Metro Sports Report

Kirkwood volleyball team sweeps opener

Volleyball players come and go at Kirkwood Community College with the passage of time, but one things remains the same with the Eagles.

Consistency.

Kirkwood has been a consistent national power and conference juggernaut under Coach Jill Williams for more than a decade with a steady influx of talented players who know how to play the game.

"We have a philosophy, we have a style," said Williams, beginning her 14th season at Kirkwood. "And obviously in our recruiting, we try to find kids that we think can fit into what we do.

"Some of it has to be adjusted, according to the players we get," she continued. "That's the fun we have on the sideline, how we put toether our game plan."

The Eagles began the 2018 season Wednesday night by sweeping the Grand View junior varsity, 25-16, 25-22, 25-15, at Johnson Hall with a typically balanced attack.

"It's always nice to get the first one in the 'W' column, especially at home," said Williams. "That's a lot of pressure: First week of school, all the students are back.

"We've been doing our own thing in practice for three weeks. Now there's people around us. And I just hoped there's not a case of stage fright. I think they did a great job coming out ready to play."

Mount Mercy men's soccer triumphs

JOLIET, Ill. - The Mount Mercy men's soccer team rallied from a 2-0  deficit to trim St. Francis, 3-2, in overtime Wednesday in the first match of the 2018 campaign.

Freshman Duarte Leite scored on an assist from Rafael Passanha in the 94th minute to snap a 2-2 tie and lift the Mustangs to victory.

Mount Mercy trailed 2-0 entering the 53rd minute of play, but Passanha got the Mustangs on the board with an assist from Leite. Timon Weidmann tied the match, 2-2, when he scored in the 74th minute on an assist from Kevin Kastl.

Leite and Passanha did not start the game for Mount Mercy, but they entered as subs and helped determine the outcome.

Drahn, Biedermann lift IWSL to 26 players

Tianna Drahn of UNI and Kylee Biedermann of Clarke will be returning to the Iowa Women's Softball League for the 2019 campaign.

The two premier outfielders registered last week, giving the IWSL a total of 26 players who have taken advantage of the early registration period.

This early registration period is for all players who participated in the IWSL this season. Anyone who registers by Aug. 31 will receive a 50 percent discount and pay $50 instead of the regular $100 player fee.

Anyone who registers between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 will get a 25 percent discount and pay $75, whether they played in the league this past summer or not. And anyone who registers between Jan. 1 and April 30 will be charged the full $100 player fee.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The goal is to have eight teams and 120 players for Year 3 in 2019, with four teams in the Central Division and four teams in the Eastern Division.

Eric Frese named Kirkwood softball coach

Eric Frese is returning to Eastern Iowa to become the new softball coach at Kirkwood Community College.

Frese replaces Joe Yegge, who left Kirkwood after 11 seasons this summer to become the associate head coach at DePaul University.

Frese, who is from Norway, has been the head baseball coach at Wisconsin-Platteville for the past 12 years.

Frese has also been serving as an assistant softball coach at Dubuque Hempstead High School where his wife, Alisha Frese, is the head coach. Alisha Frese played softball at Kirkwood.

"We have offered and he has accepted the position," Kirkwood athletic director Doug Wagemester confirmed Friday afternoon. "That happened this morning. We're fired up."