Section: 8A The University Daily Kansan Sports So you're saying there's a chance The marriage plans of NHL star Pavel Bure and tennis beauty Anna Kournikova may be off, a Russian newspaper reported yesterday. SEE PAGE 6A Inside: The first round of the Masters tees off today. See the scoreboard for times and pairings. Inside: Three former Iowa State football players were arrested on drug charges yesterday. SEE PAGE 7A THURSDAY APRIL 6 2000 Gold team jells at tourney By Michael Terry sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter Lately, for Kansas senior golfer Sue Tessary, life has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. It was just two weeks ago that she severely sprained her ankle and had to be carted off of the course by paramedics in Myrtle Beach. S.C. At the time, no one knew how serious her injury was. But if Tuesday's results at the Utah-Dixie Classic in St. George, Utah, are any indication, she's going to be just fine. In fact, her fifth place individual finish marked her second best of the spring. Tessary fired a three-round total of 220 to help the Jayhawks — who were facing six of the Top 50 teams in the country — to one of their best finishes of the season. The 'Hawks finished in fifth place, 36 stokes behind defending champion Oklahoma State. Tessary, as it turned out, didn't spend much time thinking about her injury. "Once I got on the course and loosened up, my ankle never really entered my mind," she said. "It really didn't hurt until after each of the rounds, but I think overall it held up good considering the hilly conditions." Kansas coach Nicole Hollingsworth also said she was pleased with Tessary's performance. "Sue seemed to recover great from her injury, and it just seemed like everything finally clicked for her," she said. "She did a great job out there, and helped lead us back on the last day of the WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS tournament to move ahead six teams. Every one is playing well right now, and the next couple of weeks should be exciting." The 304 'Hawks shot in the second round was the lowest the team has shot all season. Since last year, the team has been able to drop about 10 strokes off its average, which is remarkable, Hollingsworth said "We've been able to steadily improve over the spring season," Hollingsworth said. "It's nice to be in contention at each tournament, and hopefully, we will continue this trend at our upcoming tournaments." Junior Sarah Mahoney said she also was happy about the team's recent performance and what the future holds. Mahoney shot a 235 for the tournament. She said she thought the team finally jelled together was playing to its potential. "With three teams from the Big 12 there, it was a good gauge to see where we stand with the Big 12 tournament just around the corner." Mahoney said. "We've already competed so much this spring. I think we'll continue to play well and finish out the season strong." Kansas Individual Places No. 5: Sue Tessary, 74-71-75-220 No. 30: Ashley Bishop, 77-76-79-232 No. 45: Sarah Mahoney, 78-79-78-235 No. 52: Carrie Padden, 80-78-78-236 No. 107: Andi Schutz, 78-92-92-256 Kansas Individual Places After suffering a devasating injury last season, Kansas' star forward has recovered and is ready to show fans why they call her... HILLA 'THE THRILLA' RANTALA Team's new formation to showcase star talent Kansas forward Hila Rantala has her ankle taped during practice. After an injury last season, Rantala is focused on making her senior season a successful one. Kansas stuff photo By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter After having her debut season with the Kansas soccer team cut drastically short last fall because of an injury, Hilla Rantala has returned with a vengeance. The junior from Vantaa, Finland, transferred to Kansas from the University of South Alabama with coach Mark Francis. She brought an impressive resume with her, including 81 career points in two years at South Alabama and recognition as an All-American candidate. Expectations were high, but they came crashing down when she fractured her shin bone and suffered a high ankle strain just one minute into her first game as a Jayhawk. "Everybody put a lot of pressure on me to score goals, and then I got hurt," Rantala said. "It really hurt because I just felt like I was the biggest disappointment of all time." "When I came back I was out of shape and I was scared to play because it hurt a lot," Rantala said. "That was my worst year ever." Francis sympathized with her. After sitting out six games, she returned to the field, but the ankle never fully healed. She led the team in scoring for the season with 15 points (five goals worth two points each for statistical purposes and five assists worth one point) but still wasn't happy with the way her season went. "It was very frustrating for her because she was never at 100 percent," Francis said. "The injury she had was one where she had to rest for about six weeks, and she wasn't able to do that." Not everyone, however, said that Rantala's season was a disappointment. The impact she made upon her return marked an instant increase in offensive production. Andrew Dordeck, announcer for home soccer games and promotions intern, took notice and coined the nickname "The Thrilla." "She's so