The No. 15-ranked Florida women’s volleyball team took advantage of its homecourt in sweeping No. 22 Colorado State from the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday. The Gators eliminated the Rams 25-21, 25-17, 25-23.
“In sets one and three, we were playing well but we just couldn’t score critical points,” CSU coach Tom Hilbert said. “We made some mistakes at those times and they didn’t make any, and that was a big key.”
The Gators (27-3) are 15-0 on their O’Connell Center floor this season. They will travel to Fort Collins to play a third-round match Friday against Stanford, which swept Long Beach State. The Rams (23-7) were led by Mekana Barnes’ 10 kills and four blocks. Jaimie Strauss added nine kills and 10 digs.
Colorado Mammoth’s Sims retires.
Josh Sims, one of the fastest players in Colorado Mammoth history, has retired. Sims, 30, was a key member of the Mammoth’s 2006 National Lacrosse League championship team, scoring four goals and adding three assists in three postseason games.
“We love Josh,” Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. “He’s meant so much to this franchise.”
After two seasons in Washington, Sims came to the Mammoth in 2003, Colorado’s inaugural season. In 2007, the transition player set career highs with 19 goals, 20 assists and 136 loose balls. He missed six games with injury last season.
Sims has become a vital part of the growth of area youth lacrosse, running the Boulder Valley program.
Theresa Smith, Special to The Denver Post
Eagles get past Rage.
The Colorado Eagles got two goals from Greg Pankewicz en route to a 4-2 victory over their instate rival, the Rocky Mountain Rage, in a Central Hockey League game at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
Andrew Penner recorded 31 saves and improved his record to 9-1 this season to lead the Eagles (16-3-0). The Rage dropped to 6-11-1.
Peek pacing Pro Rodeo finals.
Pueblo’s Josh Peek leads the all-around standings at the National Final Rodeo in Las Vegas after Saturday’s third round. His $153,771 tops Hunter Herrin of Apache, Okla., at $141,422.
Lightning tops Dynamite.
In a contest with half of the goals scored in the fourth period, the Colorado Lightning tallied the final point in topping the Denver Dynamite 10-9 in overtime in a Professional Arena Soccer League game.
