Jumberjack Page 12 Oct. 23 - Oct. 29, 2008 Mays-Robinson sets pace for volleyball as Jacks’ assists leader BRYCE PWOPHETER showed up here last March, we and was awarded Second Team ter because the level of play is petitiveness and enthusiasm is missing the beach and surf­ T he Lumberjack didn’t have a setter in the pro­ Ail-Conference. Last year she higher, even than the level of are huge assets to the team. ing “big time," but Flagstaff has gram. I think she’s come in and was first in California in assists play at her junior college. But Choate likens the spirit given her new scenery and she I he NAU volleyball team has just been doing a great job. and led her team to the state fi­ aside from the offense, she has and play of Mays-Robinson to is “starting to love trees.” has been proving skeptics She works incredibly hard at nals, where she was named to also been able to contribute on that of the team as a whole. The Lumberjacks' were wrong this season by shatter­ what she does.” the All-Tournament Team. the other side o f the ball. “She competes," Cho­ expected to rank seventh in the ing all expectations. Choate said Mays-Rob­ So far this year, Mays- “Shes an all-around play­ ate said. “I don’t think that Big Sky Conference this year, Hut perhaps one ot the inson was an unusual recruit Robinson has tallied 639 assists er” said senior middle blocker we’re anywhere near as big but so far they sit in a tie for best surprises of their 12-4 in that the coaching staff of and ranks 12th in the nation Emily Osiadacz. “She can play and strong and last as a whole fourth with a conference re­ start b junior transfer lanalee the Lumberjacks had not seen with 11.41 assists per set. defense as well as set. And even bunch of people in our confer­ cord of 4-3. Mays-Robinson. many of her games but re­ “I’ve just been trying to though she’s little, she puts up a ence, but we have people that “We definitely want to M ays - Rot>i n son is the cruited her based on the merit get the hitters that are doing re­ solid .” compete very, very hard.” get to the conference tourna­ I urnberjacks' better and was of a coach Choate knew at the ally well involved,’ Mays-Rob­ “A lot of setters can t play Mays-Robinson said she ment as our first goal,” Mays- recruited by first-year head time. inson said. Tve been trying to defense," Choate said. “She finds her inspiration in her in­ Robinson said. “And we want coach Craig Choate shortly af­ Mays-Robinson played spread the ball around and try­ plays good defense, which credible family and friends who to play as hard as we can every ter he took the reins of the pro­ at Golden West Community ing to better the team” . helps us because that’s kind of have helped get her this far. match. Hopefully the outcome gram I ast spring. College the past two years. She Mays-Robinson said our strength” Her family currently re­ will be positive.” “Shes a pleasant sur­ ranked second in state in Cali­ playing volleyball at NAU has Osiadacz and Choate also sides in California, the place prise,” Choate said. “When 1 fornia in assists as a freshman pushed her to become bet­ agree Mays-Robinsons com­ she calls home. She said she

Football from with only five touchdowns. Page 11 Two of those rushing touch: Getting ready to tip off the NBA season downs came against Arizona MATT MCFADDEN There is too much talent and season. Eastern playoffs teams 1 see the New Orleans Junior running backTrevyn State in the season opener. The m Lu U SLR j a c k • depth on all of those teams to had an average win percentage Hornets emerging from the Smith rushed 22 tim«rs for Lumberjacks are also only giv fall out of those spots. of .583, compared to the 2007 pile of rubble that will be the 119 yards. ing up an average of 10.9 rush­ When the cool air starts The one team that could win percentage of .556. I do Western Conference playoffs. Coming into Satur­ ing yards per game. NAU’s to till your lungs and the sound surprise the West and creep not foresee any changes in the No top team in the West is day’s contest, Williams leads rushing defense not only lead$ ot dead leaves tumbling across into the playoffs this year, per­ team's that make it to the play­ far better than the others, but the conference in rushing. the Big Sky, but also leads all of the ground reaches your ears, haps as a top-four seed, is the offs this season. The Atlanta the Hornets will squeak by the In seven games this sea­ Division I, which includes the you know it can only mean one . Hawks and the Philadelphia Suns in seven games to reach son, .Williams has rushed FCS and FBS. thing: season. And Second-year rookie Creg 76ers will trade places with the the Finals. 