electric with the ball." Dordeck said. "Every time the ball was at her feet she had one goal in mind — to move the ball up the field." "It's a lot easier to combine up front because you have a lot more options to pass the ball to," Rantala said. That said, the team won six of its first seven games with Rantala back in the lineup before struggling down the stretch. After an off season of healing and working out with her club team in Finland, Rantala returned to Kansas revamped to prepare for her senior season. The team is playing with a new 4-3-3 formation that utilizes three forwards. Rantala has been playing forward, along with sophomore Natalie Hoogveld and junior Meghann Haven, and she's found immense success with the formation. In six spring games Rantala has notched 17 points, 15 of them last weekend with a 5-goal, 5-assist performance at last weekend's three-game Illinois tournament. She said she enjoyed the new formation and said it fit her style of play. RANTALA'S CAREER STATS: At the University of South Alabama Year Games Goals Assists Points 1997 21 15 14 44 1998 18 12 13 37 At Kansas 1999 14 5 5 15 Spring 2000 (Does not count toward career stats) 6 5 7 17 With a healthy Rantala, the Jayhawks are 3-0-3 this spring and have outscored opponents 21-7. Francis said he was happy to have a healthy Rantala back and scoring again. "This spring she's done very well," Francis said. "She's played more like I know Hilla can play. The injury's not bothering her any more and she's able to [play well] again." Bullpen holds up as Royals pluck Blue Jays for victory TORONTO — The Royals' bullpen, which spoiled many leads last season, came through last night with its first save of the season. The Associated Press Ricky Bottallo earned his first save, and Joe Randa homered twice, leading the Kansas City Royals to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3. Last season, the Royals were the first major league team ever to have more blown saves (30) than saves (29). Bottalico was signed during the off season to remedy the problem. "We try not to think about last year," Randa said. "I would have hoped it was a 1-2-3 inning because that would have helped with the stress level, but we got the 'W' and that's the most important thing." Bottallico gave up a leadoff homer to Tony Batista. Jose Cruz Jr. then walked with one out, stole second But Alex Gonzalez grounded to third, and Cruz got tagged out in a rundown as Gonzalez took second. Darrin Fletcher grounded to first, ending the game. Randa, who drove in three runs, homered in the second inning for Kansas City's first run, then made it 3-0 in the seventh with a homer off the facing of SkyDome's third deck in left field. He walked with the bases loaded in the eighth against Paul Quantrill, the reliever's third "When I gave up that first home run, I think those guys were out there saying, 'Uh oh, what's going to happen here? Is it going to be like last year?' " Bottalico said. "But things worked out and, hopefully, this will be a big change for these guys." and took third when catcher Brian Johnson's throw bounced into center field for an error. straight walk. Jose Rosado (1-0) allowed just two hits in six innings. He took a shutout into the seventh before a walk to Carlos Delgado followed by Batisita's RBI double off the glove of center fielder Carlos Beltran, Gonzalez's bloop single off Jose Santiago made it 3-2, but Fletcher had a pinch hit and grounded out, and Shannon Stewart filed out. "Absolutely awful, just awful on my part," Quantrill said. "After I walked the first guy, I needed to find my rhythm. I didn't do that, and that's what cost us the ball game." Rosado, who allowed 12 runs in 11 innings during spring training, allowed two runs and three hits in six-plus innings. Mike Sweeney's fourth-inning homer gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead. Notes: Chris Carpenter (0-1), chased from his last spring training start by a line drive off his right elbow, gave up three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Seven of the 20 Blue Jays hits have been home runs. Royals RHP Chad Durbin is scheduled to make his first big league start today. Attendance was 14,957, up from 13,514 Tuesday, a record-low at SkyDome, which opened in 1989. n All eight of Carpenter's pitches in the first inning were strikes. - Toronto's coaching staff will spend 20 minutes before each game with Dewayne Wise. Wise played in A-ball last season and was taken in December's major league draft. - Toronto manager Jim Fregosi plans on starting C. Alberto Castillo in 51 games this year. He wants Fletcher, who hit .291 with 18 homers and 80 RBI last season, to start 110. Nebraska hires new basketball coach The Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska ended a three-week search for a new basketball coach yesterday by hiring Butler's Barry Collier, Bill Byrne, Nebraska athletics director, made the announcement during an afternoon news conference inside a sky box at Memorial Stadium, confirming the worst-kept secret in Lincoln the last few days. "This was easy. This was a layup." Collier said regarding his decision to accept the Cornhuskers job. Collier, who took the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament three of the last four years, has been considered the front-runner