April 29, 2008

Three conference champions were decided last week, with Webster University, Westminster College and Principia College all coming away with titles and automatic NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

The Gorloks overcame a six stroke deficit after day one of the 2008 SLIAC Golf Championships to defeat defending champion Maryville University by one stroke. Webster had three players place in the Top 10, including notching two of the top three spots. Maryville's Nick Profancik claimed the individual crown for the second consecutive year and took home Men's Golf Player of the Year honors after shooting a 73-75-73--221 and finishing 10 strokes ahead of the next competitor.

The Westminster men's tennis squad claimed their third consecutive SLIAC Tournament crown. The Blue Jays were the #2 seed in the tournament that was played in team format for the first time this year. They defeated #7 Fontbonne (6-0), #3 Principia (6-2) and #4 Greenville (9-0). Westminster will now face Grinnell College this Friday, May 2, at the NCAA Central Regional held at Washington University-St. Louis.

The Principia women's tennis squad won their second consecutive SLIAC Tournament Championship. They entered the tournament as the #1 seed after going undefeated in regular season conference play. The Panthers dropped only one match point in the tournament, defeating #8 Fontbonne (9-0), #5 Maryville (5-0) and #2 Greenville (8-1). Principia will now travel to Sewanee, Tenn., to face host school and nationally ranked #19 Sewanee: The University of the South, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this Friday, May 2.

Men's and women's tennis All-Conference and other special awards will be announced later this week.

SLIAC softball play has come to an end, with only four teams advancing to the SLIAC Post-Season Tournament. Maryville notched the top seed after a sweep versus Webster last weekend. The two teams finished in a tie for first place at 11-3 to share the regular season conference crown. The Saints will take on #4 Blackburn, while #2 Webster will face #3 Greenville. The tournament begins this Thursday, May 1, at ABC Park in St. Ann, Mo., with both first round games taking place at 5:00 pm.

There are still a few games remaining to be played in baseball, but none that will have an effect on the teams advancing to the SLIAC Tournament. Webster clinched the #1 seed and currently sits with an 18-3 conference record. The Gorloks will face #4 Greenville at 7:00 pm next Thursday, May 8, following the matchup between #2 Westminster and #3 Maryville, which begins at 4:00 pm. The first two days of the SLIAC Baseball Tournament will be held at Principia College, while the championship game(s) will be held at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Ill.