Pac-Tending 10-04-06

"The goal of 80% GSR is not an official NCAA goal, but one that I think stretches us but can be accomplished."

- NCAA president Myles Brand, commenting on the new GSR [Graduation Success Rate] report.

It was a good week to be the Creek as 12 conference teams continued to reside in the Top 25 rankings of football, women's soccer and volleyball. Volleyball continues their stranglehold on the nation with five conference squads within the Top 10 while women's soccer had four in the Top 25 and football had three. USC was again the only school to have ranked teams in every one of those sports with rankings of #2 [football], #4 [volleyball] and #25 [soccer].

Meanwhile at NCAA HQ, the Graduation Success Rate [GSR] was released last week and the overall Division I rate was 77%. Men's skiing was the highest ranking of any sport, reporting a 89% rate while men's basketball was the lowest at only 59%. Overall, the GSR average for male athletes was 70% while the female average was 86%.

UCLA

The Bruins shut out Stanford, 31-0, to improve to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

In women's soccer, the fifth-ranked Bruins beat San Diego and Gonzaga to improve to 9-2 overall.

Third-ranked UCLA swept Washington and WSU to remain undefeated at 17-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play in volleyball. Senior outside hitter Katie Carter was named as the conference's player of the week.

Arizona

The Wildcats lost to Washington, 21-10, to drop to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

In men's hoop, basketball coordinator Jack Murphy left to become video coordinator for the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

In women's soccer, the Wildcats beat Cal State-Fullerton to improve to 7-4 overall.

The Wildcats were swept by Stanford and California to drop to 9-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play in volleyball.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils lost to Oregon, 48-13, to drop to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Arizona State beat UNLV to improve to 5-3-2 overall in women's soccer.

The Sun Devils were swept by Stanford and California to drop to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play in volleyball.

Oregon

The 11th-ranked Ducks beat Arizona State, 48-13, to improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

In men's hoop, guard Josh Akwenuke was added to the roster as a walk-on.

In women's soccer, Oregon was shut out by Portland but defeated Portland State to move to 6-5 overall.

The Ducks defeated rival OSU to improve to 11-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play in volleyball.

Washington

Washington defeated Arizona, 21-10, to improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Senior linebacker Scott White was named as the conference's defensive player of the week.

In women's hoop, the Huskies received a verbal commitment from forward Kali Bennett.

Washington lost to Portland to drop to 5-6 overall in women's soccer.

The fifth-ranked Huskies were swept by USC and UCLA to drop to 12-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Oregon State

The Beavers lost to California, 41-13, to drop to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Oregon State defeated Portland State to improve to 7-2-2 overall in women's soccer. Junior forward Jodie Taylor was named as the conference's player of the week.

OSU lost to rival Oregon to drop to 3-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play in volleyball.

California

The 16th-ranked Bears defeated Oregon State to improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Junior punter Tom Schneider was named as the conference's special teams player of the week.

The seventh-ranked Bears swept Arizona and ASU to improve to 14-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

Stanford

Stanford lost to UCLA, 31-0, to drop to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

In men's hoop, freshman center Brook Lopez underwent surgery for a herniated disc and will be out through November.

The 24th-ranked Cardinal lost to Santa Clara to drop to 7-4 overall in women's soccer.

In volleyball, the sixth-ranked Cardinal swept Arizona and ASU to improve to 12-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

WSU

The Cougars lost to USC, 28-22, to drop to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Sophomore defensive lineman Fevaea'i Ahmu is out for a month with a foot injury. Wazzu received verbal commitments from linemen B.J. Guerra and Andrew Roxas.

The Cougars play sixth-ranked Portland this week in women's soccer.

The Cougars were swept by USC and UCLA to drop to 12-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play in volleyball.

USC

Second-ranked USC beat WSU, 28-22, to remain undefeated at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Starting offensive lineman Chilo Rachal will be out for this week's game with a high ankle sprain. Senior receiver Steve Smith was named as the conference's offensive player of the week.

Fourth-ranked USC swept Washington and WSU to remain undefeated at 15-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play in volleyball.

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