05
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
KELLIS ROBINETT
KROBINETT@KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
Another missed chance
This was the week for the Kansas volleyball team to make a statement.
With No. 20 Kansas State and No. 1 Nebraska coming to town, Kansas could have shown the rest of the nation that it was a team to be reckoned with.
But after losing their 21st straight match to the Wildcats, in three games, it doesn't look like the Jayhawks will be turning any heads.
Sure, Kansas could end up stunning Nebraska at home on Saturday, but it's unlikely. The Jayhawks haven't defeated the Cornhuskers in their last 74 tries. Kansas owns only one victory in the series, and that came in 1975.
Volleyball coach Ray Bechard said this was his team's toughest stretch of the year, especially because No. 7 Missouri is up after Nebraska.
SEE CHANCE ON PAGE 5B
VOLLEYBALL
'Cats serve 21st loss
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
mkwalson STAFF WRITER
The loss of Jana Correa to injury had a huge impact on the Kansas 3-0 loss to No.20 Kansas State Wednesday at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
The junior outside hitter went down in the first game of the match with a left knee injury. Although coaches would not confirm, senior middle blocker Josi Lima said Correa tore her ACL and would likely miss the remainder of the season. The injury affected the team's ability to match up with the Wildcats on the court.
"It's very difficult to replace a kid like Correa," Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said. "I'm not taking anything away from Kansas State, but that was a difficult time for us to try to persevere."
At the time of the injury, the Jayhawks were trying to weather the Wildcats' storm. On the play she went down on, Correa put an end to a 6-0 Kansas State run with a kill. She landed awkwardly and immediately collapsed to the ground. She was helped to the locker room by trainers and coaches.
Junior opposite hitter Megan
Hill was inserted into the Jayhawks' lineup to replace Correa. She had seen limited action this season before the match. Bechard said he was happy with the way she played, especially when put in such a tough spot.
"I tell Megan every day in practice that you never know when you're going to be called upon." Bechard said. "She gave an excellent effort tonight, and I'm sure she'll be ready for Saturday."
Despite the injury, the Jayhawks momentarily gained emotion. They closed the gap to 25-23, but the Wildcats did not let them get any closer before winning 30-25.
The Jayhawks hung in and held the lead in game two. They lost the advantage for good when the Wildcats reeled off four straight points to take a 15-13 lead midway through the frame. Kansas State went on to win 70-24.
Game three slipped away from the Jayhawks in the middle stages again. The game was tied at nine before the Wildcats ran away with it. Just as they did all night, Kansas State stepped up when it needed to. It quelled a late KU rally and won 30-23 to close out the match.
Kansas State improved to 13-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12
Conference. Kansas dropped to 12-4 and 4-3 in conference play.
The Wildcats have now won 21 straight matches against the Jayhawks. The streak began on Oct. 14, 1995.
The Wildcats out-blocked the Jayhawks 17-7 on the evening, which was key to their victory. Kansas State outside hitter Agata Rezende was a force at the net all night, recording 14 kills to lead all plaques.
Lima and senior outside hitter Paula Caaten led the Jayhawks with nine kills a piece. Caten added 11 digs.
Correa was among the team leaders in several categories. Her 3.60 kills per game were second only to Lima, and she was fourth with a .255 attack percentage.
"I hurt with her," Lima said. "I'm shocked right now. It's a huge loss, but I think Megan is a great player and she will step up for us."
Notes: Senior setter Andi Rozum and Lima were honored before the match. Rozum broke the school record for career assists against Colorado last weekend. Lima became Kansas' all-time leader in kills last week at Texas.
- Edited by Anne Burgard
Senior Andi Rozum sets a ball to a teammate in the match against Kansas State Wednesday night. Last week Rozum became the all time assist leader for the Javhawks.
Josh Kirk/KANSAN
Kansan file photo
Junior cornerback Charles Gordon and senior quarterback Brian Luke break the huddle during the Louisiana Tech game. Luke was 13-27 passing with two interceptions and one touchdown against Texas Tech last weekend.
FOOTBALL
Kansas hopes to mend offensive woes
BY RYAN COLIAIANNI rcolaianni@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Four quarterbacks continue to battle for the starting job against Kansas State Saturday.
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said he would likely make a decision either tonight or early Friday morning.
Senior Brian Luke has seen the most playing time this season and started the previous three games. He is 60-108 for 678 passing yards this season. He has thrown five touchdowns but also threw five interceptions.
The other three players competing will be junior Adam Barmann, who started the first game of the season, and freshmen Marcus Herford and Kerry Meier.
"I really feel good about those kids," Mangino said. "They have really done a nice job."
Senior quarterback Jason Swanson, who threw the go-ahead touchdown pass against Kansas State last season, is not competing for the job because of injuries, Mangino said.
