3/28/2018 Weekly Edition

Wednesday, March 28, 2017

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

The Official News Source of Sam Houston State University Volume 129 | Issue 21

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Hall measures excellence at Pro Day

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Bearkats gear up for elections

BY EMILY DAVIS News/Viewpoints Editor

Photo courtesy SHSU Athletics Sam Houston State football standout PJ Hall showed NFL scouts exactly why he is pro material at Pro Day. Hall is the FCS all-time leader in tackles for loss. STORY ON PAGE 4

The Sam Houston State University Student Government Association’s (SGA) annual election is now open.

SHSU students have the chance to vote for new members of the SGA executive board and legislative senators.

The SGA is meant to promote the welfare of the student body, academic excellence and civic en-

gagement. They advocate for students, voicing their concerns and opinions to the SHSU Administration, the Texas State University System Board of Regents and elected officials.

The purpose of the SGA, as stated on its website, is to serve as the official voice of the student body as its democratically elected representatives. SGA’s motto is, “We are an organization of students by students and for students.”

“SGA representatives serve as

Arbor Day: Make ‘March for Our Lives’ storms Huntsville America green again RALLYING FOR CHANGE

BY TESLA CADENA Asst. Campus Culture Editor Sam Houston State University is celebrating its sixth annual Arbor Day event March 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. This event will profile SHSU’s “urban forest” and those in attendance will have the opportunity to win prizes through a scavenger hunt and trivia called Tree Quest III. The on-campus location will be provided through email after participants register for the event.

SHSU Arbor Day is an annual service-learning project organized by the SHSU Landscape Services, Department of Leadership Initiatives and Campus Arborist Evan Anderson.

“The tree quest is an adventure and trivia event where participants use a clue sheet to find and answer tree questions hidden around campus,” Anderson said. “The goal of the event is to teach people about the critical role trees play in our lives and ecosystem, explore our awesome campus urban forest and have fun.”

Anderson said a lot of thought goes into Arbor Day-related activities as there is even a Campus Tree Advisory Committee dedicated to “establishing and maintaining a safe, sustainable, healthy, and attractive campus urban forest” per the campus tree care plan.

“The Campus Tree Advisory Committee is a campus tree thinktank compromised of students, Arbor continues on page 3

the voice of the student body,” Student Body President Briauna Augustus said. “For that reason alone it is important for the students to vote for individuals that they think best represent what they want on their campus. Just as you would for a state representative to represent the state to the nation.”

The SGA consists of both students in the undergraduate and graduate levels from all different departments on campus.

Elections continues on page 2

Students display work at annual exhibition

Jordan Likens | The Houstonian

ON DISPLAY. Some of the best student creations are on display at the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery until April 13 in a juried exhibition.

Photo courtesy Walker County Democrats KEEP ON MARCHING. The Walker County Democrats organized Huntsville’s “March for Our Lives” event in hopes to spark change. In light of recent events, gun control has been at the forefront of discussion. Huntsville’s march was just one of 817 that took place across the nation.

BY TRACE HARRIS Staff Reporter

On March 24, surviving victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting as well as activists around the country marched on Washington.

The attendees marched for safety, protection of their children and gun reform. In Huntsville, the Walker County Democrats organized a local protest and marched in Downtown Huntsville. Across the world, 817 marches took place. “[Our purpose was] to support teachers, who have overwhelmingly said that they do not wish to be made to carry guns to protect their students, on top of everything else they already have to do,” Walker County Democrat Andie Ho said.

Teachers around the nation have shown large opposition to the proposal to carry weapons.

The survivors of the Parkland shooting have been instrumental in national conversations on gun control. The students visited President Trump, took part in a CNN town hall with the head of Photo courtesy Brian Blalock the NRA and appeared on TV LEAF YOUR WORRIES BEHIND. shows such as “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Arbor Day at SHSU puts a fun spin on environmental concerns.

Last week, students

THE FOSTERS, P. 2 The foster care system is not just a national problem.

It affects local Huntsville children every day.

