Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs won his first career nordic combined national championship Saturday at the U.S. Championships at Lake Placid, N.Y.
“I’ve been second and third a lot of times, so it was nice to finally win one,” Spillane said. Spillane trailed Billy Demong after the jumping round, but the 2003 7.5-kilometer sprint world champion came back to win the cross country race and overall title. Demong was second, followed by two Steamboat residents — Todd Lodwick, who is returning to competition this season, and Bryan Fletcher.
CU falls to Texas in volleyball.
The University of Colorado volleyball team (9-7, 3-4 Big 12) lost in four sets (19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25) to No. 3 Texas (12-2, 6-1) at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. The match marked the first time since Nov. 9, 2005, the Buffaloes won a set against the Longhorns.
The dropped set was only the fourth in Big 12 play for Texas this season. Emilee Sisco led CU with 18 kills, hitting at a .378 percentage.
• Senior middle blocker Jacqueline Paul had 12 kills on 23 attacks, leading the University of Denver (16-3, 5-1 Sun Belt) to a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 26-24, 25-18) of Florida Atlantic (10-8, 3-3) in Boca Raton, Fla.
DU seniors Holly Benson and Kerry Porter added 10 kills each.
• Kenzie Schreeve had 19 kills on 39 attacks as Northern Colorado (11-5, 5-2 Big Sky) won 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16) over host Idaho State.
DU defeats AFA in soccer.
Kyle Christensen scored the lone goal off a pass from Sam Garza and goalkeeper Joe Willis posted his third shutout of the season, lifting the University of Denver men’s soccer team (5-5, 3-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) to a 1-0 victory over Air Force (3-8, 1-2) at the academy.
Christensen got his pass from Garza about 16 yards out and beat Falcons goalkeeper Jim Gullo in the 59th minute. Collin Audley started the play with a run down the middle before passing to Garza.
DU’s defense was tight all game, with Willis having to make only three saves.
Mines, Mesa State runners win Loper Open.
Ben Zywicki and Aaron Swift led Colorado Mines to a 1-2 finish and the men’s team title at Nebraska-Kearney’s Loper Open cross country meet, while the Mesa State women won their competition with a lift from first- place finisher Alexis Skarda.
Mines also received strong performances from Mack McLain (fifth place), Nate Hatleback (seventh) and John Tallerday (ninth) as the Orediggers dominated, winning the men’s team title with 21 points.
