3.4
University Daily Kansan / Monday, October 6, 1986
7
Sports Monday
Coach brings confidence and success to KU volleyball
Head volleyball coach Frankie Albitz dives some advice to players during a
game. Albitz is in her second season with the Jayhawks, who are 16-3
This is the first in a two-part series on Kansas volleyball. Tomorrow's story will detail changes in KU's volleyball program.
program.
By JANE ZACHMAN
Her coaching philosophy is based on a confident attitude and the will to succeed — or at least to try as hard as possible.
Frankie Albitz. Kansas head volleyball coach, has that attitude, and it has rubbed off on the Kansas volleyball team.
"When I came onto the team last year, we almost expected to lose again," outside hitter Shannon Ridgeway said recently. "Now we expect to win."
Albizt had coached at Oral Roberts from 1891 to 1944 before coming to Kansas. She also coached at Oklahoma State from 1976-1980 and one season each at Northeastern (Okla.) State and Southern Methodist.
Albitz came to Kansas two years ago from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. She inherited a program that had gone 5-30 the year before and had not won a Big Eight Conference game in three years and 32 matches.
| Although Albitz is a seasoned coach, she contributes her coaching abilities to her experience as a player.
In college she played volleyball, but the sport was not well organized then. She said her college volleyball club practiced occasionally and competed in tournament play only one day out of the year.
Albitz became seriously interested in volleyball after other sports dispointed her. She was 20 and almost out of college before she began playing on an organized team.
"I had played lots of sports but had never been on a winning team," she said. "I saw a volleyball team that was winning and I wanted to be part of that."
Out of that first winning team came numerous opportunities for Albizt. Eventually she tried out for national teams and received honors.
Albizt was named an All-American by the United States Volleyball Association six times between 1972 and 1983. She participated in the World Game trials in 1971 and the Pan American Game trials in 1974.
She traveled to Mexico in 1969 as a member of the Zone Cup Team and to South America in 1974 as a member of the World Cup Team.
"She thinks that everyone should be as motivated as she is," said Zone Cup teammate Peggy McCaw, who now coaches the Tulsa junior
volleyball program and is consultant to the Tulsa University volleyball program.
Albizt studies volleyball as others study a language, McCaw said, always trying to increase her vocabulary and knowledge.
"She thinks about volleyball 24 hours a day, she's committed to it." McCaw said.
Albitz graduated from Northeastern (Okla.) University in 1967 with a degree in health, physical education, and recreation. She received her master's from Oklahoma State in 1969.
But she said she always fell more comfortable as a coach than a player.
After coaching one season at Nor
theastern, Albitt went on to Oklahoma State for five years. It was the only school where she had a losing record — 73:125-6.
"When I started coaching there weren't very many qualified coaches, so we got the best jobs," she said. "I had coached a little, but not much."
Albitz said the OSU Cowgirls played well while she was there, but not well enough to maintain financial support. The school eventually canceled the program to allow more money for softball and track.
So she packed her bags and went to Oral Roberts. The team did well, but for Albitz it was a rerun of her experience with the Cowgirls.
"We were pretty good," she said,
"but they started cutting money out of that program also."
In her four years as head coach at Oral Roberts, Albiz amassed a record of 134.67. But, she said, she decided that it was time for a change.
"I was looking to move on. I had done all I could do with that program (Oral Roberts) and I didn't really fit in well with the school."
Bob Lockwood was quitting as part-time coach at Kansas. The Athletic Department decided to make the position full time, so Alzbitt applied for the opening. When she came to Lawrence to talk to the administrators, she was impressed by their device to improve the program.
So she moved on to Lawrence to work with the Jayhawks.
"It it seemed like a decent job, and the pay was better," she said.
"I wasn't surprised by her success. Wherever she's been the teams have done well, and her credentials looked awfully good."
"She gets the most out of us," said setter Monica Spencer.
"She has brought the team to a higher level of play than most people thought she could," said Monte Johnson, KU athletic director.
"But we're not quite sure how she does it," said outside hitter Judy Desch. There have been imputations that our overall skills have been polished.
Albizt's KU players said they api preciated her coaching abilities.
We respect her and we never
doubt what she has to say."
Spencer said, "You have to respect someone who has dedicated their whole life to volleyball."
"In practice we work on day-to-day conditioning and try to keep everyone in shape," she said.
Albitz's coaching success has been attributed to her experience as a player, to her confidence in both herself and her players and to her dedication to keeping up with the latest volleyball ideas. To Albitz, however, coaching is basic.