HoustonianOnline.com

POLICE BLOTTER, P. 2 Find out the latest buzz surrounding the Sam Houston State University Police Department.

across the country took part in wrote on the March for Our Lives school walkouts as a show of website. “But we can’t do it alone. solidarity with Parkland victims We need your help to amplify our and a demand for school safety. message. My friends were gunned The Parkland students have been down in cold blood as well as compared to the young people countless others from Chicago to who took part in the Civil Rights Detroit to Sandy Hook. So now movement and marched on Wash- the young people in this country ington, or the youth protesting have been given a mission and I the Vietnam War. “Protests are a fundamental American right,” Ho said. “And in this case, they are an important way to inform local representatives of our opinions and to let like-minded folks know where to find us. It is vital for our youth to be involved and to think critically about the world around them. After all, it’s their future at stake. In many countries, it is the young people who most often take to the streets and stand up for what they Photo courtesy Walker County Dems believe is right. I’m happy to see this tradition being continued.” hope in some way it’s your misThe national march was orga- sion too. We need our voices heard nized by Parkland survivor Emma by as many people as possible. We Gonzalez, who took part in the need them to come to our March CNN town hall and has become in DC. We need them to sign our the face of the national revolution. petition to stop these murders.

“The kids from Parkland and This isn’t a political rally. It’s litfrom all across this country are erally a march for our lives. Please taking to the streets to try and help us amplify our voices by usmake our future safe,” Gonzalez ing yours. Be part of this moment in time. I believe the young March continues on page 2 What’s happening at SHSU?

SHSU CREATES, P. 3 Sophomore English major Jake Hendrex discovered a love for Japan in this new SHSU Creates.

SEMIFINALS, P. 4 Bearkat basketball has one matchup between them and a CIT National Championship game.

BY KRISTA KISTLER Contributing Reporter The Department of Art at Sam Houston State University is hosting the 19th Annual Juried Student Exhibition. The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery is open to public viewing for the student exhibition March 26 through April 13.

Every year, the Department of Art allows students to submit their own work to display for a juried exhibition. The work that is displayed and overviewed by the juried group are some of the best and strongest pieces made by the students of SHSU. The works of art created by students are different types of concepts, varying media forms and hybridized types of art pieces, such as painting, drawing, graphic art, photography and animation.

Each year comes a different juror, and this year it will be Dennis Nance, an artist and curator currently based in Galveston. Nance is from Houston and has years of experience with exhibitions and artists. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Austin College with a concentration in Fine Arts and French. Now, he works as a curator at the Galveston Arts Center.

“The selection process can be very competitive in a juried exhibition,” Art Gallery Coordinator Max Manning said. “This year we received 96 submissions to be considered for the show, and the juror Art on page 2

PINFALL, P. 4 SHSU Bowling is hoping to be one of four final teams to be chosen for the NCAA Championships.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Page 2

Texas reports major progress in foster care system

dinator Erika Wright said. “Students will be able to click on the link in the email and vote for the candidates.”

The email will include the list of candidates, the positions they are running for and a short biography for each person.

Voting begins at 8 a.m. on March 27 and ends March 28 at 5 p.m. After the election is closed and the results are finalized, the list of new elected members will be posted outside of the SGA office.

All students are encouraged to vote and pick the candidates they feel will best represent their student body.

For more information on how to join SGA, students should stop by the SGA office in the Lowman Student Center room 326.

BY JOSHUA BLASCKE Contributing Reporter The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) reported that major progress has been made in resolving problems within the foster care system.

The foster care system was considered a key priority of last year’s legislative session, deemed to be “broken” by the state.

“In January of 2017, there were a total of 9,764 [private foster] homes,” Texas Ranger Hank Whitman said. “In January of 2018, there were 10,718 – an increase of 11 percent.”

Huntsville and the surrounding areas that make up Walker County are no stranger to foster care. Part of the national problem is happening in Huntsville’s backyard.

According to the DFPS, from December 2015- December 2017, there has been an average of about 60 children in foster care in Walker County at any given time.

Efforts from several Texas organizations, such as Orphan Care Solutions in Spring and Foster Angels in Austin, have sparked growth and reform in the foster care system, which many have argued for years performs worse than other states’ methods.

“Texas has a solemn responsibility to care for children removed from their homes due to neglect and abuse of all kinds, and last year the Legislature approved landmark changes in the foster care system,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said.

The faith-based communities of Texas have contributed by providing transportation services for doctors’ visits or court appointments, as well as home repairs for foster families. The decision

by Gov. Greg Abbott to engage the faith communities has been met with positivity, allowing various churches and church-related groups to make a significant impact.

Trace Harris | The Houstonian

March continued, page 1 — people in this country can change the world. And wouldn’t that be something?”

