'Last Chance' to qualify for NCAA swim meet\nThe Hoosiers men's swimming and diving team will try to add four members of its squad to those already qualified to swim in the NCAA Championships this Sunday at the Indiana Open in Bloomington. The meet, which is known as a "Last Chance Meet," gives swimmers and divers who haven't already qualified for the NCAA Championships by meeting qualifying times during their conference meets one last chance to do so. \nFor the swimmers on the squad who are still trying to qualify for the NCAAs, Sunday will represent their final opportunity. Some of those participating in it, however, are more focused on using Sunday as a chance to work on things they are trying to improve upon, as the off-season training looms. \nThe meet comes after a Big Ten Championship in which IU had the most first team All-Big Ten selections, with four, produced a Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships in sophomore Kevin Swander and took home two Big Ten titles in the 200-yard medley relay and the 100-yard breaststroke,\nThe "Last Chance Meet" will kick off Saturday at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Softball in the sun\nThe IU softball team (5-9) will travel to Arizona this weekend to face off against some of its toughest opponents to date. \nFeaturing two teams from last year's NCAA Tournament, No. 2 Arizona and No. 24 Georgia Tech, the University of Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational presents a challenge unseen to IU up to this point.\nThe Hoosiers will start the weekend's games Friday when they face the University of Texas-El Paso (3-7) and Northern Iowa (3-6). Saturday brings North Texas (6-22) and the host team Arizona (21-0), followed by their final game against Georgia Tech (15-3) Sunday.\nIU hopes to make a quick turnaround after dropping three of four this past weekend in Carbondale, Ill., in the Southern Classic. The team took every game to the final out as it dropped its first two matches 2-1 against Southern Illinois and Indiana State, taking ISU into extra innings. IU was then able to shutout Harvard 1-0 before falling to SIU again in the final inning.\nThis weekend will also face off IU coach Sara Hayes Nottger against her former team, Northern Iowa. Nottger coached the Panthers for two years prior to coming to IU. This weekend will also mark the first-ever meeting between IU and North Texas. \nThe Hoosiers kick the weekend off at 11:00 a.m. Friday against UTEP.
IU baseball ready to continue win streak\nThe Hoosiers baseball team looks to extend its current three-game winning streak this weekend when Cleveland State comes to Bloomington for a three-game series. The series will be the season opener for the Vikings (0-0), who coming off a disappointing season which saw them go 13-39.\nThe Vikings are returning five positional starters, as well as seven members of their pitching staff, from last season. They are led by junior first baseman Dominic Erney, who was named second team All-Horizon League last season.\nSophomore pitcher Josh Lewis (0-1) takes the mound for IU Friday. Despite earning a loss for his only decision of the season, Lewis is second on the team in strikeouts and is sporting a 1.64 ERA. Senior pitcher Nick Vitielliss is the probable starter for Saturday's game. Vitielliss (0-1) is also still in search of his first win but has pitched well so far, earning a 2.57 ERA. Sunday's game will likely see junior pitcher Steve Nielsen head to the mound. Nielsen (1-0) has a 8.10 ERA but has been clutch for the Hoosiers, earning his victory in extra innings against Navy.\nFriday's game against the Vikings is set for 3 p.m., while Saturday's game will take place at 1 p.m. The series finale Sunday will begin at noon. All games will be held at Sembower Field.
Men take final shot at qualifying\nWith the NCAA Indoor Championships looming next weekend, this weekend's Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame provides six Hoosiers a final chance to qualify for the national meet. \nFreshman David Neville will compete in the 200-meters, junior Ryan Ketchum will throw the shot put, senior All-American Chris Powers (No. 33) and sophomore Stephen Haas (No. 22) will both compete in the 5,000-meters. Freshman Kiwan Lawson will compete in the long jump, while junior Russell Hollis will race the 800-meters. Each of these athletes will likely need to set personal bests to qualify for the meet. \nThe 5,000-meters will include several pace-setters to help the athletes stay on a pace necessary to qualify. Haas is optimistic the race will be fast and he and Powers have an excellent chance of qualifying, even though it may take a sub-14:00 effort. \nPowers ran a school-record 13:59 to qualify for the Championships in 2002, ran 14:13 at the Tyson Invitational a few weeks ago and set a personal best in the 3,000-meters, finishing No. 6 at the Big Ten Championships last weekend. \nThe six athletes aim to join sophomore All-American Sean Jefferson and sophomore Eric Redman, senior Rodney Hollis and Neville, who have already solidified a bid to the meet. The Championships are set to take place at the University of Arkansas March 12-13.\nFrom IDS reports\nThe IU women's track and field team travels to South Bend for its "last chance" to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. \nThose athletes reaching provisional qualifying marks allow them the opportunity to advance to the national championship if not enough athletes reach automatic qualifying marks.\nThe NCAA Indoor Championship takes place one week from today in Fayetteville, Ark.\nAt last weekend's Big Ten Championship, IU had two athletes reach provisional marks. Senior Lauren Chesnut jumped 12.66 meters in the triple jump, and junior Ara Towns sprinted to a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash in 7.34 seconds. The Big Ten named Towns second team All-Big Ten after her performance in the 60-meter dash.\nThe IU 4x400-meter relay team of junior Charlene Maddox, sophomore LaDonna Ray and freshmen Stacey Clausing and Michele Huber earned first team All-Big Ten honors last weekend with its first-place finish with a time of 3:41.80. This time is .60 seconds off the NCAA provisional qualifying mark.\nThe only other IU athlete who reached a provisional mark this season is senior Audrey Giesler, who ran 9:34.70 in the 3,000-meter run at the Tyson Foods Invitational.\nThe meet takes place today and Saturday in South Bend, Ind.
