The University of Maine football team has announced its captains for the 2001 season, and coaches have handed out awards to four other players based on their performance in spring workouts.

Chad Hayes of Old Town, Zack Magliaro of Beverly, Mass., and Malik Nichols of Albany, N.Y. have been selected as the Black Bears’ captains.

Hayes was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 selection as a tight end and Magliaro was the lone offensive lineman to start every game last season and was named the Sam Sezak Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award winner for the Bears.

Nichols played two seasons as a wide receiver for the Bears before shifting to linebacker as a junior. He made 39 tackles last season.

Also earning mention from the UMaine coaching staff: Stephan Gomes of Hyannis, Mass., and Amos Hall of Casanovia, N.Y., were named the most improved offensive and defensive players, respectively, after spring workouts. John Gelsomino of Sayville, N.Y., and Mark Lehner of Herndon, Va., received the Maine Man Awards for strength and conditioning.

Gomes, a sophomore wide receiver, caught two passes, including a touchdown, in Saturday’s Blue-White scrimmage.

Hall, a junior defensive lineman, helped lead a defensive unit that caused four turnovers and recorded five sacks in the intrasquad game.

Gelsomino, a junior fullback, received the upperclassman Maine Man award while Lehner, a redshirt freshman, represented the freshmen.

UM names hoop captains

University of Maine coach John Giannini has named Errick Greene, Jamar Croom and Derrick Jackson captains for the 2001-2002 season.

Greene, a 6-foot-3 swingman from Killeen, Texas, came to Maine in 1998 after graduating from Kaskaskia (Ill.) Community College. He sat out one year with a foot injury but averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Bears last year.

Croom, a 6-8 center, has played in only 27 games in his career but has made his mark in the classroom and in practice. Croom has been a UMaine scholar-athlete and has been a member of the America East Academic Honor Roll.

Jackson, a 6-2 guard who will begin his junior season, has played in all 60 games since his arrival on campus, starting 50. He is one of the Black Bears’ top backcourt defenders and led the team in minutes played last year.

UM volleyball lands recruits

University of Maine volleyball coach Sue Medley has received commitments from four players who plan to play for the Bears in the fall.

The recruits: Carmen Gabriel, a 6-0 setter and right-side hitter from Watson, Saskatchewan, Marina Ivanovic, a 6-0 middle blocker from Stoney Creek, Ontario, Lori Maloney, a 6-1 outside hitter from Dundas, Ontario, and Brittany Howe, a 6-0 outside hitter/middle blocker from Columbia.

Howe played her high school volleyball at Narraguagus High in Harrington and helped the Knights advance to the state championship game. She has also been a basketball and track standout.

Gabriel is an accomplished athlete who has excelled in volleyball, track and ice hockey. She is also the first baseman on the boys baseball team at her school.

Maloney competed for five years for the Hamilton Seekers, one of Canada’s elite club volleyball programs.

Ivanovic won four league titles as a member of the Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School squad, and was a former club teammate of current UMaine setter Cheryl Elliott.