLA

All-time Series 3-1 UCLA 36-22-1 42-14

Batting Average .283

On Base Percentage .364

Batting Average .286

On Base Percentage .371

Slugging Percentage .365

Slugging Percentage .415

Earned Run Average 3.57

Earned Run Average 2.16

Hayden Carter

James Kaprielian

Fielding Percentage .977

Fielding Percentage .976

Expected Starters

Win/Loss Record 8-3 Earned Run Average 2.55 Innings Pitched 116.1 Walks Allowed 22 Strikeouts 56 Awards - 2015 WAC Pitcher of the Year 2015 1st Team All-WAC

Sports

Encore: Baseball coach Bill Kernen wraps up his final curtain call. Page 4

Win/Loss Record 9-4 Earned Run Average 1.94 Innings Pitched 97.2 Walks Allowed 31 Strikeouts 107

Awards - Threw combined no-hitter on May 15 vs Arizona

Multimedia

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Opinion/News

May 27, 2015

Hold graduation in the Icardo Center

EDITORIAL

Graduates spend years working toward the ultimate goal of attaining a degree from CSU Bakersfield. Graduation is the culmination of countless hours of sweat, stress, and work – only to be rewarded by a 7 a.m. outdoor ceremony, which acknowledges them for a whopping three seconds in blistering weather.

It is a shame that students are forced to sit out in front of the CSUB Amphitheatre without any type of overhead cover.

Graduation also has many hidden costs. For those coming

from out of town to see a loved one cross stage, they must either stay overnight, which some cannot afford, or they must leave their homes around 5 a.m., which makes attendance a luxury for some and a burden for others.

CSUB holds these ceremonies early to avoid the climbing temperatures, but it’s not enough.

Temperatures can easily reach 100 degrees by noon in Bakersfield.

After the countless thousands of dollars funneled into the university by students, as well as

During the weekly board of directors meeting on May 22, Associated Students Inc. looked into changing adding an amendment in one of its bylaws.

Executive Vice President Mike Kwon proposed the idea that if next year the chair of the board is unable to attend a meeting, then the president can appoint someone that the board will have to approve to run that meeting.

However, after various discussions about it, ASI decided to refer it back to the committee.

“It started getting very convoluted in terms of the amendments and it was a little bit hard to follow but… I think it needed to be revised in the committee more before it was brought to the board,” said ASI President Derek Stotler. “It’s really obvious when it needs to sit in a committee more because there’s a lot of discussion back and forth. It’s going back to committee, and we’ll see what they come out with.”

After Kwon proposed the idea, Vice President of External

needs to be an election with nomination from the board of directors every time the chair of the board is absent.

After Stotler added Perez’s idea to the amendment, Director of General Studies Jessica Quinones responded by saying that can be very time consuming.

“I feel like this should be left up to the execs to decide who is going to chair because it takes too much time for us to sit here, find someone to do it and if we disagree, it’ll just take too much time,” Quinones said.

Director of Housing Denisse Silva said that it should already be decided before they begin the meeting.

Director of Legislative Affairs Mercedes Macias agreed with the idea of deciding it beforehand because it would save time but added that it shouldn’t be left up to the executives.

“That’s just being an apathetic board member,” Macias said. “I think we shouldn’t leave everything up to the execs. They have a lot to do.”

Silva then added that the board

ASI

years of studying and stress, the least the university can do for the students and their families is not let them roast for four hours in the sun. It’s not only uncomfortable for grads draped in caps and gowns, but potentially a hazard for children and the elderly to be exposed without cover.

Graduation should not be something one must endure.

Therefore, we believe such an occasion should be hosted in the Icardo Center.

One could argue that the Icardo Center is not large

enough to accommodate the masses who attend graduation, and they would be correct. To that, we say split the graduation ceremonies across multiple days. This has multiple benefits.

First, a gradution indoors would shield people from sunburn. Secondly, rather than graduates being herded across stage like cattle for a three-second announcement, one could revel in their achievement for an amount of time worthy of the time spent earning it.

Perhaps if CSUB changed the venue of its graduation, there

Graduation should not be something one must endure.

