THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
6B SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1,2007
CLUB SPORTS
Team focuses on competition, fun in water
BY EMILY MUSKIN emuskin@kansan.com
The KU sailing club is out to have fun, compete and turn around some old stereotypes.
"When most people think of sailing, they imagine wine, crackers and cheese on a big, slow boat," Scott Dalin, Wichita senior, said. Dalin has spent the past four years on the KU sailing club doing just the opposite. He described racing as physically and mentally fast paced.
Eight racers on the 25-member coed KU sailing club compete, while the remainder of the them sail recreationally. That does not stop the racing members from being highly competitive around the nation. Last year, the team placed fourth in districts and were just several points away from qualifying for the national tournament.
This spring, the team travels to Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin and Chicago. Danielle Giampoli, Chicago junior, said the yearly trip to her hometown was always especially memorable. She said that her favorite sailing memory was when the team raced in Chicago last Thanksgiving because her family and friends were able to see her race.
KU sailing club
At every regatta, there are various types of competitions. The races vary by size of boat and how many people are in the boat at one time. Dalin competes in several events, including the single-handed Olympic Laser class. This competition has been a part of the summer Olympics since 1996 and only requires one person in the boat at a time. Dalin said that he drew inspiration from this type of racing because the boats were built identical to one another, leaving the skill of the sailor as the only variable that differed from boat to boat. The competition is often challenging for
Alli Jones, Bloomington,
Minn., junior
Andy Spalding, St. Louis, Mo.
junior
Danielle Giampoll, Chicago junior
Jill Dryden, Houston junior
Evan Charles, Wichita senior
Scott Dalin,Wichita senior
Andrew Conyers, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore
KU because the team primarily faces southern schools that sail a longer season. But the team still manages to find a way into the top spots of its district each year.
Aside from the regattas, KU sailing club is a unique sport that creates an enjoyable venue for people of all ages and experience levels. Dalin and Giampoli sailed for the larger part of their lives, while other members experienced their first sailing lesson on Clinton Lake with the team.
"I started racing when I was five and probably won't stop until I can't move anymore." Alli Jones, Bloomington, Minn., junior, said.
The team does not hold tryouts and welcomes anyone who is interested in competing in sailing or just having a good time and meeting new people. Though the sailors may not down a bottle of wine on the sailboat, the team always remembers to have fun while remaining focused on competition.
Edited by Meghan Murphy
VOLLEY8ALL
Kansas falls to 3-11 in Big 12
Despite offensive success, Jayhawks fall to Baylor causes sixth loss in a row
BY RUSTIN DODD
rdodd@kansan.com
Jayhawk players protect the net against a Baylor defense Wednesday night in Waco, Texas. Baylor defeated Kansas in one of its best offensive efforts in history, 3-1 (30-19, 20-30, 20-34, 20-32), dropping Kansas to 10-14 over 3-11 in the Big 12 Conference.
The disappointment continued for the Kansas volleyball team against Baylor Wednesday night. The losses are starting to pile up.
Laurisa Lopez/Baylor Lariat Staff
Baylor defeated Kansas 3-1 (30-19, 20-30, 30-24, 30-22) Wednesday night in Waco, Texas, dropping Kansas to 10-14 and 3-11 in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks have lost six in a row and nine of their past 10 games, and haven't since an Oct. 10 home match against Colorado.
"It just an inability to sustain a level for an hour and a half that you need to be successful," coach Ray Bechard said. "The key is to play better longer, and our players see that and it's frustrating."
Kansas played one of its better offensive games of the season. Freshman outside hitter Jenna Kaiser had 16 kills and a .538 hitting percentage, while senior right side/setter Emily Brown finished with her third consecutive triple double. Brown finished with 13 kills, 25 assists and 12 digs. Senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart added 12 kills and five blocks, while sophomore setter Katie Martinicich had 23 assists and 13 digs. Bechard said he was pleased with his team's .264 hitting percentage, one of the high-
Laurisa Lopez/Bavlor Lariat Staff
Freshman outside hitter Jena Kaiser goes up for a block against Baylor Wednesday night, Depends the Jayhawk defeat, kawaski had 16 and kills a 538 hitting percentage.
est of the season.
But despite Kansas' offensive success, the Jayhawks couldn't stop the Baylor onslaught. The Bears produced one of the best offensive efforts in school history. Baylor finished with 72 kills and a .374 hitting percentage, the third best fourgame hitting percentage in Baylor volleyball history.
"In games three and four we just did nothing to slow them down," Bechard said. "That's a sign of youth and lack of experience."
Middle blocker Ashley Breyfogle and outside hitter Ashlie Christenson led Baylor with 18 kills each during Baylor's fifth straight victory. Setter Taylor Barnes had eight kills, 56 assists and eight digs. Baylor improved to 14-10 and 6-7 in the big 12.
"This team is getting better every time they play." Baylor coach Jim
Barnes said in a postgame radio interview.
Kansas is struggling to stay afloat. That wasn't the case when these two teams met on Oct. 17. Kansas was 10-9 and 3-6 in the Big 12 before that game, while Baylor was 9-10 and 1-7 in the Big 12. Two weeks later, Kansas hasn't won another game and Baylor hasn't lost.
"They're more comfortable at home obviously," Bechard said. "They kept the pressure on us. Both teams came in knowing what the other was going to do, and they executed their plan better than we did."
Kansas returns home to play Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Horese Family Athletics Center.
Edited by Meghan Murphy