Pac-Tending 02-13-08

"There has been a demand for more consistency regarding the referees' ball-handling decisions for several years across all divisions as well as regions of the country. I think the game will benefit from a decrease in the whistles that stop a rally due to a marginal infraction on ball handling, especially when there has been a great athletic attempt to keep the ball alive."

- University of Pennsylvania head women's volleyball coach and NCAA chair of the women's volleyball rules committee Kerry Carr.

Hoops season continues at the Creek and there has been a change in the compilation of post-season honors as the conference will now have first, second and third teams for all-conference selections – rather than the single 10-person team – and will add a five-person all-defensive team while retaining the five-person all-freshman team.

Meanwhile, at NCAA HQ, the NCAA women's volleyball rules committee has proposed a change in the scoring format that will change winning scores from 30 points down to 25 points – a fifth set, if necessary, would remain at 15 points. The committee also proposes to change the term "game" to "set" and a reduction in substitutions from 15 to 12.

Arizona State

In men's hoop, junior forward Jeff Pendergraph was named as the conference's player of the week.

California

In baseball, junior pitchers Tyson Ross and Matt Gorgen were named as pre-season all-Americans by Rivals.

USC

In men's hoop, sophomore point guard Daniel Hackett is out indefinitely with back spasms.

Washington

In football, Syracuse assistant coach Brian White was named as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach and safety Jay Angotti has left the team.

Oregon

In men's hoop, the Ducks lost to Stanford but beat California to move to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in conference play with a 46 RPI.

Stanford

In men's hoop, the Cardinal swept Oregon and Oregon State to improve to 20-3 overall and 9-2 in conference play with a 19 RPI.

UCLA

In women's hoop, senior forward Lindsey Pluimer was named as the conference's player of the week.

WSU

In men's hoop, 17th-ranked Wazzu lost to UCLA but defeated USC to move to 18-5 overall and 6-5 in conference play with a 25 RPI. Freshman guard Stephen Sauls will apply for a medical hardship redshirt.

In football, safety Xavier Hicks and defensive lineman Fevaea'i Ahmu were both suspended from the team for separate incidents – Hicks for second-degree felony assault and Ahmu for an alcohol-related offense.

In women's hoop, the Cougars lost to USC and UCLA to drop to 3-20 overall and 0-12 in Pac-10 play with a 300 RPI.

In soccer, Taylor Wehring from Camas and Jacquelyn Roth from Arizona, signed with Wazzu.

Arizona

In men's hoop, sophomore point guard Nic Wise is out for six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

In football, special teams assistant coach Joe Robinson has left to become part of the staff at LSU and the Wildcats received a verbal commitment from safety Mark Watley.

Oregon State

In men's hoop, the Beavers lost to California and Stanford to drop to 6-17 overall and 0-11 in conference play with a 238 RPI.

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