Therefore, we believe such an occasion should be hosted in the Icardo Center.

would not be a sea of empty chairs glaring in the sun toward the end of the event, left by those fleeing the heat. It is an embarrassment to the university

DROUGHT

and a shame for students that have not yet crossed stage to have their name called in front of an emptying Amphitheatre.

We urge CSUB to change the venue to the Icardo Center, or at least a covered ceremony.

CSUB students deserve better than this.

The Runner editorial board consists of Steven Barker, Robin Gracia, Esteban Ramirez, Josh Bennett, Andrea Calderon, Michael Wafford, Eric Garza, Heather Hoelscher and Richard Garibay.

Possible change to bylaws discussed at meeting Water savings exceed 12

By Esteban Ramirez Affairs Ricardo Perez said durmillion gallons Sports Editor ing the discussion that there

By Steven Barker News Editor

Kabria Dodley/The Runner

Director of Housing, Denisse Silva raises her placard to make a comment during the ASI meeting on May 22.

should vote for a vice-chair at the beginning of the academic year.

After Stotler added Silva’s idea to the amendment, Kwon said that giving even more responsibilities to a board member is not needed and added that it would be better if a vice-president stepped in as chair.

Perez said that the director would not have any extra duties as vice-chair.

ASI then motioned to move it back to committee.

RECREATION

Kwon said after the meeting that the biggest problem they were facing for the amendment is finding a student that is responsible and going about it the best way possible.

“Since we want a student that is responsible and coordinating the meeting essentially, I think our board wanted to see a student that is able to that well and efficiently,” Kwon said.

“I think finding that student and how that works was the biggest hurdle,” Kwon said.

California State University, Bakersfield’s water savings continue to grow. According to Patrick Jacobs, assistant vice president of facilities management, the university has from Jan. 1 through May 18 reduced its water consumption by 22 percent as compared with its 2013 usage levels. The 22 percent reduction amounts to 12.5 million gallons in reduced water consumption.

Under an executive order issued by Gov. Jerry Brown on April 1, all urban water consumers are required to reduce their water consumption by 25 percent relative to use in 2013.

Jacobs said he expects the university to reach the 25 percent reduction mandate soon.

“I am very confident as we enter into peak watering season that our reduction will exceed 25 percent,” Jacobs wrote in an email.

Watering During the Week In response to concerns over

the drought, a city ordinance prohibited the watering of lawns on Mondays.

Shortly after, CSUB was the subject of a newsreel in which the university was found to be watering on Mondays.

Jacobs said that the university is now in compliance with the ordinance and is no longer watering on Mondays.

However, Jacobs added that CSUB has reached an agreement with the city so that the campus may be watered Tuesday through Sunday.

Under the ordinance, Bakersfield residents with even addresses are allowed to water on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, whereas homes with odd addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

CSUB’s campus consists of 375 acres of land.

Reporting Monday Watering Jacobs added that anyone who witnesses instances of watering on Mondays could report such occurrences to Facilities via an email to water@csub.edu.

CSUB students get free entry to LA Cosplay Con

By Steven Barker News Editor

THE RUNNER Volume XL, Issue 24

The Runner California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 Telephone 661.654.2165 Fax 661.654.6905 E-mail runner@csub.edu therunneronline.com

editorialstaff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Bennett

MANAGING EDITOR Robin Gracia NEWS EDITOR Steven Barker

OPINIONS EDITOR Richard Garibay

FEATURES EDITOR Heather Hoelscher

As the result of a partnership between Campus Gamers and the Los Angeles Cosplay Convention, Cal State Bakersfield students with a school ID are granted free admission to the event on June 13.

According to Ed Webb, founder of Campus Gamers, the arrangement arose out of a commitment the club made to provide a video game station for attendees of the convention.

“Last year, we wanted to participate in LA Cosplay Con, so we got a booth donated to us by the convention, and Japan and Beyond did as well,” Webb said. “So both of our clubs went down there … and there was a gaming area that was sponsored

by Microsoft, but there was no other games … so we told them next year we would be happy to bring some retro games to kind of enhance the game room.

We were invited back this year, but Microsoft dropped out, so we’re running the whole gaming section this year. In addition giving us a 20’ by 20’

space for us to do the games … everybody at CSUB would be able to attend for free.”

Although the convention is held on the second day of graduation, he also said the event is a great opportunity for students and graduates alike to participate in a fun event.

