Blazer's defense suits Marquette
After shutting down a potent Villanova offense in his first career start, Marquette University men's lacrosse goalie Cole Blazer was named the Big East Conference defensive player of the week.
The Libertyville High School graduate made 13 saves and allowed just 3 goals to a Villanova offense that entered the game averaging 14.88 goals per game, the country's second-best mark.
Blazer recorded a save percentage of .813 on the day, facing 31 shots. He saved 3 shots off the stick of the nation's leading scorer, Jake Froccaro, to hold the junior without a goal for the first time this season.
Marquette (7-1) re-entered both national polls last Monday, checking in at No. 17 in the media poll and No. 19 in the USILA Coaches' Poll. They are also ninth in the first NCAA men's lacrosse RPI ranking of the year.
Men's track
Davidson junior Will Brewster (Grayslake Central) set a new program record in the 5,000-meter event at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.
Brewster clocked a career-best 14:07.79 to break Demetrios Pagnois' previous mark of 14:09.96, which was set in 2013. Brewster finished fifth out of 202 runners.
He won the 5k at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship with a time of 14:42.79 on Feb. 20. His performance in the 5k puts him in a strong spot to qualify for the first round of the NCAA Championship.
"Will had a very solid race today," said head coach Renny Waldron on the school's website. "Certainly we believe that he will continue to improve throughout the season and the best is yet to come."
Softball
North Central College freshman Rachele Belletini has played and started all 16 games. She is batting .333 with 16 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple and 9 RBI. She is second on the team in assists (30) and fourth in putouts (48).
Brainerd history lives
Former Lake County prep sports editor Bill Gowen penciled this reporter in for many trips to the old Jackson Gym at Brainerd back in the mid-1980s when the Daily Herald was making its first big splash in Lake County.
From 1972 until 2003, the Libertyville girls volleyball program compiled a record of 705-252 with a little help from the homecourt advantage at Brainerd, many of those years under coach Chris Trzyna.
The wood court was decorated with a "Volleyball Wildcat" at midcourt.
To commemorate the history of the gym, Libertyville's staff brought that "Volleyball Wildcat" logo to the Libertyville West Gym last week.
It was a special dedication to honor Brainerd, the original Libertyville High School building which started high school education in 1917.
In 1929, the Jackson Gym at Brainerd was built to be used for physical education and athletics.
The building served as the main high school building until 1956 when the current high school was built. However, freshman courses were still taught utilizing the Brainerd campus.
Demolition of the Brainerd Building, located a few blocks east of Libertyville High School, began in late 2014.
Women's swimming
Tiffin University sophomore Morgan Dunleavy (Libertyville) earned all-American honors at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships.
Dunleavy earned her second consecutive honor in the 1-meter diving event, finishing third overall with 463.63 points.
It is the highest finish ever for a TU swimming and diving athlete.
This marks the third consecutive year that TU has had an All-American in their three-year old swim program and the first time they have posted multiple All-Americans in the same year.
Kyle Doss landed the honor in 2014 while Dunleavy garnered all-American honors in 2015.
Women's lacrosse
Augustana senior Emily Handrahan (Lake Zurich) leads the Vikings (10-1) with 30 assists and 54 points this year. Her 24 goals are third on the team and she's converted 10 of 15 free position shots.
Teammate Olivia Mayer (Libertyville) is second on the team with 27 goals and third with 36 points.
Men's lacrosse
Augustana senior Tyler Amidei (Vernon Hills) has 9 caused turnovers to lead the Vikings, who have won seven of their last eight matches and are 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Men's track
Augustana sophomore Kevin Barbian (Libertyville) was sixth in the shot put (45-10¾) to help the Vikings easily win the 15-team Ashton May Invitational in LaCrosse, Wis.
• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.