Basierak makes a splash in first yeat at Dubuque

Former Grayslake Central volleyball standout Klaudia Basierak made quite a debut on the college scene.

The University of Dubuque rookie was named “Freshman of the Year” in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Also an all-conference selection, the outside hitter led all IIAC players in kills with 526, averaging 3.95 per set and points scored with 595.

Basierak’s 595 points came as a result of 526 kills, 45 service aces, 11 solo blocks and 26 block assists.

She ranked sixth among league players with her 45 service aces.

The focal point of the Dubuque attack, Basierak set a school single-season mark for total attacks with 1,740. She set a school freshman record with her 526-kills. Her kills total and kills-per-set average both rank fourth in program history for a single season.

Basierak ranked second only to teammate Meggie Schmidt among league players in double-doubles. She finished the season with 19 to Schmidt’s 22. Basierak also set a UD single-match record for attacks with 79 against Coe.

The Spartans qualified for the IIAC Tournament for the second year in a row and played a home tournament game for the first time since 2004 when UD hosted the entire tournament. Basierak recorded a season high 27-kills in the Spartans first round loss to Luther giving her six 20-plus kills games for the season.

Basierak is the third recipient of the “Freshman of the Year” award and first for the Spartans. In the 30 plus years of IIAC Volleyball UD has had two MVP’s (Lori Anda in 1982 and Jan Jacobs in 1983) and won the Coach of the Year four times (Lisa Herb in 1982, Connie Bandy-Hodge in 1992, Connie Bandy-Hodge in 1995, and Randy Dolson in 1999).

Ÿ Carthage defensive specialist Izzy Shaindlin (Stevenson) and setter Karen Chin (Mundelein) were named to the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team.

Shaindlin was sixth in CCIW digs at 4.39 per set while Chin was sixth in CCIW assists at 7.34 per set and fourth in service aces at 0.43 per set.

Men’s soccer

Ohio Northern senior goalkeeper Erin Waehner (Libertyville) was named to the second team All-Ohio Athletic Conference team. It was her third All-OAC selection.

Waehner has 48 saves on the season and has nine shutouts. She recorded a 13-3-4 record this year with a 5-3-1 mark in conference play. Waehner ranks fourth all-time in ONU history with 20 career shutouts and seventh with 167 saves. The Polar Bears won their first OAC tournament championship.

Women’s soccer

Carthage junior defender Alyssa Baker (Lakes), who had 4 assists this season, was named to the second-team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Ÿ After helping Butler’s women’s soccer team to its winningest season since 2002, sophomore Kelly Mahoney (Buffalo Grove)was also winning with off-the-field awards.

She was voted second-team academic all-district by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Mahoney is one of 22 players in District 5 to be honored. District 5 covers schools in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan.

It is the third recent honor for the Butler sophomore, who was also named second team all-conference in the Atlantic 10.

Mahoney was part of Butler’s back line that yielded only 15 goals this season.

Butler had a 0.67 goals-against average with 11 shutouts. The sophomore defender was also a threat to score, finding the net four times. She scored key goals to help Butler to victories over Dayton, Xavier and St. Bonaventure this season.

Butler finished 12-5-4 this season and advanced to the semifinal of the A-10 tournament. Butler’s 12 wins were the most since the 2002 team went 15-6. The Bulldogs also set a new mark for fewest losses in program history.

Women’s basketball

Four-year starter Tiffany Hendrickson (Carmel) will begin her final season at Concordia University Wisconsin just 119 points shy of 1000 for her career.

Hendrickson averaged 10 points last year while shooting a stellar 46 percent from beyond the arc and 85 percent from the free throw line.

Hendrickson will be graduating with a degree in nursing and has maintained a 3.8 GPA and has made the Dean’s List every semester.

Football

Millikin senior quarterback Matt Holmes (Wheeling) was 23-of-38 passing for 275 yards and 5 touchdowns in his last game for the Big Blue which defeated visiting Carthage 55-13 in Decatur.

Holmes also rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from fellow senior Erik Tobey on a double-reverse pass play.

Holmes’ 5 touchdown passes tied a Millikin record.

Ÿ After 10 games, Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (Rolling Meadows) has completed 287-of-466 passes for 3,374 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Ohio Valley Conference champion. Garoppolo has also rushed for 178 yards.

Ÿ Wisconsin-Whitewater junior linebacker Ryan Cortez (Palatine) was a Walmart “Player of the Week” with his performance during the Warhawks’ 19-10 win over Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Cortez led both teams with 12 tackles (7 solo, 5 assists). He added 1 tackle for a loss (2 yards), 1 quarterback sack (2 yards) and one pass broken up.

Cortez helped limit the Blugolds to 93 yards rushing on 36 attempts.

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