College Notebook: NNU names Van Valey senior athlete of year

Two-sport athlete Taylor Van Valey was named Northwest Nazarene University’s recipient of the Hopkins-Humphrey Female Athlete Award presented to the university’s top senior female athlete.

The Hockinson High School graduate played volleyball and competed in indoor and outdoor track and field during her Crusaders career.

The award “is presented to the senior career female athlete who has contributed the most to the women’s sports program over a period of two to three years. This award is based on skill, ability, leadership, sportsmanship, and scholarship during her participation in women’s varsity sports.”

The award has been presented since 1971 and typically goes to the most outstanding female student-athlete for her career at NNU, both on the court and in the classroom.

Van Valey was also named to the GNAC Women’s Track and Field All-Academic team for the third time. Freshmen are not eligible for the honors.

To earn selection to the GNAC Track and Field All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be of sophomore standing, be in at least their second season at their current institution, be a letterwinner and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.

Van Valey graduated from NNU with a 3.49 GPA majoring in social work. She plans to enter the U.S. Army’s Officer Candidate School.

The Hopkins-Humphrey award is named for Dr. Martha Hopkins and Minnie (Richards) Humphrey.

Hopkins was NNU’s first female athletic director who played tennis — the only sport offered by NNU for women at the time — and went on to be head coach for women’s basketball, volleyball, field hockey, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field. And also helped start almost all those programs.

Humphrey is a former NNU tennis player.

Baseball

Missouri Baptist’s Hergert All-AMC

Missouri Baptist University shortstop Tim Hergert was named First Team All-American Midwest Conference at shortstop.

The Heritage High School graduate, a junior at MBU after playing at Central Arizona College, ranks fourth in NAIA Division I in total stolen bases (39), fifth in steal attempts per game (0.843) and stolen bases per game (0.765) and sixth in total steal attempts (43).

He is a .368 hitter (71 for 193) with 14 doubles, five home runs and 46 RBI.

The Spartans (42-13) claimed the AMC regular season championship at 22-5 and finished second in the conference tournament that concluded Saturday. MBU still earned a place in next week’s opening round of the NAIA national tournament against Missouri Baptist.

Softball

NCU’s Fritter named Second Team All-CCC

Northwest Christian University senior outfielder Parker Fritter was named Second Team All-Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Fritter, a Union grad, batted .333 on the season and led the Beacons with 42 hits and 12 doubles. She also hit 11 home runs as she broke NCU’s career record, finishing with 35.

Northwest Conference

All-NWC honors

The Northwest Conference announced All-NWC honors for spring sports.

Area honorees:

• Sierra Robertson of Camas (Portland Christian graduate), George Fox senior, women’s pole vault.

• Makayla Lefever (Woodland High School), Whitworth junior, softball first team pitcher.

• Madison Sorenson (Woodland High School), George Fox sophomore, second team pitcher.

• Erin Tauscher (Camas High School), Linfield junior, second team designated player.

• Ryan Sturdivan (Woodland), Pacific Lutheran freshman, second team men’s golf.

Track and field

GNAC announces academic honors

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its men’s and women’s track and field all-academic teams.

Clark County honorees in addition to Van Valey:

• Kaitlyn McKinney (Union High School), Central Washington junior, 3.73 GPA in public health.

• Jadyn Gourley (Hockinson High School), Northwest Nazarene senior, 3.29 GPA in business administration.

• Kelly Nigro (Woodland High School), NNU senior, 3.88 GPA in communication science.

• Lynelle Decker (Mountain View High School), Seattle Pacific senior, 3.47 GPA in applied human biology.

• Taylor Guenther (Prairie High School), Western Washington senior, 3.90 GPA in communication sciences and disorders.

• Katelyn Wright (Washougal High School), WWU senior, 3.48 GPA in biology.

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