Monday, May 4, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Women's tennis hopes to swat foes at regionals
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's tennis team had one of its best seasons in recent years and is looking toward the NCAA regionals May 15-17 in Provo, Utah.
"It's been a great season so far," said coach Roland Thorngvist. "Up to this point it's all been leading
up to the NCAA championships. It's been a lot of hard work. Neither they nor myself see the season as being over."
The Jayhawks ended the season with an 18-5 record. Three of the team's losses came during its final four matches.
At the Big 12 Tournament,
Kansas lost 7-2 in the semifinals
"With all the injuries, with Kylie out, it takes its toll," Thornqvist said. "Against Colorado, it all caught up with us. We had the opportunities and couldn't take advantage of them. We were disappointed because all season we were looking to win the Big 12 Championships."
to No. 40 Colorado. The Jay- hawks were playing without their top singles player, Kylie Hunt, who had sprained her ankle in an earlier match.
The Jayhawks likely will be a top seed in their regional in Provo. If they win, the Jayhawks will qualify for the NCAA championships in South Bend, Ind.
"We feel good going into regional-
ism." Thornqvist said. "It's the first time in a long time we're all going to be healthy. It all seems to be falling in place."
The Jayhawks will not know what team they will play in
regionals until tomorrow when seedlings are set. They could face a rematch against Colorado, which is likely to be in their region.
This season, the Jayhawks put together a string of 11 wins, including a defeat of No. 11 William and Mary. Kansas cracked the top 20 for the first time since the 1996 spring season and ended the season ranked 15th in the nation.
The Jayhawks were led by seniors Hunt and Christie Sim. Hunt was recovering from an injured knee last season and returned this spring. In 1996, Hunt finished second in the nation.
Replacing the seniors next year will not be an easy task, Thornqvist said.
"You can't replace them in one year," Thorngvist said. "But the freshmen are playing well, and we're going to try and improve from this season."
In a team-scored meet, the Kansas men's and women's track teams split with Washington State and Boise State at the Washington State Triangular last weekend.
By Angela Johnson
Kanson sportswriter
Track teams split victories
Kansan sportswriter
In Pullman, Wash., the Kansas men defeated Boise State, 83-75, but lost to Washington State, 86-73. The Kansas women defeated Boise State 81-61, but lost to Washington State 120-33. Washington State also swept Boise State's men's and women's teams.
"The women had some key people left at home, so they weren't able to compete as well as they are capable of," said Kansas coach Gary Schwartz. "The men were strong. To come that close to Washington State, which is one of the top teams in the Pac-10, is quite an accomplishment."
The Jayhawks won nine individual titles. Leading the way for the Jayhawks was junior Lester Smith. He won the men's triple jump with a mark of 52 feet, 8/3 4 inches, which qualified him provisionally for nationals. Smith leads the Big 12 Conference in the triple jump, and his mark is the fourth-best in Kansas history.
Also winning titles for the men were Scott Russell in the javelin (231)
feet, 3 inches); Andy Tate in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:22.59); Garrett Atting in the pole vault (16 feet, 3/4 inch); David Cooksey in the 200 meters (21.36); and Jerry Pullins in the 5,000 meters (15:12.65).
On the women's side, all of the Jayhawks' titles came in the field events. All-American Candy Mason won the pole vault with a jump of 11 feet, 6 1/4 inches. She also placed second in the javelin and third in the long jump.
Mason qualified automatically for nationals in the heptathlon at the Mount Sac Relays, April 17. She also provisionally qualified in the javelin and pole vault. Her mark in the pole vault, 12 feet, 9 1/2 inches, is currently the second-best in the nation.
April Kockrow the shot put with a toss of 44 feet, 10 3/4 inches, and co-captain Lisa Baner won the discus with a toss of 154 feet, 9 inches.
In an exhibition, Olympic champion Dan O'Brien competed in the 110-meter high hurdles, long jump.
high jump and discus. O'Brien, who is an assistant coach for Washington State, is the world-record holder in the decathlon.