The local march began at the Walker County Democrats headquarters, across from the Walker County courthouse. Marchers met at 10 a.m. to make signs and stand on various streets in solidarity with marchers worldwide.

The Huntsville march was organized by local Democratic chapter Vice President Dorthy Willet and others.

“The march was organized by several members of the Walker County Democrats Club,” Ho said. “The biggest challenge was getting out the word about the march, which is something we’re still working on (and taking ideas for).”

The event coincided with the Bacon and Brew festival, which took place in Downtown Huntsville. The chapter feared conflict with festival attendees, so a police presence was instated. Marchers were present all-day Saturday and came and went as they pleased.

The march took place on the same day as the local Democrats convention, selecting delegates to the state Democratic convention and proposing resolutions to add to the state Democratic Party’s stances. Despite this, Ho did not see an impact and was surprised

Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.

Art continued, page 1 — included 34 works in the show.

It is a great accomplishment for the students in the show to have been selected by our juror.”

Based on the selections of the juror, awards will be given to students. According to the event Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.

Elections continued, page 1 — Membership consists of up to 15 students from each academic college on campus. Any student with 12 SHSU credit hours and at least a 2.0 GPA may run for office as a senator for their respective college. They may run in the general body election in the spring or may enter the Senate at any time through a vote of the current Senate. Any student with less than 12 SHSU credit hours may become a counselor in the SGA council.

The executive board consists of the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and chief of staff elected by the student body.

The executive board acts in capacity to streamline the business of the student Senate, enforce any legislation produced by the student Senate and acts as the bridge

between the student body as well as campus and State Administration.

“Characteristics of a good candidate for the executive board, in my opinion, include maintaining good character by upholding integrity, an ability to follow rules and a passion for wanting to serve others, not themselves,” Augustus said.

The legislative board consists of senators from each of the academic colleges on campus and members of the SGA Council.

Their role includes drafting legislation, facilitating talks with students, hosting events and taking actions that benefit the student body.

“I, personally, am looking for candidates that are willing to do what needs to be done to better the time that students have during their undergraduate, graduate, master’s and doctoral years at Sam Houston,” Student Body Chief of Staff Karla Victor said.

“While also, informing and answering the questions that students have to why Sam Houston is the way it is.”

The SHSU student body will have a chance to vote for the candidate they feel will best represent the students’ voices.

“An email will be disbursed to all SHSU students with a link to where they can vote in the SGA elections,” Administrative Coor-

Candidates for SGA Executive Board

President: • Taylor Bailey • David Eller • Chloe Henze Vice President: • Alexus Hardy • Chase Lee • Kelechi Ofoegbu Secretary: • Ruby Bui • Andrea Diaz • Reese Evans • Jaidyn Wilkerson Treasurer: • Sam Lacy • Matthew Dale Peacock • Christian O’Keith Wolford Chief of Staff: • Makayla Nicole Baker • Travon Brown • Amanda Lee • Kelechi Ofoegbu

Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.

Police Blotter: SHSU’s Finest Keep the Campus Safe March 24th: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2:31 a.m.)

An officer observed a vehicle traveling eastbound with a defective license plate light and initiated a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Avenue J. The officer immediately detected an odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. The driver stated there was about a gram of marijuana in the vehicle. The officer issued the driver a citation for the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

March 24th: Theft (4:40 p.m.)

An officer was dispatched to Piney Woods Hall, 2120 Avenue I, in reference to a report of theft. The complainant advised he believed his wallet was taken from his room. He indicated his wish to pursue criminal charges.

March 24th: Assist Outside Agency (8:20 p.m.)

An officer at 200 Bentwater Harbor Drive, Montgomery, advised a male to stop consuming alcoholic beverages due to his high level of intoxication. He began yelling obscenities and demonstrated threatening behavior. The officer attempted to place him in temporary wrist restraints but he resisted bringing his arms behind his back. Several officers had to assist in placing the subject in wrist restraints.

March 24th: Theft (9:37 p.m.)

An officer was dispatched to the Lone Star Hall dormitory, 910 Bearkat Boulevard, in reference to a theft. The complainant advised that she believed her roommate had stolen her jewelry from her dormitory room.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Page 3

SHSU Creates: Jake Hendrex, Japan

BY RACHAEL VARNER Staff Reporter Home is where the heart is, or so they say. But what is “home?”

Is it where someone’s family is?

The house they grew up in? The place with the most memories?

Where someone feels safest?

