THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLLEYBALL
PAGE 12A
Surprise! Tournament taps Kansas
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Even though it lost the last three games of the season; even though it lost eight games in a row down the stretch; even though it finished with barely a winning record, the Kansas volleyball team is bound for Los Angeles and a berth in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
The Jayhawks, who finished the regular season 15-14 overall and 7-13 in the Big 12 Conference, will face the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles on Friday at 10 p.m. CST.
For the Jayhawks, who envisioned a different season when it began in August, their selection was a welcome surprise.
"I guess it shows you that if you beat your head against the
wall all year in a tough conference it pays off," Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. "We were a little surprised, because we thought it was doubtful."
The team gathered with its coaches, trainer and managers at assistant coach Jill Jones Stucky's house to watch as队 selections were announced.
The Jayhawks finished eighth in the Big 12 standings. Seven teams from the Big 12 made it into the tournament, the most of any conference. Iowa State was unexpectedly left out despite defeating Kansas twice and finishing ahead of Kansas in the standings.
Kansas has the second worst record of any team in the tournament. Only Loyola, at 13-17, was worse. Loyola, in Chicago, was an automatic bid out of the
Horizon League.
Because the Jayhawks were one of the last teams to get in, they will face the highly ranked Bruins, who are the No.16 national seed after finishing the season 18-10, including a 10-8 record in the Pac 10 Conference.
Sophomore opposite hitter Emily Brown, who stepped into the setter role against Missouri and Iowa State last week, said she wasn't surprised that her team made the tournament despite its lackluster record.
"I kind of had a feeling we would make it," Brown said. "It was a very good feeling to see us up there on the first bracket, because last year we didn't get in until the last one."
With the way things went last week, Sunday's news was a significant change of pace.
Kansas lost to Missouri and Iowa State, appearing to end all hopes of advancing to the postseason.
After the match against Missouri, Bechard said there still might be a chance for Kansas to sneak into the tournament.
"If we win Saturday, we move into a tie for seventh and eliminate Iowa State," Bechard said. "As crazy as it sounds, we still might have a chance to get in."
Kansas didn't win Saturday, due in large part to a determined Iowa State team with its sights set on the tournament as well.
But the tournament selection committee had a different idea, electing to give Kansas the opportunity to play for a national title.
Edited by Jonathan Kealing
Kansas seniors, Josi Lima, middle blocker, left, and Andi Rozum,
setter, tip the ball over the net during the first of four games against
Missouri on Wednesday, senior night, in the Horejsi Family Athletic
Center.
Rachel Seymour/KANSAN
It's good: Postseason in sight
FOOTBALL: 24-21 (OT)
Saturday's victory especially rewarding for 20 senior players
BY MIRANDA LENNING
mlenning@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVER
Kevin Kane, Nick Reid and Banks Floodman each left Saturday's game with a new sombreo.
The hat was a gift from Kane's grandmother, Virginia Kane, who calls the trio of starting senior linebackers the "three amigos."
The trio was in such good spirits after the Jayhawks bowl-qualifying, 24-21 victory against Iowa State on Saturday, all three wore the somberos during their postgame interviews.
Kane popped up on the 10 p.m. news sporting his sombrero and a big smile.
"This was such a huge win for us." Kane said. "To be 5-5 going into the game and playing against a pretty good Iowa State team who was fighting for the Big 12 North title, it's a big deal for us."
The triumph was particularly important for the 20 Kansas seniors who were recognized before the game during the Senior Day festivities. Instead of ending their careers with a loss at Memorial Stadium, the seniors extended their season by qualifying for a bowl game.
"I would have to say that this is the best win that we have had since I have been here," Floodman said.
The victory didn't come
Seeing some of the guys on the sideline and knowing that it could be the last game you play with them is a tough
Banks Floodman
Senior linebacker
easily for the Jay- hawks. After they tied the game at 14 with less than 12 minutes left in the game, the Cyclones marched down the field and scored to take a 21-14 lead.
