LZ's Janus tackles collegiate acclaim

Jon Janus has been a starter for the Elmhurst College football team since the first day of his freshman year.

And for the third straight season, the former Lake Zurich standout has earned All Conference First Team recognition by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

The junior strong safety finished the season ranked second for the Bluejays in total tackles (62) and solo tackles (50).

He added 5 tackles for loss, including a pair of quarterback sacks, recorded an interception, recovered 2 fumbles and blocked two kicks.

In CCIW conference play, Janus ranked fifth in the league in tackles, averaging 8.1 stops. Janus also returns punts and kickoffs for Elmhurst.

Women's volleyball

Southern Illinois senior outside hitter Jennifer Berwanger (Lake Zurich) earned All-Missouri Valley Conference second team honors for her efforts this season.

Berwanger received first-team recognition in each of the previous two years, making her just the fourth player in school history to do so.

Last weekend saw the end of Berwanger's all-star career as a Saluki. She leaves the court after five years in the maroon and white, dominating several categories in the school's record books.

Berwanger finished third all-time in sets played in a career (450), third in matches played in a career (126), fourth in career kills (1,374), second in career attempts (4,059) and second in career digs (1,577). She closed out her career at SIU with 58 double-doubles.

Football

Beloit College senior linebacker Tony Baratti (Hersey) has been selected to play in the second annual DIII Football Senior Classic at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia on Friday night.

The Classic brings together players from 238 NCAA Division III Football teams, divided into North and South squads.

Baratti, a three-time First Team All-Midwest Conference selection, was the MWC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year this season.

He led the MWC in tackles with 110, the third season he topped the century mark, and was second in tackles for loss with 15.5. Baratti finished his career at Beloit as the program's all-time leader in tackles with 434. He was also named Beloit's MVP for the third straight season.

Ÿ Andre Anderson (Barrington) was named his conference's newcomer of the year at McNeese State in Louisiana. He transferred from Michigan State and started the season as the third-string tailback.

Ÿ JC Stickney (Barrington) is a junior at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. Named first team all-conference at wide receiver, he averaged 72.9 yards per game.

Stickney made 6 catches for 135 yards and scored 2 touchdowns in the final game against Amherst College to go undefeated at 8-0.

Women's basketball

Illinois Wesleyan senior Nikki Preston (Wheeling) scored a career-high 28 points as the Titans rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to down defending champion Washington U., 73-68.

Illinois Wesleyan, which trailed 51-39 with 14:22 left in the game, was behind by a 68-66 score with 1:36 to play before Preston hit a 3-pointer to put IWU on top to stay 69-68.

Preston also connected on a career-best 11 of 12 free throw attempts. Her previous career highs were 25 points and 10 free throws against Wisconsin-Whitewater on Jan. 2, 2010.

Men's basketball

Junior Tommy Sotos (Conant) hit 6 3-point shots and scored a career-high 20 points to help lead the University of Chicago past Hanover College 84-66 at the Ratner Center.

Sotos connected on 6-of-11 attempts. His back-to-back 3-pointers capped an 11-0 run midway through the first half as the Maroons took a 28-16 lead. Another 3-pointer by Sotos gave Chicago its largest lead of the half, 41-26, at the 3:43 mark.

Women's volleyball

Memphis sophomore Altrese Hawkins (Hoffman Estates) was honored for her performance in the classroom as well as on the court, being named to the 2010 Conference USA All-Academic Volleyball Team.

Hawkins, who earns her first C-USA all-Academic recognition, has been a primary force in the Tigers success in 2010. As the Tiger's top attacking option, Hawkins leads the team and ranks in the league's top-10 in kills (455), kills per set (3.96), attack percentage (. 313), points (492.0) and points per set (4.28). The redshirt sophomore holds a 3.68 GPA while double majoring in biology and psychology and pursuing a minor in Spanish.

Men's cross country

Iowa's Jeff Thode (Conant), who placed 30th (30:21.4) in the NCAA championships in Terre Haute, Ind., earned All-America status.

Ÿ Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.