MONDAY, AUGUST 26. 2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3B
Softball look toward tournament
By Steve Schmidt Kansan sportswriter
On Labor Day, while the majority of the country goes on holiday leave, the Kansas softball team will start its work with the first practice of the fall season, trying to prepare for a run at the NCAA tournament next spring.
Three weeks later on Saturday, Sept. 21, the team will head to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the two-day Nebraska Invite against Colorado State, Oklahoma City and Nebraska.
The next Saturday the team will be back in Lawrence for a double header against Neosho Junior College. They will finish the weekend with an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday, Sept. 29.
The action continues on Jayhawk Field Oct. 5 to 6 when Johnson County Community College, Butler County Community College, Washburn University and Emporia State come to Lawrence for the Kansas Invite.
Coach Tracy Bunge said she was less worried about how many games the team wins this fall and more interested in seeing her returning players and newcomers come together to form a cohesive unit.
Results during the fall season do not count toward the record of the team next spring.
The squad will begin the 2003 season Friday, Feb. 7, when it travels to Central Florida for a three-day series.
"It's a time to evaluate our new system," Bunge said. "The fall schedule is not threatening but we're still playing some tough outside competition."
After that the team will play in several tournaments, some of which have garnered Top 25 preseason accolades.
"I'm a big believer that the only way to maximize your potential is to go out and play the best competition in your sport," Bunge said.
The squad won't have to go far this year to find some of the best competition in the country — some are in the Big 12 Conference.
Bunge said Texas should be a preseason top 10 team with Oklahoma and Nebraska not far behind. Last season, the Sooners and Cornhuskers were two of the
"This year (the conference) is going to be even stronger," Bunge said.
eight teams in the NCAA Women's College World Series.
On March 16, the team will open up conference play with two contests against Oklahoma State. Bunge said every game would be important because the team would be under the eye of the NCAA selection committee.
"When you look at a 50-60 game schedule, it's hard to pinpoint one game." Bunge said. "Once you hit conference play, every game is critical."
Contact Schmidt at
sschmidt@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Norton.
Marshall
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
fall and none in the spring. It gives me more time to focus on turning pro next September."
Marshall does not think his time off this summer will affect his play in the fall. After five top-10 finishes last season, he finally feels he can put it all together and secure multiple wins. Along with lofty personal expectations which include first-team All-American status, his team goals are set high as well.
"I expect my team to really perform well, and I expect them to work hard and really go after it because we missed the cut last year for nationals," Marshall said. "With me being the only senior on the squad. I feel it's my duty to make it happen, whether it means taking people out of the lineup, or helping coach make decisions. As a team,
Kansan file photo
Sophomore Jill Dorsey played the newly created libero position with her club team last year, giving her a slight edge over her teammates in terms of experience. "I know the rules," she said. "But they adjust real soon."
"A little bit, just because I know the rules," Dorsey said, "and I'm comfortable with them because I've played it for a year, but they'll adjust real soon.
Kraft said the scrimmage was a good chance for her and Morningstar to learn the particulars of the position.
"The speed of the game obviously is faster in Division I but the rules and stuff are the same. It will help a lot. The libero is out there specifically to dig balls so it will prolong the rally. I'm looking forward to it."
Volleyball
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
"It's very different because you don't have the opportunity to score points with your serve," Kraft said. "You're just in there to set everyone else up."
Kraft also said the scrimmage
was a good occasion for the team to get some game experience after practicing for two weeks.
"It was definitely fun to be in front of some of our fans and to have officials, to be announced and introduced. We're excited and can't wait for the season to start."
The Blue squad won all three games — 30-23, 30-28, 15-10 — against the Crimson squad, but the chance to compete in a game situation was more important than the result.
"It's great to have people in the stands and have the actual match setup," Bechard said. "We usually have three nets set up in here with no bleachers and no people. Anytime we can expose them to that is obviously a good opportunity because in a week it will be live."
Beachard said he thought the team's blocking and net play were
better than they usually are this early in the season, but he did see some areas that needed work.
The scrimmage did little to remedy the team's setter position, which is being fought for by sophomore Ashley Bechard, the coach's daughter, and freshman Andi Rozum.
"Our motto is sort of 'Take care of the details' and there are no little things," he said. "But I saw a bunch of little things that we'll have to rumage through this week and go back and refresh their memories."
"Andi is obviously a little more physical," Bechard said, "and Ashley has a little better understanding of our offense and what we're trying to do. They'll both get an opportunity early on to settle that situation. I think there will be times where we will have the opportunity in a
match to go to a two-setter system. They're both capable and that's the main thing."
Coach Bechard also got his first chance to see freshman Josiane Lima play, Lima, a middle blocker who transferred from the University of Sant'Anna in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is expected to be an impact player for the Jayhawks. She was a member of a 19-and-under team that finished second in Brazil in 2001 and was named to the 2000 Sao Paulo selection team.
"She's young, but having played at an early age she has a lot of experience," Bechard said. "She'll bring a high level of experience and enthusiasm.She really loves to play. She could have a great career here." Note
■ Renita Davidson, a second-year freshman, is expected to be
we need to play well. I'm not asking them to win every tournament, but to give 110 percent every time."
The team will have two spots open on the starting lineup with the loss of seniors Travis Hurst and Casey Harbour. Sophomores Luke Trammell, Jason Sigler, Peter Krsnich and Ryan Rainer will play this fall to solidify the openings.
"We're going to play as many people as we can in tournaments depending on how we qualify," Rundall said. "We never know what kind of weather we'll see in the beginning of the spring, so whoever plays the best this fall will most likely be in those starting slots to start the spring."
The team looks to go one step higher than last year, which could place them in competition at the NCAA finals.
Contact Greene at rgreege@kansan.com. This story was edited by Nicole Roche.
"We're excited and can't wait for the season to start." Jennifer Kraft defensive specialist
out until mid-September after having surgery on the patella tendon in her left knee.
"We hope in a month that we'll have her back," Bechard said. "It's a setback. Here she redshirts, works hard and competes pretty well this summer and fall, and then we found a little spot on the patella tendon, but they got it cleaned up."
Contact Chronister at lchronister@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Norton.
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