2017-18 Top 10 Moments In The SLIAC
There were numerous memorable moments in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during the 2017-18 school year. But these were the Top 10 stories viewed and shared on social media. Counting down from number ten to the top story of the past year, take a look at these moments and be sure to join in the moments this upcoming year by using #SLIACtion on your social media posts.
#10 - Kyler Kent Sets Webster University Baseball Record
⚾️ They do things big in Texas right? Well how about this big moment, Texan Kyler Kent just set a new @GorlokSports single season mark with his 76th hit this season ⚾️ #SLIACtion #d3baseball pic.twitter.com/A6Msvfexo0
— SLIAC (@SLIAC) May 13, 2018
Webster University sophomore first baseman set the program mark for hits in a season, doing so in timely fashion with a single in the 4th inning of the winner-take-all SLIAC Championship game. Kent finished the year with 83 hits and was named Third Team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings.
9 - The 2017 SLIAC Cross Country Championship
The Greenville men's cross country team repeated as the SLIAC Champions, capturing their conference record 16th title. It marked the first time the Panthers repeated as conference champs since they won 13 straight from 1996-2007.
#8 - Eureka College Duo Sweeps SLIAC Softball Awards
On April 2 the softball duo of Kerrigan Dura and Kali George swept the SLIAC Players of the Week award after helping the Red Devils start the season with a 12-2 record. Dura hit .800 on the week while George picked up her conference-leading 5th win at the time after striking out seven.
#7 - Andrew Sharp Returns National Champion
Greenville University senior Andrew Sharp capped his collegiate career by winning the 800-meter race in the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championship. Sharp finished in a time of 1:50.06 and is just the 3rd athlete from the SLIAC to win a national championship and the first SLIAC representative to win since 2015 when Bruce Gray won the 100-meter dash.
#6 - Greenville Takes Men's Basketball Title
That's a final. @GUPanthers are the 2018 SLIAC Men's Basketball Champions �� �� #SLIACtion #d3hoops pic.twitter.com/S7yLYy4GHs
— SLIAC (@SLIAC) February 24, 2018
The Panthers secured their first trip to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament in program history after a 126-119 win over Blackburn College. Greenville was led by SLIAC tournament MVP Johari Dix with 26 points and eight assists.
#5 - Greenville vs. Westminster Meet In Volleyball Showdown
The first SLIAC Game of the Week pit Greenville and Westminster against each other on the volleyball court. The early season meeting, on September 13, featured the two favorites in the SLIAC preseason poll. Both teams had met in the SLIAC Tournament championship match in each of the previous two years and would go on to meet a third time in the 2017 tournament.
#4 - Webster Picked First In Women's Soccer Poll
Not much was new in the 2017 SLIAC Women's Soccer preseason poll, with Webster claiming the top spot for the fifth straight year. However, the fans were ready for the sports season to begin as this marked the first of three fall polls released. Behind Webster it was a three-way tie for second-place in the 2017 standings with Fontbonne, Greenville, and Westminster all finishing 7-2 in conference play.
#3 - Spalding Men's Soccer Favorites After Historic Season
After winning the program's first-ever SLIAC men's soccer regular-season title, Spalding University found themselves favorites in the 2017 poll. The Golden Eagles picked up six first-place votes to edge out four-time defending tournament champion Westminster College. However, it would be the Blue Jays that once again held the tournament trophy high at the end of the season.
#2 - Fontbonne and Greenville Combine For Division III Record
Want to see what the highest scoring game in @NCAADIII Men's Basketball history looks like? Here is a clip between @FBUGriffins @GUPanthers #SLIACtion #d3hoops #ESPN #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/eyJ3eXnVyy
— SLIAC (@SLIAC) February 1, 2018
It was a night to remember on the court between Fontbonne University and Greenville University with the two teams combining for an NCAA Division III men's basketball record 318 points. Fontbonne edged out Greenville 164-154 in overtime to set the new mark.
#1 - Shea Feehan With The Hot Hand
The most viewed and shared story this year was on the hardwood where Shea Feehan torched his opponents all season long. Feehan, a junior guard, had just put up back-to-back 40 point games en route to winning the SLIAC Player of the Week award. He would take home five weekly awards this season while setting a conference record at 30.6 points per game. He was named D3hoops.com All-Region and the SLIAC Player of the Year.