Monday, November 20, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Tigers pummel focused 'Hawks
Team reflective following seniors final home match
By Sarah Warren
By Sarah Warren sports@kanson.com Kanson sportwriter
Nancy Bell just might be $1,000
poorer after this weekend.
Bell, a senior outside hitter on the volleyball team, bet a friend $1,000 that she wouldn't cry after her final career volleyball game at Kansas, a 9-15, 12-15, 8-15 loss to Missouri.
But, standing in front of the 855 fans at the Horeis family Athletics Center, Bell found herself blubbering into the microphone, saying her final good-byes just like her senior teammates Amy Mytay and Sara Kidd, outside hitters; and Danielle Geronymo, middle blocker.
"You win, the $1,000 is yours." Bell said jokingly, as she dried the tears, with a grin.
Bell and the other seniors shed no tears, however, about their final match at Horejsi.
Although the Jayhawks (14-14, 5-14 in the Big 12 Conference) fell to Missouri (22-5, 13-5 Big 12), no tear was shed specifically for the loss. The focus of Saturday's event was the match, not the good-byes.
“It’s meant a lot to me,” said Geronymo, whose father and sister flew in from Brazil for the match. “It’s hard to go through the game without thinking about it.”
Hard — but not impossible.
Coach Ray Bechard said he expected his team to keep their hearts at the net, not on their
Volleyball: Missouri 3 Kansas 0 (15-9, 15-12, 15-8)
sleeves.
"The focus of the whole evening was the match," Bechard said. "We had to focus on that. Mizzou is too good not to."
Kansas didn't appear unfocused,
just unlucky.
Bell scored 18 kills, Myatt had 12 and Geronomy added 13 digs.
"They make things happen," Bechard said. "They make deflections, hitting stuff off the knee or off the elbow."
Kansas hung with Missouri and its lucky swings, but Missouri ran away in the final five points of the game.
"We just backed down at times when we couldn't," Bechard said. "Things just add up over a period of time."
However, the Jayhawks made quite the comeback in game two, scoring six straight points while Missouri was at game point, before falling with an ace by Tiger sophomore outside hitter Lisa Morris.
"You give a team like that a three or four point lead and they'll run with it," Bechard said. "They're not 23-5 by accident."
Now the 'Hawks will prepare for their final game of the season against Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Of course, the very final game of the season will be as emotional as the final home game for the senior Jayhawks, even without all the fanfare.
"I used to dream of volleyball so much," Geronymo said. "it'll be hard to think about it next year."
Edited by J. R. Mendoza
Sarah Rome, freshman outside hitter, smashes a hit against Missouri on Saturday. Kansas lost in three games 9-15, 12-15 and 8-15. Photo by Justin Schmid/KANSAN
Volleyball match pits ex-teammates against each other
By Cate Batchelder Special to the Kansar
Players who used to be on the same side of the net wore different colors at the Kansas-Missouri game Saturday.
The story of Kansas assistant coach Christi Posey, Kansas sophomore Molly Scavuzzo and Mizzou sophomore Lisa Morris may be the most intimate of all.
A small-world syndrome made the game more intimate for the players and fans.
Scavuzzo and Morris, alumnae
of Blue Valley
North west
High School,
led their team
to back-to-back
state
champion
onships
under the
coach Posey.
This is Posey and Scavuzzo's first season at Kansas, with Posey coming from Northwest and Scavuzzo a transfer from Wyoming.
"I hoped to have the opportunity to coach (Division One) and I knew they (Morris and Scavuzo) were always going Done," Posey said. "It's great to cross paths again with the opportunity to coach Molly. I'm glad we are reunited."
The infamous rivalry between Kansas and Missouri in basketball mirrors that in volleyball, but this one is friendlier; Both sides have only positive comments about the other.
"It's great to cross paths again with the opportunity to coach Molly.I'm glad we are reunited." Christi Posey Kansas assistant coach
"I'm so jealous Molly gets to play for Coach Posey," Morris said.
Looking forward to next year, Scavuzzo said, "Hopefully, I'll play intense every game, but it will definitely be different (having Morris on the other side)."
Christi Myers, sophomore for the Tigers, was also a player of Posey's and a teammate of Morris' during her junior club season with Team KC Volleyball Club.
Yet more proof that it's a small world: Jayhawk sophomore Jamie Morningstar and Mizzou freshman Chrissy Elder also were Team KC teammates three years ago.
Further complicating the scene is Jayhawk recruit Danielle McHenry, a senior at Shawnee Heights, who played with Elder on another Team KC team two years ago.
With McHenry joining the Jayhawk squad, Kansas might jump ahead in the overall series, which Missouri leads 33-30.
— Edited by John Audlehelm
Passion propels Gruber to NCAA finals
By Ryan Malashock sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Running for the cross country team used to be a chore for junior Charlie Gruber.
A middle-distance runner at heart, he has slowly formed a passion for long-distance running and is set to represent Kansas as the lone Jayhawk at today's NCAA Championships in Ames, Iowa.
Gruber has gone from a track star looking to improve his running by participating in
cross country to Kansas' first NCAA Championships participant since 1994.
He said he came into the season confident, but didn't expect to be in the position he's in now.
"I couldn't have imagined being where I am right now at the start of the year because I didn't think that I was fast enough for that," Gruber said. "I'm really excited for this. I've had some good training since districts, and I'm ready to go."
He said a large bulk of his improvement this season could be attributed to assistant coach Doug Clark.
"Coach Clark has been big all year about making me believe that I could perform," he said. "That was huge for me all season."
Gruber will join more than 250 of the nation's best runners today in Ames. He said he wasn't going to Ames to just make an appearance: He's there to place — and place high. "My goal is to make All-American, which is
top 25," he said. "I'm going after that, and it would be a great honor to me to give the new coaching staff their first new All-American."
Head coach Stanley Redwine said Gruber's appearance today was significant.
"Running today is a huge step for Charlie and a huge step for the program." Redwine said. "This shows just how hard work pays off, and it also gives our team something to look forward to."
He also said that Gruber's appearance
today was a sign that the men's program was close to becoming a conference power.
Next year, the Kansas men will return every scoring runner from this year's squad.
Gruber said he hoped that he would not be the only Jayhawk in the NCAA Championships at this time next season.
"It's really exciting having everyone back for next year," he said. "We're bringing in some good new guys, and I want us to be here as a team next year." - Edited by John Audiblem
Kansas Volleyball Senior Quotes
Sara Kidd Outside hitter
"It's been a happy two years here and I really wasn't going to cry. Thank you guys for all the memories you gave me."
Danielle Geronymo Middle blocker
memories you gave me."
"I will remember you guys forever. Thank you so much."
Nancy Bell Outside hitter
"You've taught me about who I am and who I want to be. I'll look fondly on the good times."
Amy Myatt Outside hitter
"This is such a great place to play. The fans — you guys are truly awesome."
Got... what?!
To the Men of Kappa Sigma,
Here s to long days and even longer nights. We ve gone down many roads together and have come to love minimum wage workers, Kinkos in Lenexa, and last but not least, the attack of the killer grapes.
To Jason, another cup of coffee. To Jake, someone to keep you in tune. To Ferris, I hate you. To Gonzo, Just pick one!!
You guys have picked your way into our hearts and have shocked us into believing that you are the best Rock Chalk partners ever. So lets keep our fingers crossed, and hope that the two 1 s did the trick.
Love,
the Women of Alpha Chi Omega
VISIT CHICAGOS HOTTEST NIGHT CLUBS THIS THANKSGIVING BREAK!
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