“I know that June 13 is graduation day, and it’s usually from 7 a.m. to 11 or 12; even if somebody was to graduate that day, they would still have time to get down and partake in some of the expo and panels before the actual Cosplay Con got in there,” Webb said.

“It really is a fun time, especially if you’re a people-watcher.”

Info on the event General admission for students generally costs $11 and provides access to gaming panels, cosplay contests and a dance party after the convention, among other events.

Cosplaying refers to when someone dresses up as a character from a movie, video game, manga, anime, comic book series or many other genres.

SPORTS EDITOR Esteban Ramirez

businessteam

WEB EDITOR Cassie Sandrini

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Monica Martinez

PHOTO EDITOR Diana Olivares

ART DIRECTOR Eric Garza

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Michael Wafford COPY CHIEF Andrea Calderon

ADVERTISING MANAGER Maisy-Jane Raper

ARCHIVIST Donato Cruz

ADVISER Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu

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Features

May 27, 2015

RUNNER ON THE STREET

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By Ileana Angulo

This week, The Runner asked, “What was your opinion on the ASI election results?”

Marissa Leon Freshman 19

“I wasn’t too happy with the results. I thought it was unfair how some candidates were left out to hang by themselves.”

Deslyn Joseph Junior 20

“I just hope the people who won represent the students and our university in the best way possible.”

Kalyn Dunham Sophomore 20

“I didn’t like how Mike’s team was able to share their votes, but other than that I thought it was fair.”

COLUMN

The CSUB ‘Iron Chef’: Battle Panini edition Curious Kitchen

By Alex Ripepi Senior Columnist

+Without the ability to improvise solutions to problems, the human race probably wouldn’t be what we’ve come to know and love. In the kitchen, the ability to improvise is key if and when shit hits the fan and suddenly ingredients and cookware are missing and there is defrosted meat just waiting to rot on the counter. Without the ability to pull a solution out of thin air, the outcome will be wasted money and a funky smell in your kitchen.

This week, I ended up in a similar situation 5 minutes from

deadline in the design room for this very newspaper. I had yet to think of an idea for this column, but I couldn’t let down my faithful reader.

A little birdie let me know that an iron was left in the cabinets, and after a quick run to the grocery store for bread, roast beef, onion, bell pepper, cheese and butter, I was ready to go.

First and foremost, when you cook in a non-standard environment, the highest priority on the list is sanitation.

Don’t use the top of a garbage can as a saucepan, and make sure there are no cockroaches tap-dancing on the surface you use to cut your food. When available, cutting boards can save a life, as they can function as an all-purpose surface in dire straits.

After dicing the vegetables on a cutting board, I used the hidden iron of destiny as a fauxgrill, and cooked them until they browned just slightly, then

Photo by Eric Garza/The Runner

The “Iron Chef” prepares a mock Philly cheesesteak by using an iron to grill the sandwich.

set them aside while I buttered both sides of the bread for the sandwich and put Swiss cheese and roast beef between them, and pressed down on the bread as if the iron was a Panini press.

I did this until both sides were sufficiently crispy, and then put the ‘grilled’ veggies on the sandwich.

Protip: if you’re using something like a tomato on a real Panini grill or George Foreman something or other, make sure you wait to put them on the sandwich, or be ready for a more rigorous cleanup, the juices will leak all over the place, and can make your sandwich soggy as well.

As a bit more of a test, I ran the gauntlet another time making grilled cheese.

Again, to get that fake grill taste and texture I buttered the outsides of the bread, and set the iron down for about five minutes on each side. This may actually have worked better

than the cheesesteak sandwich, and ended up cooking about as well with both Swiss and American cheese as any other simple grilled cheese would have.

Obviously, I didn’t get fancy – no pork belly this time – but the more daring could try to spice up their iron grilling game with all the fixings.

Without a doubt, this was the most interesting way I’ve ever made a meal, and honestly the flavor wasn’t bad for the mode of preparation.

An iron that was in a dark cabinet for who knows how long made a pretty impressive mock Philly cheesesteak, and I have no reservations about doing that again.

That being said, there are other ways that kitchen improvisation can save or make a meal – don’t be afraid to get creative, people – and I won’t lie, I’m no master chef. But after today, I can finally claim to be an iron chef.