What about somewhere that is miles from home? Last year sophomore English major Jake Hendrex, a native Texan, found what he plans to make his future home when he vacationed in Sapporo, a city on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Taking that dream a step further, he hopes to make a career there teaching high school English.

With such a specific goal in mind, it is not hard to believe that Hendrex found the inspiration in various experiences over time. Hendrex had always been intrigued by Japanese culture, but that intrigue became a passion when he began to learn the language during his junior year of high school. Still, he did not realize what he wanted to do professionally until later.

“I was about 21 [and]...looking for work, and this was when I was in the middle of my community college experience, and my sister mentioned substitute teaching as a possibility,” Hendrex said. “So I applied, got accepted, and I substitute taught for two years, and that’s what made me decide to be a teacher.”

It wasn’t until around this time last year that his plans were decided. Without friends or family to accompany him, he booked a flight, got his own one-room apartment, and flew to Sapporo, where he remained for about two weeks.

Japan is structured a little differently than what Americans might be used to in that most businesses are within walking distance, they use subways as an efficient way to travel, and the food selection is fairly diverse. It ranges from traditional Japanese to Italian to German to McDonald’s and KFC, and though he tried a little bit of everything, most of his meals consisted of microwavable TV dinners.

Hendrex also tried to explore, but his time outdoors was limited due to weather conditions. He expected it to be cold, but coming from Texas he was not prepared for the snow to pile so high that he could not see across the street.

“The weather ranged anywhere from about 24 degrees Fahrenheit to about... the warmest was about 34 degrees,” Hendrex said.

“I dressed as warm as I could, but I could only stay out for 20, maybe 30 minutes at a time before my hands and feet got too cold, and I had to turn back.”

That did not stop Hendrex from making the most of his time there, nor did a lack of fluency in Japanese. By then, he had studied enough of the language to ma-

neuver around on his own. “[Communication] wasn’t a major issue, but not for the reason you may think: I didn’t have as many opportunities to talk as I thought I would,” Hendrex said.

“The signs around the subways were all in English as well as Japanese, and I only had to talk to one person to figure out how the ticket machine worked because we don’t use trains here.”

In fact, interpersonal communication was what Hendrex believed to be the greatest cultural difference between the United States and Japan. Americans tend to be more open, and strangers can become friends in a matter of minutes. In Japan, it is the complete opposite. More often than not, they need a reason to strike up a conversation. However, that did not mean that no one was willing to break the unspoken rule.

“My host spoke English,“ Hendrex said. “Broken English, but still English, so we kind of communicated through a mishmash of English and Japanese to each other, and I think that was a really neat experience.”

That was not even the best part, however. One of Hendrex’s favorite moments of the trip took place when a stranger surprised him. Hendrex had just sat down for breakfast in a cafe and was trying to decide what he wanted to eat when a Japanese man asked him, in perfect English, if he needed help reading the menu.

He politely declined the help, but that opened the door to an unexpected conversation.

“He was a very nice man,” Hendrex stated. “He [was from Japan but] lived in California for 20 years, which was how he became so fluent in English, and it was really refreshing to talk to someone at-length and in-depth.”

A similar scenario and another one of Hendrex’s favorite moments was the day he was having breakfast in a cafe.

“There was a light snow outside, but the sun was shining at the same time, and I was sitting there, sipping coffee with nice music playing in the background, and I just thought the serenity of that moment was something I have not felt in a long time,” Hendrex said. “I love calming moments like that.”

These are just a handful of the reasons Hendrex loves Japan.

With the convenience of having everything within walking distance, a nice subway system, a wide variety of restaurants and stores, all types of entertainment and quiet moments watching the snow fall, there are few places like it. It is different from America, but easy to assimilate to.

“A lot of people say they want to retire and move out to the country,” Hendrex said. “I want to retire and move out to Japan, or work in Japan, whichever comes first.”

Arbor Day continued, page 1 — faculty, staff, and community members,” Anderson said. “We meet twice a year and discuss tree issues on campus and brainstorms ideas for the two annual Arbor Day events.”

Anderson believes learning about trees and planting them has numerous benefits as they clean our air, protect our waterways, reduce energy consumption in buildings, provide habitats for animals and make the world a more beautiful place.

“Every tree planted on campus is going to provide tangible benefits for generations of Bearkats,” Anderson said. “It will shade them while walking to class, help give them clean air to breathe, and make our campus a greener place to live, work, and learn.