Pat Manson, Mary Beth Labosky. Michael Evers. Candy Mason. They've all been All-Americans during Gary Schwartz' 10 years as track and field coach.
Schwartz said that these standout athletes came to Kansas with the basics and developed into champions.
"Everybody has talent — some more than others," Schwartz said. "With a certain work ethic, enthusiasm and commitment, some people will go to a higher level."
Schwartz said that, when recruiting, they don't specifically target someone who is going to be an All-American.
"Do we go out and pick the Candy Mason's? No, that's not the way we do things." Schwartz said. "People come in with the basics, and we develop that talent."
Softball team goes down swinging; players named All-Big 12
Schwartz said he knew some athletes would make an immediate impact, but some athletes were a surprise.
"Some you know what you've got a hold of," he said. "With Candy, we knew this lady had something special. With Scott, we knew he was good in the javelin, but he surprised us by being a multi-athlete."
By Laura Bokenkroger Kansas sportswriter
After losing two games in the Big 12 Conference Tournament last weekend, the Kansas softball team may become the second team in school history to finish with a record below .500.
Unless the Jayhawks receive an unexpected at-large bid to an NCAA regional, they will end the season with a record of 28-34.
Kansas lost Friday to third-seeded Texas in a 1-0 defensive battle. Texas pitcher Christa Williams set a school record with a career-high 16 strikeouts, giving up only two hits
in the shutout. Kansas pitcher Jessi Kowal gave up four hits and one run, dropping her record to 13-18.
"Christa Williams is a good pitcher, and we helped her out by swinging at bad pitches," said coach Tracy Bunge. "I wasn't pleased with how we performed offensively. We needed to do better than that to win. Jessica (Kowal) had an excellent game today."
The Jayhawks battled Baylor Friday afternoon as both teams faced being eliminated with a loss.
Three consecutive singles by catcher Kristina Johnson, shortstop Michelle Hubler and first baseman Shannon Stanwix, who
brought home Hubler and Johnson with her hit, put Kansas up 2-0 in the first inning.
"We got big hits when we needed them, which is good because we struggled the last couple of weeks." Bunge said. "We got big hits with two outs in the first and that gave us an offensive snark."
"I was extremely pleased with Jessica Kowal. " Bunge said. "It's a lot better."
With the pressure of being ousted, the Jayhawks put the game away in the sixth inning as left fielder Sara Holland stole third and then scored on a Baylor error. Kansas won 3-1 and secured a spot in Saturday's bracket of the tournament.
of pressure for a freshman, and she's pitched two big games for us."
The Jayhawks faced Oklahoma State Saturday in another defensive clash. Kowal held the Cowgirls scoreless and allowed just two hits through six innings.
Despite recording six hits, the Jayhawks left six runners on base and never scored in seven innings.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Oklahoma State took advantage of two Kansas errors and scored the only run of the game, knocking Kansas out of the tournament with a 1-0 win.
"This was a well-played game for us until the seventh inning." Bunge
said. "We have really struggled offensively this year. Our pitcher kept us in the ball game. Like I said, it was a good game, but I wish the outcome had been different."
Holland and Huber were named to the All-Big 12 softball team.
Holland finished among the league leaders in doubles, runs and stolen bases. It marks the second consecutive year she has been named to the All-Big 12 first team. Holland ends her career ranked in the top five in the conference in career at-bats, hits, runs, stolen bases and home runs. Holland also holds the career doubles record with 58.
all-conference again," Holland said. "Especially this being my senior year. It was one of my goals at the beginning of the season, and I am glad that I was able to attain it."
"I'm very honored to be named
Huber was an at-large selection to the All-Big 12 second team for the second consecutive year. Huber will finish her Kansas career among the leaders in at-bats, hits, runs, stolen bases, doubles and home runs.
"It's a great honor to be selected again," Huber said. "However, it's a team sport, and I wish we would met more of our team goals this season. I would definitely trade in an individual honor for a Big 12 Championship."
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