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From Dome to Big Leagues

Three former USD football players have their big NFL breaks

To reach the NFL is a dream almost all college athletes share, but only the best of the best ever achieve that hope. Seniors Noah Shepard, Ko Quaye, and Jake Arthur, however, all have earned a shot at realizing that very dream. Full story

Club baseball double sweeps weekend double-headers

The USD baseball team continued their winning ways with a weekend double sweep of Iowa State Saturday and Sunday at Prentis Park. This weekend was the parents and alumni weekend, and the Coyotes treated friends and family to four straight wins against Iowa State. USD didn’t let the two losses from earlier this week break their winning streak. Full story

Offense Fuels Spring Game Victory

The season might not start until Sept. 4 when the USD football team travels to Central Florida, but the DakotaDome still saw football action Friday night when the Coyote offense and the Coyote defense squared off in the spring Red-White game. Full story

Seniors ready to leave, set for the future

In a couple of weeks, the track and field team will be competing in the Great West Outdoor Conference meet. Currently both the men and women’s team are ranked second in the conference standings, right after their biggest competitors in Utah Valley. But for the seniors on the team, it will be a tough final conference, and a final farewell after four or more years on the track and field team. Full story

Search continues for new athletic director

May 1, Joel Nielsen will be leaving the USD to become the new athletic director of Kent State University. With his exit comes a vacancy for USD’s own director of athletics. For the first time since 2003, the school will be searching for a new athletic director. President James Abbott is now appointing an 18-person committee comprised of various community members. Full story

SPORTS COLUMN: Twins prove caliber

The new home of the Minnesota Twins, Target Field, sucks. Sure, being outside is nice but I’m not happy that they took the Minnesota Twins from a perfectly good, very winnable stadium and placed them in a brand new fancy stadium. The MetroDome is the home of the Twins, and nowhere else is needed. Full story

4x400 relay teams exemplify spirit

In track and field, the relay team wins or loses based on its chemistry and the bonds of teamwork, and USD’s 4x400-meter relay teams are no different in that regard. This season, both the men’s and women’s 4x400-meter relay teams have been running hard at every meet and placing well. After the Nebraska meet, the women’s 4x4-meter team moved up to second place in the Great West Conference standings. The men’s team sits in second place, but is eyeing the first place slot. Full story

SPORTS COLUMN: We’ll miss you, Nielsen

My first encounter with Joel Nielsen is something I will not forget. As a freshman reporter, not really knowing what I was doing, you can imagine I was pretty nervous about going in to talk to the “head honcho” about my article. But the minute I walked into his office, my nervousness melted and I was completely comfortable. Full story

Club baseball gears up with wins

The USD Coyotes found their groove this weekend against the University of Northern Iowa taking three wins, one loss. After a searing win over Irene Amateur April 13, the Coyotes were looking to continue their offensive production going into the weekend against Central Plains Conference opponent UNI. Full story

Tennis excited for the Great West

It may not have capped the season with a win, but the 4-3 loss to the University of North Dakota Saturday demonstrated to the Great West that a hard -fought season has prepared the USD women’s tennis team for the Conference championships May 1 and 2. Full story

Other Sports Headlines

Social a saving grace for rugby teams

Senior Sarah Permann describes rugby as an “interesting sport.” When it comes to rugby relationships, the dynamic differences between on-the-field rivals is captivating, she said. “(Rugby) is a gentlemen’s game played by hooligans,” freshman Caleb Paulsen, a player for USD men’s rugby said, “You’re best friends with the opponent after the game is done.”

Seniors leave the softball spotlight behind

Five seniors look back on challenges and successes on and off the field as USD Coyotes

The journey from freshman year to senior year brings with it challenges, memories and experiences. For the seniors on the USD women’s softball team, this journey has been marked by several major transitions.

Q&A: ‘Determined’ fits soccer player

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week The Volante sports staff will interview a member of the USD athletic community and ask them off-the-wall questions. Enjoy the hilarity.

SPORTS COLUMN: Win, LeBron

I want LeBron James to win his NBA championship. I’m sure that there are at least a million more people who would agree with me. For years, the Cavaliers have been considerable contenders for the Larry O’Brien trophy. In 2007, they shocked the basketball world when they defeated the Eastern Conference powerhouse Detroit Pistons to make the NBA Finals.

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Q&A: Rio vacation beats Caymens

Junior Rocky Allan Welker is a sociology major at USD. He used to play rugby in Sioux City before coming and playing fly for the men’s club team here at USD of which he is now the captain.

SPORTS COLUMN: Greatness not just on boxes

In the world of athletics, greatness is a buzzword. Halls of fame are dedicated to The Greats, children are shuttled to practices by parents eager for them to achieve their inner “greatness” and every athlete hopes they can leave their mark in whichever program they are in.

Q&A: Catching a calling for Fricke

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week The Volante sports staff will interview a member of the USD athletic community and ask them off-the-wall questions. Enjoy the hilarity.

Men’s golf second at home invitational

The USD men’s golf team placed a respectable second at the Coyote Spring Invitational on Vermillion’s Bluffs Golf course Monday and Tuesday.

High Hopes for Outdoor Season

Men’s and women’s track and field has now started their outdoor season with nothing less than the goal to do just as well as they did during the indoor season. That means coming out number one. They have already traveled to an outdoor meet in Arizona and had one individual go to Alabama this last weekend.

Lacrosse cancels spring season

This year, the USD club lacrosse team ended its season early. So early, in fact, that the season never even had a chance to get off the ground. A lack of funding and interest contributed to the team’s decision to cancel its spring season.

Senior football players perform for NFL scouts, draft announced next month

Eight Coyote football players showcased their physical ability and football skills in front of scouts from the National Football League Monday morning in the DakotaDome.

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