Sports
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, September 17, 1986
11
Volleyball team falls to 'Huskers for its first loss
By JANE ZACHMAN
Sports writer
The KU volleyball team chalked up its first loss of the season as the Jayhawks fell in four games to Nebraska last night at Allen Field House.
KU lost the first game 15-6 and came back to win the second game 15-11 against last year's Big Eight championships.
"I think we played well, as well as we have ever played," said outside hitter Jodi Oelschlagger after the game, "but we got nervous after the first game."
"After we won the second game we thought one was enough because Nebraska doesn't get beaten too often," said Julie Ester, middle blocker.
The Jayhawks' momentum began to give out midway through the third game as they lost the last two games 15-5 and 15-3.
"Our concentration just fell apart in the last two games," said KU head coach Frankie Albiz.
Kansas committed 24 errors in the match, 14 of which came after the second game. Nebraska made only 14 errors.
The Jayhawks scored a team total of 40 kills compared with 48 for the Cornhuskers.
"I think our team is a little more inconsistent and that generates a lot of momentum swung." Albiz said. "We
were up and down a lot."
Middle blocker Tammy Hill said, "I think we had a total mental let-down. We had some good plays also, but Nebraska is a good team."
The Jayhawks' strength was positioned in their defense against the Cornhuskers. KU had ten blocks in the match while Nebraska had only four.
Offensively, the Cornhuskers had six service aces and four service errors. The Jayhawks' weren't as effective serving as they only managed three aces and have five serving errors.
Key players for Kansas were outside hitters Catalina Suarez, with 11 kills, Jodi Oelschlager with 6 kills and setter Sonia Spencer with 5.
Nebraska setter Tisha Delaney said she thought KU had played well and that they would be tough opponents in future matches.
Hill said she thought some team members might have been nervous or intimidated but she thought KU would be more prepared for Nebraska in the future.
Nebraska head coach Terry Pettit said he thought his team had been sluggish but had played well.
"We were ranked third (nationally) so I expect people thought we would win," he said, "but Frankie has done really well with her team. They're strong and they show a lot of pride."
Brenda Steele/KANSAN
Shannon Ridgeway, of Kansas, blocks a shot as teammate Monica Spencer looks on. The Jayhawks lost to the third ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in four games last night at Allen Field House.
Mosconi displays his talents
Billiards' legend easily disposes of local competition
Sports writer
Bv NICOLE SAUZEK
Even though it was only a warm-up shot, Willie Miles confronted as he looked down at the yellow pool ball on the table before him.
"Stupid game, isn't it?" joked Mosconi, with a stroke of his pool stick. "People actually pay to watch this stuff."
The ball rolled just short of the side pocket.
Mosconi, 15-time world pocket billiards champion, exhibited his skills to a standing-room-only crowd in the Kansas Union Ballroom last night.
"The table is off!" he said in defense of himself, as a smile swept from his mouth to his blue eyes. He poked the ball in and announced he was ready to play.
The 73-year-old Mosconi, who gave up competition in 1957, now works in public relations for Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Last night, though, Mosconi took on local talent.
And while his opponents schemed against him in eight-ball and nine-ball pool, Mosconi joked, laughed and danced the pool table. And the crowd laughed with him.
"He's better than Minnesota Fats." Mosconi said of his exhibition partner, Gary Hall, of Kansas City, Kan. The two played the best three-out-of-five in nine-ball pool — a game in which all numbered balls are shot in rotation from one to nine.
"He can't win, though," he said to the crowd with a mischievous grin. "I've got the nine ball in my coat pocket."
Mosconi won the nine-ball competition 3-2 over Hall, who still managed to show his skills by running the table in the fourth match.
Hall has been playing pool in this area for 21 years. He was asked to challenge when Mosconi came to town.
"Some people say I'm the best pool player in town." Hall said. "But, that's a fallacy. I just practice a lot."
After his victory over Hall, Mosconi did a little jig and then called on his next opponents — members of the audience.
Three names were drawn out of a box by Mosconi, all of which would take him on in eight-ball.
The game provided no problem for Mosconi, though — even if it was "too easy" for him to be able to do well. He easily defeated his three
challengers; Larry Thomas, Shawne senior; Sam Moses, Sri Lanka senior; and Hwong Jong Kheng, Malaysia junior.
"I guess it was just my destiny to lose against Willie Mosconi," said Moses after his quick defeat.
Moses said he and his friends were just joking about asking Mosconi to be his shooting partner at local bars when his name was announced to challenge.
"I couldn't believe it," Moses said.
"I came tonight to watch, but when I found out we could put our names in, I filled out three slips.
"My palms were sweaty out there. I couldn't believe I was playing Willie Mosconi. It was a once in a lifetime situation. I just wish he would have let me make another shot other than breaking."
Mosconi ended the evening with a display of trick shots he had learned throughout his many years of play.
With a quick swipe of the hand, he caught it, turned, bowed to the audience and received a standing ovation.
Mosconi banked the cue ball off the far rail, popping the ball in the air back to him.
Injuries in offense continue to climb
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
The Kansas offense is hurting.
As the injuries mount up, head coach Bob Valesente has been forced to make some changes.
Senior right tackle Bob Pieper, who broke his foot the first day of practice on Aug. 15, will learn in two weeks whether he will be out for the entire season.
If surgery is necessary, a pin will be implanted in his left foot to join two bones together in the fifth metatarsal bone. His doctor, Ken Wertzberger, said injuries similar to Pieper's can take up to 14 months to heal.
Pieper, who has been replaced on the depth chart by Pete Popovich, said he had not ruled out the medical redshirt option for this season.
Sophomore wide receiver Willie Vaughn was injured late in the first half of Saturday's game. His playing status is on a day-to-day basis, Valesente said. Vaughn has not been at practice for the last two days.