"The girls on her team are learning the newest team tactics."
McCaw said, "So many coaches think that they know everything, but she is still a student of the game.
Even though Albitz has been coaching for 12 years, she said she still thought it was necessary to keep up with the latest developments in her sport.
"She's always trying to get that edge, find out what top people are doing," said KU assistant coach Johnny Learned.
Even though people are impressed by the team now, Albitz said, there is still much more she would like to do.
"We want to be able to compete at the top-20 level with nationally ranked teams." she said.
To accomplish this, she said, recruiting efforts have to be improved, and the program needs to gain both local and administrative support.
"Frankie is very knowledgeable when it comes to recruiting," said Floyd Temple, assistant athletic director. "Her record speaks for itself."
Temple said that the Athletic Department was behind Albiz but that there was still room for growth in the program.
"We try to provide travel, equipment, things that impress kids to come to our school." Temple said. "We want to establish the reputation if having a good program."
in the past, Temple said, some good athletes have gone to other schools because the KU program was not up to par with other programs.
However, he said, today Kansas has everything that is important to compete. That includes a coach who is dedicated to growth, improvement and success.
As the sign above Albizt's desk says, "There is no future in believing something cannot be done. The future is in making it happen."
Wildev falls in finals after beating Wolf
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
Craig.Wildey's first taste of collegiate tennis was bittersweet.
Wildley advanced further than any other Jayhawk in the men's division of the Oklahoma Open this weekend, but he had to beat his own teammate to do it.
Wildey, who played part of the tournament with a pailed irgin muscle, lost in the finals to Oliver Ives.
In the men's singles semifinals, the freshman beat Kansas' No.1 player, Mike Wolf, 7.5, 6.7, 6.4.
"I think Craig gained a lot of respect in the tournament," head coach Scott Perelman said yesterday. "He is surely one of the best freshmen in the country. Up until the finals, he was very much in a zone at the top of his game."
finals as well. Wildey, with his partner Chris Walker, beat KU's Larry Pascal and Wolf 6-4, 6-4 and advanced to the finals. Once there, Wildey and Walker lost to Lorin and Chris Toomey 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) in two tiebreakers.
In the women's division, Kansas' No. 1 player Tracy Treps beat teammate Sasie Berglund 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and Oklahoma State's Jane Wood in the semifinals.
Lorin was Wildey's Achilles' heel in the doubles
The arch adversary of the Kansas team was Lorin. The Oklahoma player beat Kevin Brady, Pascal, Wildey, and former KU player and captain Michael Center.
The tournament was open, enabling non-collegiate players to participate.
Perelman said. "She had match points in the final and could just as easily won as lost. She just didn't play her best tennis."
Like Wildey, Treps could not get past her opponent in the finals. OSU's Carrie Cohen defeated Treps 6.0, 2.6, 7.6
Treps tournament continued to parallel Wildey's as she advanced to the doubles finals in the women's division.
The Kansas team of Treps and Jeanette Jonsson could not outplay OSU's Lorna Browne and Tina Margaroli. The Jayhawks lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.
The rest of the women's team, like the men's, ran into problems early in the tournament. All the women players except Treps had been eliminated by the semifinals.
"Tracy had a really solid tournament."
"I don't like this kind of tournament because there is no emphasis on the team concept," Perelman said. "Like for Wildey when he beat Wolf, it's tough because it's a great win for him but it's over one of our own players."
Royals fall to A's 6-0
— narrowly missing a perfect game — and Alfredo Griffin and Mike Davis drove in two runs apiece yesterday to power the Oakland A's to a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Left
hander Curt Young allowed one hit
United Press International
More baseball p. 10.
Young, 13.9, retired the first 20 batters he faced before giving up an infield single to Kevin Seitzer with two outs in the seventh innning. Seitzer hit a high bouncer to third and easily beat Carney Lansford's throw to first.
Young struck out four and walked none in facing 28 Rovals.
Loser Bret Saberhagen, 7-12 gave up three runs in five innings.
Oakland rookie Jose Canseco struck out once, giving him 175 for the year. He wound up eight units short of becoming the first major leaguer to combine for 300 RH and strikeouts in a single season.
With one out in the third inning,
Donnie Hill singled and scored on a two-out triple by Griffin.
The A's went ahead 3 in the
diamonds. Davis led off with a double
and scored on a single by Hill.