It has been found that you can lower stress levels and increase physical and mental healing by simply looking at trees. Without our trees, it would be a much hotter, dirtier and stressful environment on campus.”

So far, about 70 participants have registered, but Anderson is hopeful this number will increase

and welcomes any tagalongs.

The only requirement to participate is to wear appropriate clothing to work outdoors along with closed-toe shoes.

“Students should come out because it shows support for our great campus urban forests,” Anderson said. “Our trees are one of the great assets of SHSU and we are all better off by learning more about them. Also, you get to meet great people and explore campus in a different way.”

With the help of Arbor Day events, SHSU has won the Tree Campus USA Award for effectively managing trees and engaging students for four years running. Anderson hopes to win another with the help of his fellow Bearkats. To register for this event, visit http://www.shsu. edu/dept/leadership-initiatives/ cls/ArborDay.html.

刀伀䐀䔀伀 䬀䤀䌀䬀伀䘀䘀 䐀䄀一䌀䔀 䘀刀䤀䐀䄀夀Ⰰ 䄀倀刀䤀䰀 㘀Ⰰ ㈀ ㄀㠀⸀ 䴀唀匀䤀䌀 匀吀䄀刀吀匀 䄀吀 㠀㨀㌀ 倀⸀䴀⸀ 刀䤀䌀䬀 吀刀䔀嘀䤀一伀

Sophomore English Major Jake Hendrex

䠀䄀一一䄀䠀 䬀䄀夀

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Page 4

Kats in CIT semis for first time

Photo courtesy SHSU Athletics

Hall shines at Pro Day

BY GABRIEL MYERS Sports Reporter

BY JORDAN SMITH Sports Reporter The Sam Houston State University Bearkats men’s basketball team advanced to the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament (CIT) semifinals last Thursday with a victory over UT-San Antonio by a final score of 76-69 to advance to the second round for the first time in school history.

A brief history of the CIT The CIT was founded in 2009 as a postseason tournament for 16 teams that did not qualify for the NCAA March Madness tournament or the NIT postseason tournament. In 2012, the CIT field was expanded to 32 teams.

Previous champions of the tournament are Saint Peter’s in 2017, Evansville multiple times in 2016 and 2015, Murray State in 2014, East Carolina in 2013, Mercer in 2012, Santa Clara in 2011, Missouri State in 2010 and the inaugural champions Old Dominion in 2009.

SHSU vs. UTSA- What happened?

The Bearkats were able to rebound from a nine-point deficit at the half, thanks to the help of senior forward Chris Galbreath Jr., junior guards Josh and Cameron Delaney and junior guard John Dewey III, all of whom

scored double-digit points in the game. Also, something else that helped was that everyone who stepped on the floor for the Bearkats had at least five points in the game against the Roadrunners. Galbreath was also able to bring in another double-double in the game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, four of which came on the offensive side of the ball.

SHSU was able to convert at the charity stripe, knocking down 79.4 percent from the free throw line on 27-34 shooting.

Seven steals, three blocks, 15 assists and 15 forced turnovers also contributed into the win for the Bearkats on both sides of the ball.

SHSU vs. Norther ColoradoWhat needs to happen?

For the Bearkats to reach the CIT National Championship Game, they must first take on the Northern Colorado Bears in the semifinals. UNC (24-12) comes into this game off an impressive double-digit win over the San Diego Toreros by a final score of 86-75.

The Bears, who came in fifth place in the Big Sky standings, lost to the Montana Griz in the Big Sky Tournament Semifinals by a score of 91-89. At home, UNC grabbed a 12-3 record during the regular season, where

