Volume 126 Issue 58
kansan.com
Monday, December 9, 2013
VOLLEYBALL
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
Senior blocker Caroline Jarmoc serves against Creighton
Bechard prepares for NCAA regionals
MAX GOODWIN
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
For a moment late in the fourth and final set, the excitement took over and coach Ray Bechard raised his arms in the air as a missed Creighton kill landed wide.
That put Kansas three points shy of its first ever trip to the regional round of the NCAA tournament. But just as quickly Bechard composed himself for the next point, which was a kill by Creighton freshman Jess Bird that bounced toward Bechard.
This time there was no doubt, his team was headed to the regional, a first for both Kansas and Bechard. This is Bechard's fifth appearance in the NCAA tournament in his 16 years at the University.
When junior Chelsea Albers and freshman Taylor Soucie combined for the block to end with a 3-1 Kansas victory, the coach enthusiastically raised his arms once again.
"I'm going to have to keep my composure," Bechard said to his senior setter Erin McNorton as he prepared for a post-game press conference.
In the third set of the match, with the teams tied at 22 and one set apiece, Bechard called a timeout. In that specific situation and that specific score, he asked his team what it reminded them of; the answer was practice.
"Every day in the gym we have a 22-all drill," Bechard said. "They know they gotta play clean, they gotta play smart and they gotta play hard, because you get in a lot of situations like that at the end of the game. That's all I said and then I got out of their way."
The lajhawks left that timeout and won the next three points, taking the set 25-22. Then the momentum carried them to an early lead in the fourth set leading to the 3-1 victory.
The Jayhawks will play Washington, the No. 3 seed, in Los Angeles on Dec. 13 for the regionals. But to a basketball guy like Bechard, this feels like the Sweet 16.
"I've been at it quite awhile, and I guess if you stick around long enough, and these guys have let me stay here long enough, it's going to happen eventually," Bechard said.
Soon after Bechard and his players left the media room, Creighton coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth entered along with players welling up with tears.
Bechard knows what that disappointment feels like. A year ago he was in the same position, here at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas ended last season with 3-1 loss to Wichita State in the second round.
"You know, it was tough last year to say the least," Bechard said. "We didn't forget that feeling. That's what makes it so cool tonight."
After raising his arms in triumph, Bechard went into the stands to find the people that he most wanted to share the moment with. There was a section of about 30 people that Bechard reserved tickets for.
Harold Bechard, one of coach Bechard's six siblings, drives from Salina to see every match. He even drove to Wisconsin for a tournament earlier this season. Harold has been a professional newspaper reporter in Kansas since 1976, covering Big 8 and Big 12 sports.
"I've got a lot of brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews in the area that I guess either love Kansas volleyball or like me. I don't know what the real answer is," Bechard said.
Over the years his career has taught him to keep his emotions in check, but it's different when he watches his brother's team. Then it's personal. He becomes a fan.
"Just to see him get over that next hump," Harold Bechard said. "Just getting to the next level really helps the program and it's something he's been striving for for a long time."
Harold said he could see more emotion from his brother on Saturday night as well, "he's usually pretty calm."
Edited by Paige Lytle
CONTINUED SEARCH
UNIVERSITY STUDENT MISSING
CODY KUIPER
ckuiper@kansan.com
KAITLYN KLEIN kklein@kansan.com
Students gather to search for 23-year-old University student Gianfranco Villagomez, who was last seen early Saturday
Gianfranco Villagomez, a 23-year-old engineering student from Lima, Peru was reported
The Lawrence Police Department is investigating a case of a missing University student.
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
missing after he did not return home from a party early Saturday morning.
Villagomez was last seen walking on the intersection of Ninth and
Villagomez
Michigan streets around 2:30 a.m.
Saturday morning.
Lawrence Police said Villagomez is 5-foot-9 and weighs approximately 150 pounds. He has dark brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing a beige jacket and jeans.
According to Villagomez's friend, Taylor Scrivner, Villagomez had been at a small party and friends who saw him that night said he did not appear to be intoxicated. He reportedly left the party alone to walk to his girlfriend's apartment at 11th and Mississippi streets and has not been seen since. The missing persons report was filed around 7 p.m. on Saturday.
in constant contact with Lawrence Police and are also doing independent work to help bring Villagomez home.
Scriner, who has been friends with Villagomez for three years, said family and friends have been
"We've hung flyers up on Mass. Street and are going to put them up in more businesses and his girlfriend's mom is going to hire a private investigator too," Scriverner said.
Lawrence Police Department Sgt. Trent McKinley said a more intensified search for Villagomez began on Sunday afternoon, and
that off-duty personnel have been contacted to help in the search, but they have no leads at the moment.
"We'll be in the area on that route between point A and point B doing a foot search and contacting individuals and seeing whether we can yield any additional leads by doing that," he said.
Taylor Scrivner organized a search party at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
About 20 people combed the area between 9th and Michigan Streets and 11th and Mississippi
Streets and took flyers into businesses in the area.
Students can find updates and learn about other ways to help by visiting the Facebook page "Help Find Gianfranco Villagomez."
Anyone with any information regarding Villagomez is asked to call Lawrence police at 785-832-7509.
Edited by Casey Hutchins
IN REMEMBRANCE
A woman wears a Nelson Mandela printed piece of fabric in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 8.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KAITLYN KLEIN
kklein@kansan.com
World icon Nelson Mandela, 95. died Thursday, but his influence on the world lives on.
University journalism lecturer Malcolm Gibson met Mandela in 1993, while leading a team of newspaper editors on a fact-finding mission in South Africa.
Mandela introduced himself to Gibson and it struck Gibson that Mandela didn't walk around expecting everyone to know who he was, even though they did.
Mandela became an icon when he was imprisoned for opposing the apartheid in South Africa.
He spent 27 years in prison before being released and eventually becoming the president of South Africa in 1994. After one
Index
"There's a sense of serenity and peace around him," Gibson said. He also noted Mandela's soft speaking voice that drew you to him.
Not that you have to be an expert in African Studies to know the name Nelson Mandela.
"He's one of the few people that's virtually known around the world," Gibson said.
Gibson studied Africa as an undergrad and reported in the region, so he knew Mandela well, but after spending three hours with him in a casual setting, Gibson knew much more.
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 5
SEE MANDELA PAGE 2
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
term, he spent the remainder of his public life as a South African ambassador.
Universitv professor Malcolm Gibson poses for a photo with Nelson Mandela.
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 5
contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
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