THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014
SPOTLIGHT
Non-revenue teams excel throughout year
The Kansas volleyball team breaks down before their NCAA Tournament game a Wichita State in Allen Fieldhouse on December 6, 2013. Kansas went on to defe and Creighton before falling to Washington in the tournament.
SAM DAVIS sports@kansan.com
FI
While football and men's basketball harbor most of the fan and media attention throughout any given year, another group comprised of hundreds of Jayhawk athletes are tirelessly training, practicing and competing to continue the winning tradition that the University cherishes.
The University's streak of athletic success within the non-revenue sphere started roughly a year ago when the women's track and field team brought its first national title to Lawrence, but the stretch didn't stop there.
Volleyball
In the fall following the Jayhawks' title-winning summer, the volleyball team, led by senior All-American Caroline Jarmoc, finished second in the Big 12 behind an elite Texas team that won the national title in 2012. The Jayhawks were selected as a three-seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced all the way to the tournament's Sweet Sixteen. Head coach Ray Bechard finished the season with his second straight Big 12 Coach of the Year Award.
Women's golf
The spring sports season continues to bring success for Kansas Athletics. The women's golf team finished in the top ten in every tournament it completed, winning two of them in the process. Both first place finishes—the Sunflower Invitational in Manhattan and the Palmetto Intercollegiate in South Carolina-came in the first half of the long season.
The exceptional year also included ten top-five finishes. In the postseason, the Jayhawks tied for fourth in the conference championship and tied for fifth at the NCAA Regionals. The team's exceptional performance earned them a trip to Tulsa, where
they competed in their first NCAA championship in 24 years. The team finished its season ranked 24th in the country.
Moving forward
Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said Kansas Athletics continues to develop as a whole with the increasing success of non-revenue sports teams.
"Success breeds success, and I think anytime you have success, no matter what sport it is, it makes it easier to to make that succcess a continual success," Marchiony said. "We hope that the winning culture grows and continues to grow, permeating itself into all of our sports."
The facilities at the University also continue to grow with new endeavors like Rock Chalk Park, helping Kansas climb the rungs toward the top of the collegiate sports ladder.
"We want to try to give the student athletes in those sports a firstclass place to compete, and as we go along we will continue to evaluate facilities and do the best we can in all sports," Marchiony said.
Kansas continues to secure and sign
young, talented athletes to a teams. Seven freshmen will volleyball team next year an pected to effect the Jayhawk immediately. One incoming setter Ainise Havili, was rec selected to the U.S. Women National Training Team.
The women's basketball te recently signed two players O'Neal and Lorraine Enabu will be key in getting the ter to the NCAA Tournament.
"We have terrific coaches about their student athletes everything they can to make successful on and off the fie Marchiony said. "We have a rific support system and it's atmosphere, and that comb makes KU a great place to
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