Mickey Tettleton singled to put
runners on first and third, and
Griffin's sacrifice fly scored Hill.
Chargers, Seattle will meet tonight
NFL history probably will be made twice when the two teams square off tonight. Largent needs just one catch to become the first player in league history to catch passes in 128 straight games. He shares the record of 127 with Harold Carmichael, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.
United Press International
SEATTLE — The best defense against the San Diego Chargers is a good offense, said Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent, who knows a lot about advancing the ball.
San Diego receiver Charlie Joiner needs just 19 yards to become the NFL's all-time receiving yardage leader. Former New York Jet Don Maynard holds the record of 11,834 yards.
Seattle, 3-1, is favored by a touchdown over the Chargers, 1-3; but the Seahawks will win only if they keep quarterback Dan Douss and the rest of the San Diego offense on the field. Largent said.
both records simultaneously since Maynard accomplished the feat in 1973.
Raiders rally to drop Kansas City to 3-2
Joiner holds the NFL record for receptions with 724. When he breaks the yardage mark he will become the first receiver to hold
"We have to try to play a ball-control game where we win the time-of-possession battle, because the best way to keep them from winning is to keep their offense off the field." Largent said.
Quarterback Dave Krieg and running back Curt Warner lead Seattle's offense. Krieg has thrown for 824 yards and six touchdowns, while Warner leads the AFC in rushing with 80 carries for 373 yards. Largent leads Seattle's balanced receiving corps with 16 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jim Plunket hit Jessie Hester with an 18-yard scoring pass yesterday, giving the Los Angeles Raiders a 24-17 comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders won their second straight after beginning the season with three straight losses Kansas City fell to 3-2.
The Chiefs burst out to a 17-10 lead early in the second period, but late in
the half the Raiders got their offense going.
Starting quarterback Marc Wilson connected with Dokie Williams for a
12. yard scoring play near the right sideline in the end zone. Replay of official Jack Reader said he ruled the pass incomplete but could not reach the field officials before the Raiders kicked the extra point with 4:20 left in the first half.
More football p. 8.
That 37-yard drive was started
when Jerry Robinson recovered a Boyce Green tumble for the Raiders.
Los Angeles got within striking distance on its first possession of the second half with a rapid five-play drive with Napoleon McCallum, who started in place of Marcus Allen, powering his way in from the 12.
Wilson was injured on the Raiders' next possession and Plunkett came on to complete a pair of 18-yard passes. The first completion went to Todd Christensen, which pushed the
Los Angeles added a 19-yard field goal from Chris Bahr to finish the scoring. The Raiders used 11 plays and held the ball for more than $5\frac{1}{2}$ minutes before getting the field goal.
ball to the 22 and, one play later, the second 18-yarder was a Hester touchdown for a 21-17 lead.
Fights marred the end of the first half with the Chiefs leading 17-7. Battles broke out on several plays, and Raiders safety Vance McElroy was ejected.
U.S. holds off Australians in Davis Cup
United Press International
BRISBANE, Australia — Australian tennis fans gave rookie Paul Annacone and Ken Flach a standing ovation yesterday for their efforts to keep the United States' chances alive against Australia in the Davis Cup semifinals.
The U.S. doubles team defeated Australia's Pat Cash and John Fitzgerald, 8-10, 1-6, 7-5, 13-11, 9-7, in five hours. The match was suspended Saturday because it was too dark to play with Australia leading two sets to one. When play resumed, Flach and Annacone overcame the Australians in one of the most memorable Davis Cup doubles matches
of recent times.
The United States still trailed 2-1 in the best of five series. The final two singles were carried over to today when the resumed doubles exceeded the manda(ary)30 games per player on any one day
In the singles, it will be Cash against Brad Gilbert and Paul McNamee against Tim Mayotte.
"We played with a lot of guts and team spirit and who knows what can happen tomorrow," said U.S. head coach Tom Gorman. "We weren't given a chance today and look what happened."
The Australians grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead in the competition when McNane beat Gilbert,
2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. Cash produced some magnificent tennis and trounced Mayotte, a grass court specialist, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
The winner of this series will meet Sweden in the
Davis Cup finals in December.
Anacline and Flach came out firing yesterday and concentrated their attack on Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's game fell apart as he weakened under a barrage of volleys and committed a string of costly groundstroke errors.
The doubles match took 40 games to complete. Under the rules, Cash would have been unable to play his reverse singles on the same day.
1