for the Cornhuskers post ever since he expressed interest in the job last week. He met with Bryne during the weekend at the Final Four in Indianapolis, then toured the Nebraska campus and the city of Lincoln on Monday and Tuesday. Collier: Hired as Nebraska's new coach Collier's visit was common knowledge although Byrne would not comment about anything regarding his search for a successor to Danny Nee, who was fired March 13 after 14 seasons at Nebraska. Collier met with the Nebraska team for about one hour immediately prior to the announcement. "This is a particularly good fit," Collier said. "We really have to establish from day one that we are going to make our players better." Nebraska's interest in Collier increased Friday when Tulsa's Bill Self, who had met with Byrne, chose to stay with the Golden Hurricane rather than take the Nebraska job. Self said the wealthy Husker program has resources, but little in the wav of basketball history. After Self announced his deci. Nebraska finished last season 11-19, tying the Huskers' worst loss total ever. Nebraska has made it to the NCAA tournament six times in school history, but has never gotten past the first round. sion, Byrne did not take long to go after Collier, who had worked with Byrne at Oregon in the 1980s. Collier was an assistant coach with the Ducks from 1983 to 1986 while Byrne at the time was an associate athletics director. Byrne went on to take control of Oregon's athletics department. Collier coached at Collier coached at Butler. an Indianapolis school with an enrollment of 3,800, for 11 seasons, compiling a 196-132 record. The Bulldogs won at least 20 games in each of the last four seasons, something no other Butler coach has ever accomplished. Collier's final Butler team came just a few seconds short of advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament three weeks ago. A last-second layup in overtime gave Florida a 69-68 victory against Butler in the opening round. The Gators went on to the title game, losing to Michigan State 89-76 on Monday night. Collier, who also was an assistant at Idaho and Stanford, returned to Butler, his alma mater, in 1989. The school had three winning seasons in the 15 years before Collier's return. They had nine in Collier's 11 seasons as coach. Chiefs will have two Monday night games The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs open the National Football League season at home against Indianapolis on Sept. 3 and will play two Monday night games — meeting the Seattle Seahawks in Kansas City Oct. 2 and the New England Patriots on the road Dec. 4. "I'm very pleased for the Kansas City Chiefs organization that the Chiefs will return to Monday Night Football with two primetime appearances in 2000," said president Carl Peterson. "I believe there is no team in the NFL that puts on a better Monday night show than the Chiefs and our fans here in Kansas City." After finishing 7-9 in 1998, the Chiefs were not selected for a Monday night game last season. In their last Monday night game, a 30-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at home on Nov. 16, 1998, the Chiefs were embarrassed by several personal foul penalties called against Wayne Simmons and the late Derrick Thomas. The schedule, announced Tuesday, also included a meeting with the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in Kansas City Oct. 22, and a game with the AFC champion Tennessee Titans in Nashville Sept. 10. game with the AFC champion Tennessee Titans in Nashville Sept. 10. After opening against Indianapolis and Tennessee, the Chiefs will be at home on Sept. 17 for a game with the San Diego Chargers. Other home games will be against the Oakland Raiders Oct. 15, the Buffalo Bills Nov. 19, the Carolina Panthers Dec. 10 and the Denver Broncos Dec. 17. Road appearances, in addition to Tennessee and New England, include games at Denver Sept. 24, Seattle Oct. 29, Oakland Nov. 5, San Francisco Nov. 12, San Diego Nov. 25 and Atlanta Dec. 24. In the exhibition season, the Chiefs play the Titans on the road Aug. 5, San Francisco and Jacksonville at home on Aug. 13 and Aug. 19, respectively, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road Aug. 19. 2000 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SCHEDULE PRESEASON Saturday, Aug. 5 at Tennessee Titans 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6:30 p.m. REGULAR SEASON Sunday, Sept. 3 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, noon Sunday, Sept. 10 at Tennessee Titans, noon Sunday, Sept. 17 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, noon Sunday, Sept. 24 at Denver Broncos, 3:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 Open date. Sunday, Oct. 15 OAKLAND RAIDERS, noon. Sunday, Oct. 22 ST. LOUIS RAMS, noon. Sunday, Oct. 29 at Seattle Seahawks, 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at Oakland Raiders, 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 at San Francisco 49ers, 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 BUFFALO BILLS, 12 noon. Sunday, Nov. 26 at San Diego Chargers, 3:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 at New England Patriots, 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 CAROLINA PANTHERS, noon. Sunday, Dec. 17 DENVER BRONCOS, noon. Sunday, Dec. 24 - At Atlanta Falcons, noon.