While the Washington University women’s volleyball team has been a fixture in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship for years, this year marks the first time since 1992 that the final rounds of the playoffs will be held at the Wash. U. Field House.
As part of the NCAA Championship City pilot program, created to help cities provide a more enjoyable championship experience for both student-athletes and fans, Wash. U. will partner with neighbor Fontbonne University and the St. Louis Sports Commission to host the finals this year, as well as in 2011.

After another weekend of University Athletic Association (UAA) play, the Washington University men’s soccer team remains in the same position in conference standings they entered with—one point behind conference leader New York University, tied for second place with Emory University.

“Divide and conquer” was the strategy for the Washington University track and field team this weekend. While several distance runners competed at the Augustana Meet of Champions, the rest of the team was at the Wheaton College Twilight Meet. The men’s squad’s distance runners chose the Augustana meet to face a more competitive field. The strategy paid off as junior Dave Spandorfer took second in the 10,000 meters in 30:19.

Several souvenirs line the windowsill of Sean Curtis’ office on the fourth floor of the Athletic Complex. They seem to blend into the clutter of it all, but there is one plaque in particular that Curtis, head coach of the Washington University women’s golf team, doesn’t hesitate to show off. “Still have it,” he says, bringing the trophy over to his desk.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — After a third appearance in the championship game in four years, Jaimie McFarlin and the veteran Washington University women’s basketball team would not be denied. “Even when I was shooting those last free throws, I was thinking [that] it’s still not over,” McFarlin said. “I just couldn’t believe it until the confetti started falling, and it was real confetti, not the confetti in my dreams.

This letter is in response to Andrew Gottlieb’s column “Why Washington University should consider starting a Division I basketball program” appearing in Monday’s edition of Student Life. Gottlieb’s article, though apparently well intentioned, was unfortunately fraught with many inaccuracies and misconceptions regarding the state of the athletic programs at Wash. U.

Given the volleyball team’s recent victory over the No. 1 ranked team in the country, the men’s soccer team’s recently-ended undefeated streak, and attempts by students and the administration at fostering a tailgate atmosphere before football games, we feel it pertinent to comment on the state of athletics on this campus.

The NCAA announced that St. Louis, an NCAA Championship City, will host the 2010 and 2011 Division III Women’s Volleyball National Championships.