Pieper had his third set of X-rays taken Monday and will return for more X-rays in two weeks. The foot is unable to bear any weight, he said.
The position of wide receiver is up for grabs.
Sophomore wide receiver Rodney Harris, who suffered a stress fracture on the outside portion of his right foot during a passcatch drill in practice Monday, will be on the injured list indefinitely. Valesente said.
The eligibility of Quintin Smith, freshman wide receiver, is still unknown. Smith's American College Test scores have not been received by the University.
To replenish the rapidly depleting wide receiver corps, senior Tom Quick will double as a wide receiver and as back-up quarterback.
The injury-ridden offense got even more bad news yesterday.
Bill Hundelt, freshman left tackle, sprained his left ankle during practice. The extent of the injury is not known.
KU offense needs cure for turnover
A quick glance at Saturday's statistics may make people wonder how Kansas could lose 20-0 to North Carolina. A second look will erase all doubt.
The Jayhawks won the top half of the stat sheet. They outgained the Tar Heels 388 yards to 361 yards. Kansas had four more first downs and ran two more offensive plays.
The Jayhawks lost the bottom of the stat sheet — most importantly in
Frank Hansel Sports editor
turnovers, Kansas committed five turnovers — all of them in Tar Heel territory — and that translated into a loss in Bob Valesente's head-coaching debut.
The revamped Kansas offense was able to move the ball against the Tar Heels, almost at will, until the end zone was in sight. But when it came time to score, the offense, which featured a new quarterback, new running back and two new receivers, did its impersonation of Santa Claus.
While Kansas kept giving North Carolina early Christmas presents in the form of three fumbles and two interceptions, the Tar Heels played Mr. Scrooge, committing only one turnover.
As the coaches go over films in preparation for Saturday's game against Utah State, it might be helpful for them to pull out last year's game films. Kansas had the best turnover margin in the Big Eight Conference, losing only 11 fumbles and 11 interceptions in 12 games.
Last season, the Jayhawks lost only one game when they outgained an opponent — a 14-3 loss to Colorado. Kansas outgained the Buffaloes 318 yards to 221, but a turnover again helped to seal the Jayhawks' doom.
Buffalo strong safety Mickey Pruitt intercepted a pass from former KU quarterback Mike Norseth and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to give Colorado all the points it would need.
The Jayhawks also won a game when they were outgained by the opposition. Kansas beat Missouri 34-20, but the Tigers won the battle of the yards 383 to 362.
The Tigers followed the trend, committing four turnovers.
In the Jayhawks' pass-oriented offense, the interceptions may be expected, but not the fumbles. If Kansas is to post a winning season, the Jayhawks will have to hold onto the football and, more importantly, score.
"We've got to get the ball in the end zone, that's the important thing." Valesente said after the loss to North Carolina. "Statistics aren't that important, and I'd rather have the points."
Kansas found out the hard way that points, not statistics, win ballgames.
2 freshmen tennis players came as package deal
By ANNE LUSCOMBE Sports writer
Craig Wildey and Chris Walker are insistent about staying as a joint package.
The two freshmen tennis players refused to be split up, especially where college and tennis were concerned. When recruiters came to look at them, they let it be known it was all or nothing.
'For me, patience is just a personal quality that comes from myself. It comes from your background and shows up in everything you do, like homework.'
— Chris Walker
KU tennis player
Chris Walker, left, and Craig Wildey, right, insisted on staying together in college. Both were high school All-American tennis players from Grand Rapids.
Among the schools the pair turned down were Texas &M. Northwestern and Oklahoma State. Even more schools were refused when only one of the two men got offers.
Walker and Wildey have been doubles partners in Grand Rapids, Mich., for three years and Perelman doesn't plan on breaking them up. As a team, the two said they felt comfortable together.
"I'm pleased they wanted to come together, it helped in the recruiting," head tennis coach Scott Perelman said yesterday.
Walker sprained his back during the summer which kept the duo out of some doubles tournaments.
"If they had gotten the opportunity to play all summer, they would have been one of the top
doubles teams in the nation." Perelman said.
Mich., and chose Kansas because they would be able to play on the same team.
Despite being hindered with the injury, Walker is one of the best athletes to come into college tennis. Perelman said. The freshman
is on his way to recovery.
However, Walker said he still had a flaw to overcome - lack of patience.
"For me, patience is just a personal quality that comes from
myself," he said. "It comes from your background and shows up in everything you do, like homework. It's a certain type of quality or character necessary on the court."
Wildey said Perelman was an
important influence on them and helped the players to concentrate on becoming patient.
Patience comes with maturity and constant coaching, Perelman said. It can be developed if the player is willing to work at it.
Neither player has any weak points in Perelman's estimation. The two are talented both athletically and academically.
"They both exemplify the type of student athlete we are trying to recruit — great athletes and good students." Pereiman said.
Walker was valedictorian of his high school class and an Academic All-American. Both players were high school All-America and All-State tennis players.
Their goal is to play in professional tournaments while they are still in college and then join the professional circuit after graduation.
"I probably will try to go on the circuit. I will always have that fantasy about becoming one of the top players," Wilde said.
Walker said he would try it out,
but if becoming pro didn't pay off,
he would look for some other kind
of employment.
For now, Walker and Wildey have to be content starting out at the No. 7 or 8 singles spots on the team
"That's kind of like 'Welcome to college tennis.' " Perelman said.
The Kansas team has enough talent this year to enable the two freshmen to start lower on the initial ladder, he said.
"When Mike Wolf (who has held the No. 1 spot for three years) was a freshman, we needed him to play No. 1. "Perelman said. "They both have the talent to play No. 1, but this will give them the opportunity to get more experience first."