sYSU roundup

Pluchinsky earns spot on All-HL squad

Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.

Youngstown State junior golfer Brandon Pluchinsky was among nine Horizon League golf student-athletes to be named to the all-conference squad, the league announced at its banquet on the eve of the league championships.

Pluchinsky, a South Range High School graduate from North Lima, is being recognized for the first time as an All-Horizon League selection. He has had strong junior campaign averaging 73 strokes per round in nine tournaments and 23 rounds. He had three top-10 finishes, including two second-place finishes this season.

It marks the third consecutive year a Penguin has received all-conference accolades. Pluchinsky was an all-tournament team pick in 2014 after finishing seventh at the league championships.

Others named to the squad were Michael Balcar of Cleveland State, Evan Boswer from Oakland, Detroit’s Kyle Gaines and Wil Wittmann, Nick Scott and Ryan Wenzler of Wright State and Nick Seitz and Peter Webb from Valparaiso.

The first YSU golfer is set to tee off around 8:40 a.m. today at the Mission Inn Resort course.

Penguins’ Dixon named All-HL golfer

Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Youngstown State junior Emily Dixon was among seven Horizon League golf student-athletes who were recognized as all-conference selections on Thursday night at the championship banquet on the eve of tomorrow’s league tournament.

Dixon, a native of Pataskala, was named all-conference for the first time in her YSU career. On the year she ranked second on the team in strokes per average at 77.9 per round. She had an impressive five top-10 finishes with a pair of first-place finishes. Dixon competed in all 11 tournaments and 24 rounds during the year.

Joining Dixon on the team were Oakland’s Alyssa Albright, Allyson Hackman of Cleveland State, Kelsey Jensen of UIC, Oakland’s Elle Nichols, Avery Steen from Green Bay and Sarah Thompson of Detroit. Oakland was the lone school with two golfers named all-conference. Nichols was the Golfer and Freshman of the Year.

Despite being named a three-time Golfer of the Week and ranking second in the league in scoring, senior Aislynn Merling did not make the all-league team. Merling was an all-conference honoree last year and finished second at the Horizon League Championships in 2014.

The Penguins go for their first conference title since 2009 when action begins today at the Mission Inn Resort.

Softball schedule changes announced

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State softball head coach Brian Campbell has announced a couple changes to next week’s schedule.

The Penguins’ game against St. Bonaventure scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. has been changed to a doubleheader and moved to Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The doubleheader against Niagara that was slated for Wednesday has been cancelled due to make up contests in the Purple Eagles schedule.

Men’s tennis team meets UIC today

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.

The Youngstown State men’s tennis team opens Horizon League Championships play today against UIC. The match at the Purdue University Schwartz Tennis Center at 11 a.m.

The Penguins finished in a three-way tie for second in the Horizon League regular season with a 4-2 mark. The Penguins tied Valparaiso and Cleveland State for second but because of tiebreakers are the No. 4 seed. UIC is the fifth seed.

The Penguins (8-12) take on the Flames (6-12) for the second time in a week. YSU beat the Flames 6-1 last Saturday at the Boardman Tennis Center. UIC won the doubles point before the Penguins won all six singles matches.

Staff reports