With the Jayhawks' bowl hopes near ruins, Kane and Floodman both said they saw their Kansas careers
flash before their eves.
"Seeing some of the guys on the sideline and knowing that it could be the last game you play with them is a tough pill to swallow," Floodman said.
Kansas failed to score on its next possession, but the Jayhawk defense came up with a key stop to take the ball back with just less than two minutes remaining.
Three plays later, back-up quarterback Brian Luke threaded a pass for the game-tying touchdown. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said the seniors' play in the final possessions of the game was instrumental in the Jayhawks' comeback.
"I think in the fourth quarter, those kids reached back for a little something extra," he said.
Floodman echoed the thoughts of his coach and challenged anyone who would feel differently.
Ed Zurga/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEE SENIORS ON PAGE 7A
Kansas ophormite kicker Scott Welb celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime to defeat Iowa State 24-21 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kansas is bowl-limited for the second time in three years.
Kicker boots Kansas into bowl game
BY RVAN COLATANN
recolaianni@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
As Scott Webb set up his potential game-win- wing field, Kevin Kane couldn't watch.
Kane, a senior linebacker, wanted to wait for the crowd to tell him if Webb's 34-yard field goal attempt was good.
Kane heard the crowd and knew what that meant, a victory and bowl game for the Kansas Jayhawks.
"As soon as I heard the crowd scream I
went running on the field and it was just a great feeling." Kane said.
Kane joined his teammates mobbing Webb, sonhomore kicker, near midfield after he kicked the winner in overtime.
"That is the best feeling in the world right there," Webb said. "It's unbelievable. Having everyone coming out of the stands and having your teammates celebrating with you. That's one of the best feelings and that is why people play sports, to have feelings like that."
SEE BOWL ON PAGE 7A
QB finds redemption seniors pass baton to younger players
MICHAEL PHILLIPS
MPHILLIPS@KANSAN.COM
The video montage was set to "I Believe I Can Fly," but the soundtrack of Saturday's game would more accurately have included "The Circle of Life."
The overtime victory was a fitting finish for a group of seniors who have not only brought good football back to Kansas but reintroduced fun football as well.
Freshman receiver Dexton Fields officially accepted the baton for the freshman class when he caught a touchdown pass that will be remembered as his first and senior quarterback Brian Luke's last in Memorial Stadium.
Luke, the quarterback who took heat for failing to win against a beatable Kansas State team, earned his redemption, too. Even the harshest critics would have trouble finding fault with his 9-of-12 performance Saturday against an Iowa State team that at times looked unbeatable.
"I think in his own way, he got a little redemption," Mark Mangino said, praising the senior's work ethic even after being benched.
Iowa State's game plan involved little risk a turnover is a rare occurrence in coach Dan McCarney's system, with little more than one per game this season. The Jayhawks went the other way, winning the game with big plays and lots of emotion.
"Just to go out like this, at home on senior day, is pretty cool," senior linebacker Nick Reid said.
The last time Amadi was noticed in a game was after being burned for a touchdown pass in Kansas' loss to Oklahoma. Now he will be remembered for a big play in a bigger game.
Mangino and the Athletics Department got a little redemption of their own, too. Luke's fourth-down run from the goal line was initially ruled short, but was overturned on a replay.
It wasn't just the defense making big plays, either. The once forgotten seniors on offense and special teams were equally responsible for making the team bowl-eligible.
With Iowa State up 14-3 early, senior cornerback Ronnie Amadi had a key punt block that kept the score manageable for the offense.
That replay was assisted by the camera angles available from the national television crew covering the game, which was initially scheduled to be played a week earlier, untelevised.
Pushing the game back did not hurt attendance either, as more than 42,000 fans packed Memorial Stadium and didn't leave until after the winning kick.
As the seniors reach the end of their college careers, they turn the program over to Mangino's younger players with the expectation of similar success in the years ahead.
SEE PHILLIPS ON PAGE 6A
4
X
---