May 27, 2015 FEATURE

Sports

One final curtain call

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Players, faculty talk about Kernen’s impact and pending retirement

By David Kaplan and Esteban Ramirez Runner Staff

said Hein. “He’s taught us more than baseball, he taught us about life.

Everything that he teaches us he makes Just like a great screenplay writer saves sure it relates to life.” his best for the grand finale, CSU After seven seasons as the Bakersfield baseball coach Bill Kernen Roadrunner’s head coach, Kernen has has left his best for his final run at compiled a record of 190-193-1.

CSUB. He has led the team to its third straight Kernen has been a part of the CSUB WAC Tournament, gave the program its baseball program since its beginning in first WAC Tournament Championship 2007. and has won the WAC Coach of the Year It was believed that his stint as CSUB’s honor twice, including this year. baseball coach would end last season, On May 12, before a home game and he would move on to writing screen- against UC Santa Barbara, Kernen plays in New York. became the very first Roadrunner in any However, he returned for the 2015 sea- sport to have his jersey number retired. son and for one more run at an NCAA His No. 17 jersey is retired at Hardt Regionals berth.

Field.

He now has this year’s team in the “That was a nice thing,” Kernen said NCAA Regionals heading to L.A. to face on May 12. “I really appreciated that. I the UCLA Bruins after winning the didn’t expect that to happen, so that’s a Western Athletic Conference nice thing to have out there.

Tournament Championship on May 24.

“I like it. I don’t think anyone even “Kernen brought every single one of us knows I’m number 17 because I never in and so it was definitely cool to send wear a uniform.” him off like this because it’s his last Carter said that Kernen’s unique year,” said senior starting pitcher approach helps the players not only as Hayden Carter. baseball players on Kernen laid the “He has built a legacy, the field but also as initial foundation set the bar at an people in life. for the team such as “He doesn’t really recruiting players extremely high level and focus on the physical and other program has done all the kinds of aspect of the game,” beginning duties.

Carter said. “He things you want when mostly focuses on the The Roadrunners’ first season in base- building a program.” mental aspect of the ball didn’t start game.” until 2008.

Before the start of the -Rudy Carvajal season Kernen has the Former CSUB Athletic Director Former Athletic Director team read psychologiRudy Carvajal, cal essays. Kernen who hired Kernen back in 2007, said stresses the importance of visualization he’s meant everything to CSUB baseball. and encourages the players to take 30 “He has built a legacy, set the bar at an minutes out of every day for visualizaextremely high level and has done all the tion. kinds of things you want when building “It’s definitely different,” freshman a program,” Carvajal said. “He built it outfielder Christian Deaton said. “I’ve from scratch. There were no facilities, never had a coach that has hammered and it’s just a tribute to him. the mental part of the game in so “It’s great for the program because of much.” the longevity because he established a Hein added that Kernen opened his legacy that it’ll be hard to beat.” eyes to various things about visualizaCSUB Assistant Athletic Director for tion that he never would’ve thought of.

Communications Corey Costelloe said Kernen’s psychology influence comes he knew coach Kernen from the start of from his playwright background. the baseball program in 2007 as Kernen wrote plays at Columbia Costelloe was hosting a local sports talk University’s graduate writing program show. in the late 1990s.

“He put together this stuff that he said Coach Kernen has a vast amount of he would,” Costelloe said. “He always experience and knowledge that he has found guys that were maybe okay in brought to the Roadrunners. high school and turned them into All“Whenever he tells us something is WAC players and MLB draft picks,” going happen it does,” Deaton said.

Carter added that Kernen built the Deaton said Kernen will predict that program from the ground up. the team will win 10 games in a row and Senior outfielder Jordie Hein said then they will.

Kernen recruits guys with heart rather Carvajal added that CSUB has been than shear athletic size and natural ath- lucky to have him as the coach. letic talent.

“We were very, very fortunate, and he “He’s just been such a great mentor,” has done an unbelievable job,” he said.

AJ Alvarado/The Runner

CSUB baseball coach Bill Kernen sticks up for his player and argues a call with an umpire in a game against Cal Poly at Hardt Field on April 24.

