Sports Briefs

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ANDREW MATSON '09 NETS DISTRICT-I ACADEMIC HONORS

One would think that finishing the football season as the NESCAC leader in both catches and receiving yards per game would be hard to top in terms of accomplishments. But for Panther wide receiver Andrew Matson '09, those accolades tell only part of the story.

Further legitimizing his prowess as both a superb student and athlete, Matson was named District-I Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Director's Association (CoSIDA) this past Monday. He has now achieved this distinction in two straight seasons.

This most recent achievement comes after Matson was featured in a Boston Globe article earlier this fall highlighting his dual role as an athlete and pre-med student. While at Middlebury, Matson has maintained a 3.66 GPA with a major in biochemistry. He is also a two-time All-NESCAC Academic selection.

Having earned a spot on the first-team, the senior wide receiver will be placed on a national ballot, and the team will be named on Nov. 25.

- Jeff Klein, Sports Editor

PATTERSON '09.5 CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR GAME

The Middlebury volleyball team's season may be done, but at least one worthy Panther will have the opportunity to compete on the court once more.

Senior co-captain Lindsay Patterson '08.5 has been invited to play in the New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA) Senior Classic game at Wellesley on Sunday, Nov. 16th. The invitation is a fitting finale for Patterson, who recently led her squad to a 15-11 record and a NESCAC postseason birth before bowing out to the eventual champion Williams.

This season, Patterson posted 17 service aces and six blocks to complement her 2.43 kills per game (third most on the team) and 3.51 digs per game (second most on the team).

Even more notably, the supersenior ends her Middlebury volleyball career with a highly impressive array of statistics. She ranks among the best all-time in Middlebury history in numerous categories: eighth in kills (732), sixth in kills per game (2.1), fourth in attempts (2,693), third in digs (1,221) and sixth in digs per game (3.5).

- Jeff Klein, Sports Editor

STEVE HAUSCHKA '07 RECORDS FIRST POINTS IN NFL WIN

Middlebury graduate Steve Hauschka '07 scored his first NFL points Sunday during the Baltimore Ravens 41-13 victory over the Houston Texans, drilling a 54-yard field goal during the second quarter. The field goal helped stake the Ravens to a 12-3 lead that they would never relinquish.

Since being picked up by the Ravens following a training camp stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Hauschka has been handling kick-offs while ceding field goals to 19-year NFL veteran Matt Stover. While Stover is one of the most consistent performers in the league, he has never had that strong of a leg, with a career percentage of less than 50 percent from beyond 50 yards, and he had only made two of five kicks this season from beyond 40 yards.

The kick came with a little over a minute remaining in the first half and the Ravens facing fourth down from the Houston 37 yard-line - a distance clearly outside of Stover's limited range.

- Peter Baumann, Sports Editor