8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 15, 2007
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas loss to K-State drops team to 5-13 in Big 12
BY RUSTIN DODD
rdodd@kansan.com
Kansas sent Kansas State an early message on Wednesday night, and the No. 12 team in the country responded. With Kansas holding a one game to none lead, and leading 26-25 in game two, K-State was four points away from trailing Kansas 2-0 on its home floor. But K-State rallied to take the next five points, won game two 30-26, and parlayed that momentum into a 3-1 (21-30, 30-26, 30-14, 30-26) victory.
"Obviously a 2-0 game at the break would have been a lot better than a 1-1," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "But for two hours we
really competed. We didn't always execute at the best time, but we competed hard and had some really good efforts out of some players."
Bechard was probably thinking of junior middle blocker Savannah Noyes, who led Kansas with 14 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Noyes did most of her damage in Kansas game one victory.
But the Wildcats stormed to a 7-1 lead in game two and tied the match at 1-1 with a 30-26 victory. K-State performed better in game three, dominating Kansas 30-14 to take a 2-1 lead.
K-State continued its torrid pace in game four as the Wildcats built a 6-2 lead.
A kill from freshman outside hitter Jenna Raiser cut the lead to 12-9, but K-State won the next two points and pushed the lead back to five points. A kill from senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart cut K-State's lead to 19-13, but K-State cruised from there, winning game four 30-26 and clinching the match 3-1.
"They lead the Big 12 in aces and they had 12 tonight," Bechard said. "We didn't seen that much short serve on tape. They would drive us back and then short serve us, and they really took us out our offensive rhythm. Even after game four we were convinced we could it to a game five, but they just made a few
more plays in the end then we did."
Kansas dropped to 12-16 and 5-13 in the Big 12 Conference, while K-Sate improved to 21-7 and 13-5 in the Big 12.
Freshmen outside hitters Karina Garlington and Jenna Kaiser also put up good offensive numbers for Kansas. Garlington had 11 kills and Kaiser had 12 in the loss.
The loss was the third in a row for Kansas against K-State, and the second this season. Kansas fell 3-0 to K-State at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center on Sept. 12. The Jayhawks dropped to 34-55 all-time against the Wildcats.
— Edited by Meghan Murphy
STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS
The state of Kansas was well-represented in the volleyball version of the Sunflower Showdown. A combined 14 players - seven from each school - hailed from the state of Kansas.
UP NEXT: SENIOR DAY
Kansas returns home for its last home match of the season against Iowa State at 11 a.m. at the Horeisi Family Athletics Center. Kansas will honor its
THE HEAT IS ON
An alternative form of yoga in Lawrence puts pressure not only on the body, but on the thermostat. by Jared Duncan
Sitting on my towl and mat, I face myself in the mirror as I stretch my arms and legs forward. My face is flushed, my breathing is heavy, and a drop of sweat falls to the floor. The session hasn't even started yet.
It's my first time attending a Bikram Yoga class and my body has not quite adjusted to the atmosphere. Bikram is like other forms of yoga in that it involves stretching and meditation, but the catch is that it's done in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. It may seem intriguing or even downright strange, but owner and instructor Elizabeth
*Com
*Free
*$300
*Invisal
Jayplay writer Jared Duncan, white t-shirt, does his best to maintain balance in the Bikram eagle pose.
Marshall_thinks_Kansans_can_take_the temperature.
"A lot of people are afraid of the heat, she says. "But I like to remind them that summers here are at least 105 degrees with a 90 degree humidity."
Bikram Yoga was started in 1963 by a man named Bikram Choudhury in Calcutta. Besides the heat, his form of yoga involves 26 different postures and two breathing exercises. He began opening practices around the world, including Los Angeles, where the world headquarters is now located. From there, Choudhury began teaching students the methods of Bikram Yoga and awarding degrees so they might spread the knowledge across America. This included Marshall, who in 2002 opened the first Bikram-certified studio in Kansas. And while Kansans may be accustomed to the heat, they might ask why it's necessary.
"Heat softens up tissues of the body to prevent injuries," Marshall says. "It also loosens up or melts all the fluids in the body to improve circulation."
Opening the door to the practice room is almost like opening an oven, only instead of being brushed in the face with heat, your entire body is immersed in it. But, a quarter of the way through my session, the heat is not nearly as oppressive as the stretches our leader, Brenda Kopmeyer-Kaspar, is asking us to perform. They say that anyone is a candidate for Bikram Yoga, but as a man who considers four bowls of Cocoa Puffs dinner and has never been able to reach his toes without bending his knees, I can't help but feel that maybe I've made a mistake. I can barely hold my balance for one pose, when Kopmeyer-Kaspar asks the group to take it to the next level. I figure I'll give it a try, but she can sense my struggle.
"Don't even try it, Jared," she says, proving why she's a great practice leader. We continue on with various poses, many requiring us to grab and hold our legs or arms. Because of the sweat, my grip slips several times. Giving a quick glance, I'm relieved to see that I not the only one who has to regain my balance and grasp. Koppery-Kaspar noticeies my wandering eyes and urges the group to look ahead in the mirror. Following her instructions, I become unsettled. My hair is a humid mess. My face has become a color wheel of white, red and purple. I feel dizzy, but push myself to try the next pose. Once again, Koppery-Kaspar can sense my desperation and save me at the last minute.
"If youre struggling, take a break," she says. "There are no Supermen in here."
Feeling faint, I take a break for many of the remaining sets. My head is spinning and most of my joints are aching. The group does the last set and Kopmeyer-
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Kaspar dims the lights and asks us to relax and imagine ourselves on a beach. She ends the 90-minute session with "Namaste," which is Sanskrit for "the goodness in me honors the goodness in you."
Once I step out into the cool night air, the pain and stress I put my body through for the last hour and a half seems to disappear. I feel almost rejuvenated and maybe even ready to go back. My mind goes back to the stories that the staff told me about people who have seemingly been "healed" by Bikram Yoga, like the woman whose osteoporosis disappeared after two years of practicing, or the student who had been on Prozac for years and was able to quit after consistent practice. Patty Quinlan, supervisor of nursing at Watkins Memorial Health Center, agrees that yoga does indeed improve health.
"What we're used to in western exercise is working on six sets of muscles," she says. "We can look good, and we can feel good, but we might be missing parts of our body. The stretches can give a release in different areas."
As for quitting the Prozac, Quinlan says that the yoga stretches can increase space for the lungs to breathe and the heart to pump, getting people oxygenated and thereby increasing attitude and mood.
I see another member of the group, Amy Brandy, outside who asks me if my first session was fun. My face falls and she quickly corrects her question:"Well, a sick sort of fun, right?" Brandt says that she's only been practicing for one month, but already had lost weight, had more energy and felt less anxiety.
Marshall agrees that it may be a little tough at first, but once people start feeling the effects of Bikram Yoga, they will get addicted.
"Everybody gets over the heat and the strain," she says. "We can't wait to get in that room."
Yoga session
An empty stomach — Eat light about two hours before the session.
Punctuality — The doors are locked as soon as sessions begins, so be on time.
Getting Heated: What you need to start your Bikram Vana session
Light and fitted clothing — Shorts, sports bra, or swimwear is optimal.
A towel, yoga mat and bottle of water — All are available for a small fee at the studio.
Participants in Bikram Yoga classes are encouraged to wear lightweight clothing and to stay hydrated.
ORTHODONTICS Dr. Brent C. Wood
856-BITE (2483)
1425 Wakarusa Suite C
www.oreadortho.com
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