Athletic News

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Former Troubadour volleyball player Loni Kreun had a successful first season playing for Montana State University.

The true freshman was second on the team in kills (339) and digs (274) for a Bobcat team that went 6-25 and 4-16 in the Big Sky Conference.

“Overall we did not do as well as we were hoping,” said Kreun during a recent visit to Sacramento. “It was more of a developmental year. We had a lot of freshmen starters and incoming freshmen. It is hopeful for the future with the same group of girls.”

GRANITE BAY, Calif. – The fourth time was still not the charm. Playing for a berth in the CIF State Championship game for the second consecutive season, the St. Francis Troubadour volleyball team lost in the Northern California final to Granite Bay 3-0 Tuesday night.

“Give credit to Granite Bay,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “They are a very good serving team and they took us out of our offense. They played good defense. I was proud of the girls for the way that they fought back. It shows their character and heart that they were not willing to give up.”

CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Junior Susie Rogers scored a game-high 14 points in a 52-41 loss to Franklin in the Foundation Game to open the 2013-14 season for the Troubadours.

“Susie has been playing like this in practice,” said Head Coach Pitton. “We have used her as the role model to set the stage for everyone else. We have challenged the rest of the players to practice like Susie. It showed tonight. She played a heck of a game.”

FRESNO, Calif. – St. Francis placed three runners among the top 20 to lead the team to a ninth-place finish overall Saturday at Woodward Park.

“We knew our team would show up well prepared,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “The girls had two weeks since our last race to mentally prepare. Lauren, Miranda and Madison all had huge PRs on this course. It was very exciting.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Lauren LaRocco has always liked running. She just did it in a different form, chasing a ball. Now she is racing against the clock and leading a St. Francis team into Saturday’s CIF State Cross Country Championships with a chance to win some hardware.
“I am trying not to really have any expectations,” said LaRocco, who enters the meet ranked fourth in Division I according to CalPrepTrack.com. “I just want to run my best. I will do the best I can.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Madison Rawson had participated in a running club in Pensacola but had never been part of a team. One long distance call and four years later, she is one of the elite runners in the state of California on one of the best teams heading into the CIF State Championships on Nov. 30.

Rawson, who lives in Roseville, moved to the area from Florida just prior to her freshman year. Before arriving or even attending her first day at her new school, Sacramento’s St. Francis, she was signed up for the cross country team by her parents.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Ali Koumelis admits she did not talk for most of the first two years. But she made her presence known on the court with her play. Now, four years later, she is the unquestioned leader of the St. Francis volleyball program heading into the Sac-Joaquin Section final against Granite Bay Thursday night.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section championship with a 3-0 win over St. Mary’s of Stockton Tuesday night. The Troubadours will face state No. 1 ranked Granite Bay at 6 p.m.

“I feel so proud of my teammates and am so happy with the game we played tonight,” said senior Karson Bisharat, who finished with five kills and three blocks. “We supported each other and it was a lot of fun.”