Esky native becomes

winningest coach

ESCANABA — The University of Central Florida volleyball season ended Friday night, but Escanaba native Todd Dagenais has become the program’s all-time coaching leader.

UCF was eliminated by 10th-seed Florida 3-0 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Knights finish 25-8 after winning 18 of their final 21 matches.

That season-ending burst, capped by a 3-2 victory over Florida State in the opening NCAA tourney round Thursday, enabled Dagenais to slip past Lucy McDaniel as the program’s winningest coach, with 237 victories.

That triumph was also the first NCAA tourney win under Dagenais.

Dagenais, who will be inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame May 9, 2020 at Island Resort & Casino, joined UCF in 2008. This year’s 25-8 record is tied for UCF’s second-best mark since 1997.

Braves’ bowlers win

LAURIUM — The Gladstone boys opened their bowling season on a positive note here Saturday, posting a 38-2 victory over Calumet.

The Braves won both baker games 121-101 and 114-82 and swept match play games 709-486, 628-493 and 625-442.

Junior Andy Fisher won all three of his games for a 480 series, including a 171 game. Classmates Nate Highsmith and Dylan Messina and sophomore Ryan Neumann also swept their games and sophomore Chad Britton had a 408 series.

NMU men fall

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team came up just short in a 64-58 loss to Saginaw State University here Saturday in a GLIAC matchup.

After the Wildcats (3-5, 0-2 GLIAC) trailed 35-28 at the half, they pulled ahead 56-55 on a layup by Ben Wolf with just under four minutes remaining.

However, the Cardinals (5-3, 1-1) rallied for the win.

Sam Taylor led NMU with 17 points. Troy Summers added 11, while Noah Parcher chipped in 10.

Tech women roll

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech University women’s basketball team rolled to a 69-46 win over Northwood in a GLIAC contest here Saturday.

The Huskies (3-6, 1-1 GLIAC) led 32-19 and extended their lead to 51-32 at the end of the third quarter.

Ellie Mackay led Tech with 19 points. Hannah Hobson posted 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Tech men cruise

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech University men’s basketball team jumped out to a 47-25 halftime lead and cruised past Northwood 93-59 here Saturday in a GLIAC matchup.

Tech senior Kyle Monroe scored 22 points to eclipse 2,000 for his career. Dawson Bilski of North Central High School added 17, while Owen White chipped in 14 and Trent Bell added 11.

Tech icers sweep

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech University hockey team picked up its third WCHA sweep of the season with a 4-1 win over Alaska-Anchorage here Saturday.

After Alaska struck first in the second period, the Huskies scored four unanswered goals, including two in the second and two in the third.

Tyler Rockwell and Trenton Bliss each scored in the second, while Tommy Parrottino and Alec Broetzman scored in the third.

Matt Jurusik made 21 saves.

Tech (10-7, 8-6 WCHA) also won 2-1 Friday after a pair of late goals in the third period by Brian Halonen.

Down 1-0 midway through the third period, Halonen scored a power-play goal at the 13:47 mark, then added another 1:26 later to seal the win.

Jurusik made 17 saves.

NMU women hang on

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team hung on for a 56-53 win over GLIAC opponent Saginaw Valley State Saturday to stay undefeated at home.

After the contest was tied 26-26 at the half, the Cardinals (5-5, 1-1 GLIAC) led by two at the end of the third quarter.

Elena Alaix put the Wildcats (5-5, 2-0) ahead 40-39 with a 3-pointer 17 seconds into the fourth, and they held that lead the rest of the way.

Erin Honkala and Jessica Schultz led NMU with 14 points each. Makaylee Kuhn chipped in 12.