Scouts from 20 NFL teams were on campus Monday for Sam Houston State University’s anPhoto courtesy SHSU Athletics nual pro day. There were over a dozen former athletes participatthey scored an average of 88.5 ing, but the one man everybody’s points per home win during the eyes were on was former SHSU regular season. They scored 81 defensive lineman PJ Hall. Hall points in their home game in this is the school record-holder in year’s CIT. career sacks and tackles for loss, A big key for the Bearkats and has been the stalwart of the is going to be limiting their Bearkat defense ever since he opportunities from behind the stepped on campus. After not arch as UNC has converted 36 getting invited to the combine, percent of their opportunities Hall needed a good showing from three-point territory. That Monday to boost his draft stock. mark has the Bears averaging What Hall ended up doing 8.7 three-pointers per contest was nothing short of excepthis year, while holding their op- tional. With his draft stock ponents to about half that total hanging in the balance, Hall at 4.7. showed everyone in attendance Another big key for Sam why he could be one of the best Houston State University will be value picks in this draft. Meatheir ability to get the rebound. suring at just over six feet tall The Bears lost anytime they and weighing 308 pounds, Hall gave up 25 or more rebounds in showed that he is perhaps the a game, regardless of it being at most athletic 300 pound player home or away. In those losses, in this draft class. There was the Bears average 35.3 rebounds no official 40-yard-dash time given up per game. So, if the released for Hall, but everyone Bearkats can get to 35 by the had him timed in either the high end of the game and limit the 4.6 range or low 4.7 range; two three-point opportunities of the scouts had Hall running a 4.67 Bears, then Sam Houston State and a 4.69. Both times would’ve University should have a good ranked third among defensive opportunity to take home the linemen at the NFL combine earvictory and a birth into the CIT lier this month. national championship for the Hall’s most impressive feat first time in program history. was not his 40 time though; it The Bearkats face UNC at was his vertical jump. In the Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Greefirst test of the day Hall lifted all ley, Colo. for a spot in the CIT 308 pounds of himself 38 inches National Championship. off the ground. It was the highest vertical of any player

at yesterday’s pro day. The 38inch vertical would have ranked second among defensive lineman at the combine, just a half inch behind former Tulane defensive lineman Ade Aruna. Hall also had a very good broad jump, which measured out at 9-feet 8-inches, which would have been sixteenth overall among defensive lineman at the combine, but second among defensive lineman who weigh at least 300 pounds.

Hall also did 36 reps on the bench press, which would have been third among defensive lineman at the combine. Hall needed a good day to show scouts he was worthy of a draft pick. He ended up having a great day, which will greatly increase his draft stock.

“I think I did pretty good,” Hall said. “I pretty much met all the goals I wanted to reach, set some PR’s also, so I feel like it was a pretty successful day.”

Every NFL scout in attendance was very impressed with Hall. The Patriots had taken PJ Hall out to dinner the night before, and showed great interest in the former Bearkat.

“It was pretty good, “Hall said.

“Got to talk some more football.

They got to test me and see what I knew, and I think I did pretty good.”

Hall is projected to go anywhere between the fourth and the sixth round in next month’s draft. After yesterday’s performance, though, Hall could be one of the fastest risers up draft boards in the next month.

/HoustonianSHSU

Pins fall wrong way for Sam Houston bowling team

BY HIVAN MORENO Asst. Sports Editor The Sam Houston State University Bearkats bowling team fell short in the Southland Bowling League Championship last Saturday. The team was knocked out in the first match of the elimination bracket Saturday as they fell to the No. 8 seed Monmouth.

The Bearkats entered that tournament as the No. 3 seed and faced the No. 6 Valpo Crusaders in their first match, which SHSU lost 869-832.

“We need to mentally be stronger, especially out of the gate,” head coach Brad Hagen

said. “No one in our conference can be taken lightly, and we need to step up and do our jobs.”

SHSU made a turn around in their next match against Valpo as they won 959-782 to force a best of seven series. The Bearkats swept the Crusaders 4-0 and moved on to face the No. 2 seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round. Vanderbilt then swept the Bearkats 2-0 and forced the Bearkats into the elimination bracket, matching up against Monmouth.

Before that match took place, Hagen felt that if the team kept their composure they had a chance to make a bid for the NCAA championship.

“If we can control the emo-

tions and stay present we have a chance to climb the ladder,” Hagen said. “For the first time an automatic qualifying spot is on the line, so there is a lot still to play for here.”

Opening Saturday morning by losing their first match to Monmouth, the Kats responded with a win 1,010-897. That then forced a best of seven match in which Monmouth won the first two games. SHSU took the next three straight but lost in game six to make it 4-3.

The Kats will now have to wait and see if their season will continue as they find out Wednesday if they are one of the 10 teams picked to play in the NCAA championship. There

are four spots in addition to the six automatic qualifiers. The selection will stream live Wednesday morning on NCAA.com.

Should the women’s season in fact be over, they will have concluded the Spring Season with six tournaments independent of

the SLBC. They finished in the top five four times in those six contest, with their last first place finish coming last November at the UMES Hawk Classic in Delaware.

@HoustonianSHSU