CSUB is ready for Fan of the house Now that’s what I call Division I athletics game with UCLA BASEBALL

[BASEBALL, Page 1] The Roadrunners kept their season alive on May 23 when they rallied to give the Redhawks their first loss of the WAC Tournament. CSUB fell behind in the ninth inning 5-3, thanks to a wild pitch from Seattle pitcher Garrett Anderson.

The game went to extra innings but didn’t last long as the Roadrunners survived and beat the Redhawks 6-5 on a walk-off walk from Sanchez.

“We didn’t play well,” said Kernen said. “We were able to overcome it with determination, heart, and guts and the will to win. It wasn’t very pretty, we weren’t going to leave the field with less runs.”

Earlier that day, CSUB beat Sacramento State 4-0 behind a pitching gem from sophomore Steven Gee. Gee pitched a complete game, gave up only four hits and no runs in the win.

On May 22, they lost to

COLUMN

Seattle 9-3, which gave the Roadrunners their first loss of the tournament.

On May 21, CSUB beat North Dakota 11-1 behind seven inning pitched and six strikeouts from Carter.

Metzgar led the way hitting with two hits, scored twice and had two RBIs. Gusbeth added two hits and drove in one run.

“Hayden did what he always does,” Kernen said. “He located his fastball and mixed in his other pitches when he needed to.” CSUB now puts its attention on the NCAA Baseball Regionals and UCLA. Metzgar said that the close games that they’ve had against Seattle and other teams throughout the season has prepared them for teams like UCLA. “We are overlooked a lot by the big programs but we’ve overcome those deficits,” he said. “With the guys we have, we’re grinders,” “We won’t stop until they make us stop.”

season 36-22-1 (17-9 WAC) and, as of May 24, are WAC Tournament Champions set to face off against UCLA in the Regionals.

By Nate Sanchez Senior Columnist

The school year is drawing to a close, and with it, CSU Bakersfield’s athletic seasons.

It’s been quite a year for the Runners, complete with triumphant victories and defeats that came out of nowhere.

The combined winning percentage of baseball, men’s soccer, volleyball and women’s basketball was just above .634, which isn’t bad considering the competition from this year.

Baseball Baseball is my favorite sport, and they’ve garnered the most recent success, so they go first.

The boys in blue and sometimes white or yellow finished the

Nate’s MVP: I get that in team sports, you’re not allowed to take any of the credit and that’s cool. But I think James Barragan deserves some acclaim for his performance this year.

He finished in the top ten in ERA (2.82), opposing batting average (.242), strikeouts (78), strikeouts per game (8.46) and fewest doubles allowed (6).

Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball team (23-9, 11-3 WAC) was outstanding this year. It was favored in the preseason polls and didn’t disappoint. It finished its season with a perfect record at home. CSUB fell to the University of Texas-Pan American in the semifinals, but didn’t take away from its great season.

Nate’s MVP: Tyonna Outland, hands down. While she didn’t receive the WAC’s player of the year honor, she walked away with serious bragging rights as CSUB’s all-time leading scorer and a contract with the Los Angeles Sparks as an undrafted free agent.

Volleyball CSUB’s had a strong volleyball team for a while now, but its success hit another high this year, as they earned the third seed in the WAC Tournament and fought its way to the winner’s circle with a sweep of Seattle University.

The Roadrunners lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against top-seeded Stanford, but walked away with their first taste of national glory.

Nate’s MVP: You can’t win if you don’t score, so I’m giving my MVP to senior outside hitter Danika Youngblood. She led the team in kills (416) and kills per set (3.75). She was second on the team in digs (288) and

blocks (50).

Men’s Soccer I knew men’s soccer was going to be a success this year. You can even check on The Runner’s website. I’m really proud of that. I’m also proud of the men’s squad, who made it all the way to the finals of the WAC Tournament, losing to University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a round of penalty kicks. First-year coach Richie Grant led the team to a 10-7-5 record, and 14 of his players were honored by the conference as All-Academic Players.

Senior Joe Masumiya also signed a contract to play professionally for the Kitsap Pumas.

Nate’s MVP: “Alive And Kicking” must’ve been written about Julian Zamora. Good lord, the man was a freshman on fire. He led the WAC in points with 26 and goals (12), three more than second place. A quarter of those goals were gamewinners, tied for first in the conference. Did I mention he’s a freshman?