BRIEFS

October athletes of the Month selected

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Northern Michigan University announces the October Athletes of the Month. Selected as the Female Athlete of the Month was Caryn VanBeckum from the volleyball team and Nathan Yelk from the football team was chosen as the Male Athlete of the Month. VanBeckum, a senior from DePere, Wis., was selected as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Play of the Week on Oct. 13 for her play the previous weekend against Northwood and Wayne State. For the two matches, both wins, VanBeckum registered 30 kills for a .510 hitting percentage and six blocks. For the month she had 128 kills (3.37 k/s), three assists, five service aces, 25 digs, 13 block solos and 16 block assists for 29 total blocks. Yelk, a junior from Arlington, Wis., was also selected as a GLIAC Player of the Week during October. He was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27 for his performance against Findlay the previous Saturday. Against the Oilers, Yelk tallied 17 total tackles, including 14 solo stops and two-and-a-half tackles-for loss (-8 yards) in the ‘Cats 29-21 win. During October, Yelk had 47 total tackles (37 solo and 10 assisted), five tackles-for-loss (-21 yards), one sack (-5 yards) and one interception.
– NMU Sports Information

Men’s basketball preseason poll announced

The Northern Michigan university men’s basketball team was selected sixth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason men’s basketball poll. NMU received 54 points as Grand Valley State was selected as the team to win the GLIAC North Division with 179 points and 29 first-place votes. NMU is coming off a 7-20 overall record and 6-12 GLIAC slate in the 2007-08 season.

Men’s Basketball Media Poll

Rank School (first-place votes) Points

North Division
1. Grand Valley State (29) 179
2. Michigan Tech (1) 133
3. Lake Superior State 102
4. Saginaw Valley State 93
5. Ferris State 69
6. Northern Michigan 54

South Division
1. Findlay (29) 169
2. Hillsdale (1) 141
3. Ashland 110
4. Northwood 89
5. Wayne State 79
6. Tiffin 36

Women’s basketball prediction poll announced

The Northern Michigan university women’s basketball team was selected sixth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason women’s basketball poll. NMU received 43 points as Michigan Tech was selected as the team to win the GLIAC North Division with 179 points and 29 first-place votes. Hillsdale was picked in the GLIAC South as the Chargers garnered 174 points and 25 first-place votes. NMU is coming off a 9-17 overall and 4-14 GLIAC slate for the 2007-08 season. The Wildcats open up the 2008-09 season Nov. 15 at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Women’s Basketball Media Poll

Rank School (first-place votes) Points

North Division
1. Michigan Tech (29) 179
2. Grand Valley State (1) 134
3. Ferris State 121
4. Lake Superior State 97
5. Saginaw Valley State 53
6. Northern Michigan 43

South Division
1. Hillsdale (25) 174
2. Northwood (2) 137
3. Ashland (3) 132
4. Wayne State 84
5. Findlay 60
6. Tiffin 43