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Monday, October 5. 1987 / University Daily Kansan
Sports
Kansas picks on the Salukis for its first victory of the year
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
For at least a week, Kansas coach Bob Valesente won't have to answer questions about how his team will recover from a loss.
"The same character that showed up last week on the sidelines was there again this week," he said. "The team knew they would find a way to win."
The Kansas 16-15 victory against Southern Illinois ended a 10-game losing streak that had extended over two seasons. Even though it was a one-point victory at home against a team in a lower division, Valesente took nothing away from the effort of the Jawhaves.
"The kids have worked so long for so hard," he said, "this will lead to good things for us in the future. This was a tremendous win for us."
Senior defensive end Stacy Henson summed up how long the losing streak had gone on. "We had almost
Henson played a big role in ending the losing streak. He recovered two fumbles, including one n the fourth quarter that set up the final touchdown drive for Kansas. Henson was pressed into action for the defensive end Teddy Newman suffered a concussion in the Louisiana Tech game.
forgot what it was like to win a game," he said. "It was good that we showed other people that we can win."
Henson was one of the stalwarts on a Kansas defense that was impressive for the second game in a week. The defense limited Southern Illinois to only 240 yards in total offense. The defense held two fumbles, two were recovered by Henson and one by senior defensive end Eldridge Avery.
"They played with high intensity and emotion throughout most of the game," he said. "The defensive line did a good job in pressuring the quarterback."
Kansas defensive coordinator Dave Dunkelberger said he was impressed with the way the defense had played for the second week in a
row.
"They were big, physical, and had some good hitters." Mitchell said.
Southern Illinois tailback Byron Mitchell, who rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries, agreed with Dunkelberger.
But the Jayhawks' offense wasn't as consistent, even though in the end it was the offense that won the game for the Jayhawks. Kansas drove 32 yards in 10 plays during the game's first minutes to score the winning touchdown.
The offense was under the leadership of freshman quarterback Kevin Verdugo, who had never played in a college game until Saturday. Verdugo scored both at the Jayhawks'
See FOOTBALL, p. 10, col. 1
Joe Wilkins III/KANSAN
Two Southern Illinois defenders break up a pass intended for KU wide receiver Quentin Smith. The Jayhawks defeated the Salukis on Saturday in Memorial Stadium for their first victory of the season.
Freshman shines in big debut
By ANNE LUSCOMBE Associate sports editor
Freshman quarterback Kevin Virdugo made his debut Saturday against Southern Illinois, gaining the Titans' first victory. Kyle Donchoe and senior Mike Ortez.
Not only was it Verdugo's first collegiate game, but the Pittsburgh native scored KU's two touchdowns. The last touchdown came with 1:02 left in the game and inches to go. He played a quarterback that he must be impressed with straight ahead and barely crossed the goal line. The play gave Kansas its first victory since the team played the Salukis last season.
For the Kansas football team, the number 13 is no longer deemed unlucky. That is because it was the player wearing that number that helped the Jayhawks post a 16-15 victory and break a 10-game losing streak.
"It ites great," Verdugo said of his two touchdowns. "There is no other feeling like it in the world. I really didn't have any idea this would happen. I just wanted to be fundamentally sound."
Despite his lack of collegiate experience, Verdugo showed no signs of nervousness. Instead he remained calm, even down to last drive.
"For a freshman coming into a situation like this he did an excellent job," said senior running back Mike Rogers. "There was a lot of pressure on us to win. Kevin was very poised. He was very calm on each play and didn't panic, which helped, especially on the last drive."
Kansas coach Bob Valesente did not announce that Verdulo would start until Friday, but offensive coordinator Gary Huff said it was just a matter of time before the freshman would have competed for the position anyway.
"He handles everything well at practice but now we were in a game situation," Huff said. "You never know what a young quarterback will do. He is his own unknown enemy. The main thing to get out of the game is for the quarterback not to go in there and get you beat."
However, with the lack of success by Orth and Donhoe, a quarterback change was obviously going to take place soon.
"The quarterback gets a lot of See VERDEGO. p. 10, col. 1
See VERDEGO, p. 10, col. 1
KU tennis team does well in tournament
Victory breaks streak for KU volleyball team
Staff writer
Bv ROBERT WHITMAN
Kansas defeated the Shockers 15-8,
15-8, 13-15, 15-5, in Wichita, with the
Sooners defeated the Jayhawks 15-7,
15-6, 1-4 in Norman, Okla.
