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SPORTS
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WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2002
VOLLEYBALL
Libero could free Kansas defense
By Levi Chronister Kansan sports editor
Even though the Kansas volleyball team has five returning starters, some valuable new experience was gained in Saturday's Crimson and Blue scrimmage at Horejsi Family Athletic Center.
Kansan file photo
The scrimmage was the first chance most Jayhawks had to play with a libero - a new position added by the NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules Committee in February.
The libero is a back-row player who differs from a normal defensive specialist in that she cannot serve, attack or set from within the attack line. The player wears a different color jersey than the rest of the team, can't start but can join in on the first rotation and does not count toward a team's 12 substitutions each game when she leaves the court.
Use of the libero is not required, but Kansas coach Ray Bechard thinks the addition could benefit the team, which features experienced defensive specialists Jennifer Kraft, Jamie Morningstar, both seniors, and sophomore Jill Dorsey.
"You have a choice," coach Ray Bechard said, "but obviously, when you have people like we do who are good at those two skills then you take advantage of that. Their main objective back there is to pass and dig. It adds, we hope, a little more to the defensive element of the game."
Senior golfer Chris Marshall wants to improve this season and assume a leadership role as the only senior on the team. "I have a lot more that I can achieve," he said.
Dorsey played the position with her club team last year, putting her a step above Kraft and Morningstar in terms of experience.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 3B
Kansan file photo
The volleyball team held a scrimmage Saturday at Horejsi Family Athletic Center. The team boasts five returning starters plus a new position added by the NCAA this year.
Golfers tee up for season
Lone senior player on men's golf squad wants to lead team
By Ryan Greene
Kansan sportswriter
Last season was bittersweet for Chris Marshall and the Kansas men's golf team.
The team ended its 2001 fall schedule in November with a second-place tie at The Prestige at Palm Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. The squad carried its momentum into the spring season, finishing in the top eight in five of its six tournaments, including a win at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevinson, Calif.
Yet two 11th place finishes, one at the Big 12 Tournament at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson and one at the NCAA Midwest Regional at the Pleasant Valley County Club in Little Rock, Ark., kept the team from the NCAA finals.
Though the team ended the year on a sour note, senior Chris Marshall was named first team All-Big 12, as well as an All-American Honorable Mention.
Despite his success, Marshall wants to improve this season as well as assume the leadership role as the only senior on the squad.
"I feel like I have a lot more than I can achieve. My goal this year is to be first-team All-American," Marshall said. "Everything is within reach and I feel so close. I just have to put the grind on and
get a couple more wins."
Head coach Ross Randall also has confidence that Marshall can take on the position of team leader.
"I think he'll do great," Randall said. "His leadership will be by example and by hard work. No one on the team will work harder than he does. It's very important to him and he'll be just fine."
Marshall's off-season workload was limited because of surgery to repair a vein in his abdomen last week. He will be ready to resume practicing in a week to prepare for the fall season.
"This summer I took it really lightly, so I didn't practice as much as I normally do," Marshall said. "I took classes this summer so I can take four classes in the
SEE MARSHALL ON PAGE 3B
Women's soccer team defeats SW Missouri State
Kansas sportswriter
By Nikki Overfelt
The KU soccer team defeated Southwest Missouri State, 1-0, in an exhibition match-up Friday night at Cooper Sports Complex in Springfield, Mo.
Monica Brothers, sophomore forward, scored the only goal of the game, off an assist from Holly Ryder, freshman midfielder, and Lauren Williams, sophomore midfielder. Meghan Miller, sophomore goalkeeper, and Sarah Gonzalez, junior goalkeeper, each played a half, both holding the Bears to a shutout.
Coach Mark Francis said the team's first performance went well.
"I think for the first game, we're pretty happy," he said.
Brothers was happy with her team's first game, but said she thought it could have done better.
"Our team played really well together, especially for the first game," she said.
'We should have finished more opportunities
We dominated the game, but the score was only 1-0. But other than that, we played really well."
Kansan file photo
Francis said some of the players are still learning their roles on the field, but said that overall he was pleased with their playing.
"Iindividually, I thought we had some good performances from people," he said.
Francis said it was encouraging to see the team's practice pay off.
After this exhibition game, he said they now know what they should be working on this week during practice in order to get ready for their next game.
The team will start its regular season with a home game at 4 p.m. Friday against UNLV and then will play host to Boston at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Contact Overfelt at noverfelt@kansan.com. This story was edited by Nicole Roché.
Sophomore forward Monica Brothers scored the only goal in Friday night's 1-0 victory over Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.
COMMENTARY
Levi Chronister
lchronister@kansan.com
A rough year in the works for Kansas
If this weekend was any indication, it could be a long first year for Kansas football coach Mark Mangino.
After Saturday's showings by Nebraska and Iowa State, though, any offense Mangino creates for the Jayhawks may be a moot point if the Kansas defense can't learn to stop mobile quarterbacks.
A former offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma, Mangino is known for competitive and creative offensive sets that keep a defense off balance.
Not only did Jamal Lord and Nebraska steamroll Arizona State, 48-10, but Iowa State lost, 38-31, to No. 3-ranked Florida State University in a game that came down to the final play.
After a loss like that, it's hard to believe Iowa State won't be fired up and hungry for a victory in this weekend's home opener against Kansas. Throw in Iowa State associate head coach Terry Allen's familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of the Jayhawk players and this could be an ugly Saturday for Kansas and its fans.
Seneca Wallace, whom Iowa State is hyping as a Heisman Trophy candidate, was 22-of-33 passing for 313 yards and two scores against the Seminoles.
He was just 5-of-15 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Cyclones' 49-7 victory against the Jahayhaws last year, but that game was dominated by the Cyclone's rushing attack as they ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns.
Mangino and his staff will have a new defensive scheme this year and, presumably they realize the difficulties last year's squad had against fleet-footed signal callers, but there could still be major problems with basically the same players as last season.
In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if Wallace tripled his numbers against Kansas this year, considering how high his confidence should be after Saturday, especially if he wants to keep showing off for the Heisman voters.
Two other quarterbacks with penchants for calling their own number ran roughshod over Kansas last year.
Eric Crouch gained 49 yards on 13 carries and scored once in Nebraska's 57-10 victory in Lincoln, Neb. Oklahoma's Jason White ran 12 times for 117 yards and passed for 151 yards and four scores in the Sooners' 38-10 victory in Lawrence.
Crouch and his Heisman Trophy are no longer an issue, but Nebraska is still on the schedule. The No. 10-ranked Cornhuskers blocked two punts, held the Sun Devils to 10 points and scored 38 of their own in the second half Saturday. Lord, Crouch's replacement, threw his first career touchdown and ran for 103 vards on 17 carries against Arizona State.
White and the Sooners are off this year's schedule, but that fact is tempered by the addition of Texas A&M, whom Kansas hasn't defeated since 1974, and Oklahoma State, whom Kansas hasn't defeated since 1995.
Not even Texas Tech's 45-21 loss to Ohio State can give the Jayhawks hope. The Red Raiders, losers in double overtime to the Jayhawks last season, aren't on this year's schedule either. Of course, it took a hook-and-ladder play in the fourth quarter and then double overtime to defeat Tech last season, so maybe that's a blessing in disguise.
Chronister is a Lawrence senior in journalism. He is the sports editor.
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