Mangino said the quarterback play, in previous weeks, has not been strong leading up to games. He said the quarterback consistency in practice needed to translate to consistency on Saturday.
"I think the way the season has gone at that position, it has had some great highs, it has had some real dips in the road," Mangino said. "I think they have come to the realization that the time has come that they have to be the chauffeur of this offense and get it rolling on a consistent basis."
Mangino used three quarterbacks in Saturday's loss to Texas Tech. No quarterback found a groove for the Jayhawks. Luke was unable to move the offense because he threw two interceptions in the game.
The KU offensive line, however appeared unaffected by the quarterback shuffle from last week. Sophomore offensive lineman Cesar Rodriguez said the line would have to focus on the game plan regardless
of which quarterback plaved.
"Whatever quarterback lines up behind us, we don't really care," Rodriguez said. "He just has to do his job and we have to do our job."
For the second straight week, Mangino had music blaring during practice to prepare for the difficult environment the offense will deal with on the road.
Stopping quick starts
In three of the first four games, the Jayhawks have allowed a lengthy drive on the first possession of the game. Last week, Texas Tech pushed the ball 80 yards down the field to take a 7-0 lead within 3 minutes and 48 seconds in the first quarter.
Senior safety Rodney Fowler said he was unsure why the team has allowed big drives in the first quarter.
"I don't know if it is nerves, if it is adrenaline or something like that," Fowler said. "We need to get that stopped."
Fowler said it was important to
stop the opposition on its first drive to set the defensive tone early.
After giving up an opening score last week, the defense settled down and allowed just 16 points the rest of the contest.
Not laughing
Kansas State set up to punt last week against Oklahoma deep in its own territory but faced a big problem. No punter was behind center when the ball was snapped. Oklahoma recovered the football for a touchdown and grabbed a 9-0 lead.
Mangino admitted he chuckled when he saw the play, but then he suddenly stopped because he said this situation could easily occur to his lahwacks.
The Jayhawk special teams have been nearly flawless this year, but Mangino talked to special team's coordinator, Clint Bowen, to make sure the Jayhawks stay focused so the Kansas State mistake does not happen to them.
Edited by Nate Karlin
SWIMMING
Swimmer strives to go out with a splash
BY KELLY REYNOLDS
kreynolds@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
At 5 in the morning most college students are fast asleep with no intention of waking up for at least another hour or two. But at approximately that time every morning Gina Gnatzig's alarm clock wakes her for morning swim practice.
Swimming has played such a role in the last 16 years of her life that 5.45 a.m. practices no longer faze her.
The swimming and diving co-captain has been swimming since she was five years old.
In fact, she looks forward to laughing and joking with her teammates. Swimming thousands of yards per practice doesn't bother her because she loves the sport so much.
team, so she participated in volleyball and track, earning all-conference for volleyball in both 2000 and 2001.
Morning and afternoon swimming practices always took priority over volleyball and track, and her coaches knew that swimming was her passion.
Gnatzig's high school in Wisconsin didn't have a swim
She also swam for the J-Hawks USS team, a yearround competitive swim team.
Gnatzig still holds records in all 14 events. Of those 14, eight are the fastest times in the event. Gnatzig was also the Junior National Champion in the 200 backstroke in 1999.
Gnatzig's phenomenal high school swimming career is evident on the J-Hawks' record board.
Despite her swimming success during high school, there was a time when Gnatzig considered quitting the sport because of the time commitment
The swimming and diving co-captain has been swimming since she was five years old. Swimming has played such a role in the last 16 years of her life that 5:45 a.m. practices no longer faze her.
it required.
"In high school all my friends were sleeping in before school," Gnatzig said, "and after school everyone would get to go home right after."
Gnatzig decided to continue swimming because she knew she wanted to swim in college.
The University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin also offered her swimming scholarships, but when Gnatzig visited Kansas, she knew she wanted to be a Jayhawk.
The transition from high school swimming to college swimming was difficult, Gnatzig said, but she had met Coach Clark Campbell at a swimming camp in Minnesota long before he was head coach at Kansas.
"The close team and tradition caught my attention," Gnatzig said. "Plus, eastern Kansas reminds me of Wisconsin."
Both Campbell and Gnatzig started their careers as Jayhawks in the 2002-2003 season, and Gnatzig said that consistency in coaching has improved her swimming.
"Gina has come a long way since her freshman year," Campbell said.
"Freshman year, I wasn't very vocal, I was reserved," Gnatzig said. "I've also learned to give 100 percent every day, which allows better training and consistency."
SEE SPLASH ON PAGE 5B
Kim Andrews/KANSAN
Gina Gnetzig, senior co-captain of KU's women's swim team, has been swimming as long as she can remember. Backstroke and freestyle are Gnetzig's forties in the water.
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