Sports briefs: Grizzlies’ Xu is Big Sky defender of week
FARMINGTON, Utah — Camellia Xu, who posted shutouts of both Boise State and North Dakota State, was named the Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week Tuesday.
The sophomore was honored for the first time this season, after landing the honor six times last fall when she was Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year.
Xu made four saves in a 0-0 draw in Boise, and three saves on Sunday in a 3-0 win — Kalispell’s Skyleigh Thompson assisted on the first goal, by Delaney Lou Schorr — over North Dakota State.
Last week’s shutouts gave Xu six on the season and 17 for her career, which already ranks fourth in program history. Her goals-against average of 0.70 leads the Big Sky Conference.
Montana, which has the Big Sky’s top RPI of 120, is 3-0-3 over its last six matches as it opens its Big Sky Conference schedule this week at Sacramento State and Portland State.
Grizzlies spiker Anderson honored
FARMINGTON, Utah — Montana setter Carly Anderson was named the Big Sky’s top offensive player of the week Tuesday, the second Grizzly so honored in three weeks.
Anderson helped Montana go 2-1 at the Chucktown Throwdown in South Carolina, averaging 10.45 assists per set while also adding 23 digs, seven kills, five blocks and three service aces.
Anderson had a career-high 58 assists against Charleston Southern, which won the first two sets. Her Grizzlies hit .342 and she added 12 digs in the win, her third double-double of the season.
The Ontario, Canada, native ranks second in the Big Sky with 10.08 assists per set and fourth in in service aces with 17. Montana is 7-5, its most non-conference wins in 17 seasons. Its next game is Thursday at Big Sky rival Northern Arizona.
Whitefish HS baseball tailgate is Friday
The brand new Whitefish High School baseball team will be hosting a barbeque fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. at Memorial Field Friday.
Come meet and support the Bulldogs as they look forward to our inaugural season in the spring of 2023.
Burgers are $5, and Bulldog baseball hats will be available for sale, along with sponsorship opportunities. Whitefish baseball is school-sanctioned but is self-funded. The tailgate takes place before the Bulldogs’ football game against East Helena at the Dawg Pound.
Cats-Aggies on ESPNU
Montana State’s Oct. 1 Big Sky Conference game against UC Davis in Bozeman will be televised by ESPNU, the network and league announced Tuesday.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m.
Grand Junction wins Pioneer League title
MISSOULA — Jaylen Hubba’s sixth-inning RBI double broke a 4-4 tie, and the Grand Junction Rockies pulled away for a 10-4 win over Missoula to close out the Pioneer League championship on Monday, two games to none.
The defending champion PaddleHeads led 3-1 after Keaton Greenwalt’s solo home run in the fourth inning, then tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth on another solo homer from Nick Gatewood.
After Hubba’s second double of the game gave them the lead, the Rockies got three runs in the eighth, two on Alex Nielsen’s bases-loaded single. Nielsen ended with four RBIs.
Hubba doubled a third time and scored in the eighth, and Shawn Ross hit a ninth-inning homer.
The Rockies began in the Pioneer League as the Butte Copper Kings in 1978. The franchise moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 2001 and to Grand Junction in 2012. Its only other Pioneer title came in 1981, as the Copper Kings.