SouthtownStar Athletes On Campus: Vince Kmiec scores honor at North Central College
By Mike Walsh For Sun-Times Media February 15, 2013 9:32PM
Vince Kmiec
Updated: March 18, 2013 6:41AM
North Central College’s Vince Kmiec was chosen the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 6.
The 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward received the CCIW’s weekly honor for the first time in his career after helping the Cardinals to victories in their first two conference games of the season.
Kmiec, a Sandburg graduate, totaled 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 71-51 win at Elmhurst College before totaling 20 points (tying a career-high), six rebounds and three steals in a 69-55 victory over visiting Wheaton College.
Through 23 games this season, the Palos Park resident was leading North Central in three-pointers (37) and steals (2.1 spg). He was third in rebounding (4.7 rpg), fourth in scoring (10.4 ppg) and fifth in assists (1.8 apg).
Go with Joe
Loyola University’s Joseph Smalzer was named the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association’s Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 20.
The 6-foot-8 opposite hitter paced the Ramblers with 4.11 kills per set and helped his team to three straight wins. This is the first honor for Smalzer (Marist) this season and the third of his career.
The Palos Heights native led Loyola in its win Jan. 16 over Carthage, finishing first among all attackers with 14 kills and collecting three service aces. Against St. Francis (Pa.), Smalzer had 10 kills in generating a season-high .471 hitting percentage in the Ramblers’ win over the Red Flash.
In the Ramblers’ final match of the week, Smalzer moved to fourth all-time in program history after recording three consecutive service aces to total 105 on his career. The redshirt junior led all players with 18 points against George Mason, while also adding 13 kills and four block assists.
Seeing Reds
One of the key reasons for the success of Carthage College’s women’s basketball team this season has been the play of guard Haley Stercic (Marist).
In helping the Lady Reds to a 19-4 overall record and an 11-1 showing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, the 5-4 junior connected on a team-high 55 three-pointers. Stercic ranked second in the CCIW in three-pointers.
Stercic was tied for third on Carthage’s roster in steals with 15 and was fourth in assists (36) and fifth in scoring (7.8 ppg).
