NW Briefs | Brian Schmetzer on the list for Sounders' coach search

Seattle Sounders FC has settled on a list of head-coaching candidates that includes Brian Schmetzer, and the Major League Soccer expansion team is beginning to contact candidates and MLS teams for permission to talk to coaches.

General manager Adrian Hanauer said in an article scheduled to be posted on the team's Web site today that a hire could come as soon as next month.

"We should have a coach in place, anywhere from the middle of October until the day after MLS Cup [Nov. 23]," he said.

He added, "The process is accelerating. The previous few months have been the research and discussion part of our process to figure out what type of coach we want. We're now entering the phase of going out and actually contacting those individuals, contacting teams to ask for permission to speak to coaches currently under contract, and trying to organize interviews."

Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson assembled the list of candidates.

"It's a pretty strong list, and when I look at the list of names, I don't think we can go wrong with any of them," Henderson said.

The only confirmed candidate is Schmetzer, now in his seventh season as the head coach of the Sounders USL First Division team.

"Not only has Brian proven his character, but his coaching resume has been excellent," Henderson said.

South Florida sweeps Seattle U.

Seattle University volleyball fell 3-0 to South Florida on Thursday at the Connolly Center, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21.

South Florida (4-0) went on a 16-5 run midway through the first set to take a 20-9 lead and cruise to the victory.

Seattle University took a 7-3 lead early in the second set and forced seven ties, but South Florida finished the set on a 9-2 run.

Consecutive blocks allowed South Florida to go up 22-19 late in the third set, and then South Florida's Alli Arbogast notched a kill and a service ace, followed by a Redhawks attack error to end the match.

Janet Beckerman (Bellevue Christian) led Seattle U. with nine kills and two block assists.

SPU falls in first match of tourney

Seattle Pacific was swept by Cal State Los Angeles in the opening match of the three-day Triton Invitational in San Diego.

The Falcons (1-4) lost their fourth straight match after opening the season with a four-game triumph over Cal State Stanislaus.

The Golden Eagles won 25-17, 25-20, 25-18. They started off strong in the first game.

SPU opened the second game with a 4-1 edge before the Eagles staged a 12-2 run. The Falcons drew within 17-16 before Cal State closed with an 8-3 surge. The third game stood at 17-14 before the leading Eagles closed with an 8-4 run to secure the match.

Outside hitter Nikki Finley led SPU with seven kills; libero Anna Herold (Shorecrest) contributed 20 digs.

More volleyball

Central Washington defeated St. Mary's of Texas in three sets at the Central Washington University Invitational at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg. Rachael Schurman had 11 kills and five blocks for the Wildcats; Erin Norris added 10 kills, two aces and two blocks. Sondra Cui added 12 digs for CWU.

Notes

• Former Washington All-American softball player Jaime Clark was named the Nokona American Glove Offensive Player of the Year for the 2008 National Pro Fastpitch season.

• Washington tennis player Venise Chan earned a No. 28 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's first poll of the season.

Compiled from sports-information reports and other sources.