154 times lor 709 yards and The NAU defense also tor the NBA, it couldn’t come Oden is now healthy and ready and the w’ill be the nine touchdowns. Williams ranks second in the FCS for sOon enough. to start and could potentially for the fifth favorite in MVP voting this is also averaging 101.3 yards sacks, averaging 4.57 sacks per This season, there are be one of the best big men in and sixth seeds. No new teams year with a talented supporting per game. game. Cal Poly lead the FCS plenty of high quality players the NBA, while Brandon Roy is w ill sneak into the top eight in cast that includes David West, Smith is right behind with five sacks per game. Tak­ who will be wearing new uni­ a rising star in the league and the East, since Boston has the ]ames Posey, Tyson Chandler Williams with 766 yards ing into account the FBS, the forms. Marcus Camby, Baron should make his second All­ No. 1 seed on lockdown, and and Peja Stojakovic. on the season to go along Lumberjacks would still be Davis and Klton Brand have all Star appearance. the second, third and fourth The NBA will get its reg­ with eight touchdowns and second in sacks per game. , signed with new teams, iust to The Blazers are the seeds will belong to the Orlan­ ular season underway Oct. 29. a per-game average of 95.8 Weber State comes into name a few. youngest team in the league do Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers Last June, the Boston yards. the game with the conferences There is also a plethora and should fulfill their assumed and Detroit Pistons, respec­ Celtics won the championship Higgins leads the Big second-best defense behind of draftees who could make an potential this season. tively. in six games over the Los An­ Sky in passing. The Wildcat the Lumberjacks. The Wildcats immediate impact in the NBA Another team to watch Dwight Howard is only geles Lakers. Although they quarterback has thrown for rank as the sixth-best rushing this season, including Michael out for in the West is the Los getting better and more domi­ lost James Posey to the New 2,551 yards, 25 touchdowns defense in the Big Sky, giving Beasley, Jerryd Bavless, O J. Angeles Clippers. The addi­ nant in the paint for the Magic Orleans Hornets, the Celtics’ and six interceptions. up 118.88 yards per game. Mayo and No. I overall pick tions of pi ay maker Baron Da­ and is one of the only players in roster is still the best from top Kriesien is the seventh Last season, the Lum­ . vis and inside threat Marcus the league who have a chance to, bottom in the league. The ranked quarterback in the berjacks defeated Weber State The Western Conference Camby could be just what the at guarding Celtics superstar trio of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce conference with 1252 yards, in Ogden, Utah 29 -20. In that still looks to be the superior Clippers need to make a run Kevin Garnett. ‘ and Garnett is just too good to eight touchdowns and only game Igono was everywhere conference this season, and for that eighth seed. The Pistons will struggle stop. two interceptions. on defense, blocking a punt, the playoff picture shouldn’t Although right now Da­ to keep home court advantage The Celtics will prevail in On the defensive side recovering a fumble and pick­ change too much. vis is dealing with a finger in­ in the first round with plenty the East with relative ease and of the ball, the Lumberjacks ing off a pass. The top six seeds from jury, he should be ready for the of chemistry issues and coach­ eventually win their second come into Homecoming last year (.Lakers, Hornets, Clippers’ season opener. ing debacles, and they may straight NBA title. with the top-ranked defense Editors note:^ Portions of Spurs, Jazz, Rockets and Suns) The Eastern Conference even slip to a bottom seed or, at in the Big Sky. The lacks the story are from the NAU Ath­ could be jumbled in any order looked much improved last worst, into the lottery. have only given up 76 yards letics IVebsite. to form the 2009 top six seeds. on the ground this season,

SARVRA SVSH! a TEPPANVAKf Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:30-2:00pm Dinner: 7 days/wk 5pm-1 Opm Best Restaurants of the Southwest by Food and Wine M agazine Freshest & Finest Sushi in Flagstaff* Daily Sushi Specials • Teppanyaki Style Cooking • Serving Lunch and Dinner • Groups and Parties Welcome Reservations Recommended 10% O F F All Sushi