Bennett inks junior college All-American\nWomen's basketball head coach Kathi Bennett announced that junior college forward Joei Clyburn signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball for the Hoosiers this upcoming season. \nA 6-foot-1 inch native of Detroit, Clyburn attended Arkansas-Fort Smith Junior College the last two years, earning first-team NJCAA All-America honors after a sophomore season in which she averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as she led her team to a 26-2 overall record and a berth in the Final Four at the Division I Junior College National Tournament. Clyburn was a third-team NJCAA All-America as a freshman after averaging 18.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.\n"Joei is talented in so many areas," Bennett said. "She can play small forward or power forward and addresses an immediate need for us. She is very athletic and very skilled, with the ability to rebound, shoot the three and defend quicker players. She is a wonderful person and loves to play basketball."\nClyburn is one of two incoming players joining the IU roster next season, along with Sylvania (Ohio) Northview High School guard Nikki Smith. The duo will add to a Hoosier squad that returns the entire 2003-04 roster and is led by a pair of All-Big Ten selections in forward Jenny DeMuth and guard Cyndi Valentin.
Praibis earns invite to NCAA tourney\nWhile the IU men's tennis team (12-12, 6-6) were not selected for the 2004 NCAA Championships, junior Jakub Praibis has been invited to compete for the 2004 NCAA Singles Championships. The Litomerice, Czech Republic, native will take part in the 64 main singles draw May 22-31 in Tulsa, Okla. Praibis has a 15-6 overall record and is ranked No. 64 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.\nCoach Ken Hydinger was pleased to hear of Praibis' selection into the NCAA's.\n"Jakub is well deserving of being in the best amateur tournament in the world, the NCAA's, because he has competed well with some of the NCAA's best," Hydinger said. "I also believe he is physically capable of making an impact in the tournament, but he is going to have to believe he can do it. It is a definite growth opportunity for Jakub."
2 softball players earn Big Ten honors\nFollowing the team's most successful season since 1996, two members of IU's softball team garnered honors from the Big Ten. Freshman Tory Yamaguchi and senior Abby Stark were selected second team All-Big Ten. \n"Our staff is excited for Abby and Tory and we are proud of the effort that we saw from them this year," coach Sara Hayes Nottger said. "Their hard work and determination resulted in some pretty impressive statistics for the year. They were obviously two of the best in the Big Ten and we are thrilled they were honored today."\nYamaguchi led the Hoosiers in several statistical categories in 2004, including batting average (.340), hits (64), home runs (10). The Woodland Hill, Calif., native hit more home runs than any freshman in school history.\nStark ended her four-year career at IU last season, hitting .280 with 43 hits and 15 RBIs. She led the team in doubles and is currently 10th on IU's all-time career doubles list with 34.\n"Being named second-team All-Big Ten is such a huge honor for both Tory and I," Stark said. "This is a great way to end my softball career. We are trying to get Indiana softball back on the map so I think it is also good for the program and for getting our name out there"