The KU volleyball team broke its eight-match losing streak 'Friday against Wichita State, but continued to be without a victory in conference matches after a loss Saturday to Oklahoma.
"We played well against Wichita State," KU coach Frankie Albiz said. "That's the best I've ever seen our set set. Monica (Spencer) really played well. Jodi (Oelschlager) played well too."
But Oklahoma was a different story. The Sooners, who have seven players 6-foot1 or taller on their shoulders, overpowered Kansas, Albiza said.
"It was like the Nebraska match (a three-game loss). I don't know how many sideouts we had. We went about 10 minutes before anyone scored a point in the first game," she said. "We could hold them fairly well, but we had a hard time making any points, Judy Desch and Shannon Ridgeway played really well in that match."
Desch, a 5-11 senior, had a .184 hitting percentage for the match, and Ridgeway, a 5-9 senior, had a .318 hitting percentage. All the other hitters had a negative hitting percentage. Albitz said.
The hitting percentage is a mea
sure of how many kills a player has, minus errors, out of the number of kill opportunities.
Although Kansas ended the eight-match losing streak, Albitz said she was concerned more about how the
"We're not as strong as the teams we're playing, but we're playing some good matches."
Frankie Albitz
KU volleyball coach
team played and improved from match-to-match. She said the team was better than it was last year at this time, in spite of its 5-11 record overall and 4-2 record in Big Eight Conference matches.
"We're not as strong as the teams we're playing, but we're playing some good matches," Albiz said.
Last year, Kansas was 14-2 overall and 2-1 in conference matches after playing 16 matches.
"We're playing a lot better in almost every way, except our middle quick hitting is not as great," Albitz said.
Kansas plays Missouri at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday in Columbia, Mo., in its
next match.
All the Big Eight teams are better, including Kansas. But Kansas hasn't improved faster than the rest of the Big Eight. Albiz said.
By DARRIN STINEMAN
Staff writer
Kansas was the only team in a six-team field to have a singles player and a doubles team in the finals of the Midwest Intercollegiate Invitational yesterday at Evanston, III., but neither was able to win.
The tournament was an individual tournament consisting of 64 singles players and 32 doubles players.
Senior Tracy Treps was the first Kansas singles player to make the finals of the tournament in the four years the Jayhawks have attended. She won the first set 6-2 but lost the second 7-6, losing the breaker 8-4 after she was ahead 5-2. Her victory on the Catil of Notre Dame, won the deciding set 6-1.
"I went into the third set with the wrong attitude," Treps said. "I was thinking I should have won the second set, and I lost my concentration. I just thought I shouldn't have lost the second set."
Treps and her doubles partner, junior Janetette Jonsson, also made it to the final yesterday. They split the first two sets before losing to Penny McCarthy and Katherine Wilson of Iowa 6-3 in the final set.
"I thought we did really well." Jonsson said. "We both played really good volleys, and we were really aggressive at the net. We were a doubles team, not two singles players."
Treps said she was pleased with the way the tournament went for her until the finals on Sunday.
"I was really happy up to the time..."
"It's really hard to walk away from a tournament and get two second places. Janetelle and I had a chance, and I definitely had a chance to win the singles."
"It's great that she was (in the singles final), and it's a great sign for the rest of the year," he said. "From the baseline right now, she's playing on the court in country. There no doubt in my mind about that."
Pereman also complimented Treps on her accomplishments at the tournament.
"Right now I feel disappointed, but I feel I had a good tournament."
Senior Marie Hibbard also had a good tournament, as she reached the quarter-final round Friday. She and her doubles partner, freshman Mindy Pelz, also made it to the quarters before being eliminated.
The field included Kansas, Tennessee, North
western Notre Dame, Iowa and Minnesota.
Pitchers end softball season in near-perfect style
By MIKE CONSIDINE Staff writer
Staff writer
Sophomore Roanna Brazier won a 2-0 decision over Crowder College on Saturday and a 12-0 decision over
Freshman Jenny Splittorp pitched a 7-0 victory over Hutchinson Community College in yesterday's final game, becoming the third Kansas State player to also had a 4-3 victory over Johnson County Community College.
Recording five shutouts in six games, the Kansas women's softball team swept the KU invitational No. 3 championship, wrapping up its fall
The Jayhawks finished with a 10-7 record.
Barton County Community College yesterday. Brazier limited Crowder to two hits and Barton County to one.
Junior Reeie Powell threw a one-hitter in a 9-0 victory against Barton County on Saturday and a three-hit victory against Johnson County yesterday.
"They did well." Coach Kalum Haack said. "A lot of that has to do with good defense. Prior to this weekend, they might throw the same ballgame and not having good defense behind them cost us."
Errors had been a problem for Haack's squad throughout the fall, but the team committed just one miscue in its final four games.
misse in its final four tour.
Powell said a change Haack made
in her pitching delivery helped her this weekend.
"He changed my drop ball from a turnover drop to a hard drop." Powell said. "It breaks a lot harder if I throw it right."
The Jayhawk offense was stronger than it had been at any time in the season.
Kansas erupted for six runs in the first inning against Barton County yesterday behind senior Gayle Luedeke's double and freshman Shelly Burke's single. Doubles by Wickham and Luedeke produced a pair of runs in the second, and the team added three more in the third.
Haack's squad had eight hits against Crowder and six against
Johnson County on Saturday.
"The pitching wasn't as strong, but we were a lot more aggressive at the plate." Haack said.
The team went through most its fall season without senior Cherie Wickham. She returned to the lineup in October and back four seniors on the active roster.
"It's going to make a big difference with the leadership they will provide."
Powell said, "I think we've had our ups and downs. Now we're finally going to pull together and work as a unit."
The team now has time to enjoy its off-season. Conditioning and weight training begins in two weeks.
KU soccer team loses winning goal to referee's watch
By ROBERT WHITMAN
Staff writer
The referee's watch became the biggest issue Sunday as the KU men's soccer team played to a 3-3 tie in overtime against Wichita State at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets.
With the game tied 2-2 in the final seconds of regulation play, Kansas center forward Toby Weas headed a ball to teammate Damien McBride about 25 yards from the Wichita State goal. McBride dribbed about five yards and shot the ball into the net, apparently giving Kansas a 3-2 lead.
the referee blew his whistle to end the second half after McBride hit the shot, but before the ball crossed the goal line. Because
the score came after the whistle, the goal was disallowed.
"The referee said that as soon as I headed the ball, his (watch) alarm went off," he said. "It was bogus that he called the game right in the process of scoring a goal."
"That's about as lame as you can possibly get." KIU coach Glenn Shirtliffe said.
She took out chili sauce.
Weas said he was unhappy with the call also.
An overtime period was played after Shirt-
life and Wichita State coach Dan Oslo
and Coach Todd McKenna.
They decided to play an overtime period of 20 minutes (divided into halves so each team attacks both ends of the field) even though the teams are clubs and not intercollegiate
teams. The overtime period is played in NCAA intercollegiate matches.
"He (Olson) asked me if we wanted to play overtime. Shirtliffe said. "Certainly our guys wanted to play the overtime."
Kansas dominated play in the first overtime half, but didn't score until the second half of the overtime.
Marc Boussaget passed to Ed Nelson in the penalty box and Nelson scored a goal from about 10 yards away, giving Kansas a 3-2 lead.
Minutes later, Wichita State tied the game on a goal by Dave Voss, his second of the game. The referee blew his whistle to end the overtime directly after Voss' goal.
In soccer, official time is kept by the
"It's a moot point. It's his opinion as to when the game is over," Shirtliffe said. "I can keep my watch on the sidelines, but when he blows his whistle for time, it's all over."
"They didn't have a strong game," Shirtliffe said of the referees.
reeree: the decision when a half or overtime period has ended is a judgement call, even in a World Cup final.
But Shriliffe said the referee wasted about seven minutes at the beginning of the second half conferring with the linesmen. It was time for the referees should have been added to the half of the hall.
The game started with two officials on the field as referees, instead of the usual one referee and two linesmen. The official who
Kansas took a 2-10 lead at halftime on goals by Keith Paton and Chris Evisizer.
Another official had to leave at the end of regulation,
kept time in the second half arrived 10 minutes after the game began.
In the 55th minute, a Wichita State player was ejected after receiving his second yellow card of the game. That left the Shockers one player short the rest of the game.
"It's frustrating to give up two goals to a team that's short-handed." Shirtlife said.
"We had opportunities out there again today, but our final finishing just wasn't there," he said. "We're doing a lot better in the game and we're playing at home at our pace and controlling the game."