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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL
Riley learned the hard way: Volleyball is a contact sport
MATT GALLOWAY
mgalloway@kansan.com
Volleyball may not be considered a contact sport in the traditional use of the term, but try telling sophomore libero Brianne Riley it's not as physical as some of its padded counterparts.
Riley made contact of a different kind last season when she slammed her head against the hardwood going for a dig. The violent tumble gave her a concussion, which put her on the bench for several games.
Since returning to the starting lineau, Rilev has exhibited the same
aggressiveness she showed during her freshman season before her injury. During the Jayhawks' (6-0) three weekend victories, Riley made a team-leading 7 digs.
Riley said the physicality and danger of volleyball is often overlooked by those outside the sport.
"I think because it's not a contact sport, people don't view it as a dangerous sport," Riley said. "But when you've got a ball coming 70 miles per hour at your face, you've got to be able to get your hands up and protect yourself. You've got to learn the proper techniques to rolling and diving." Riley said.
Coach Ray Bechard said he has
specific drills in practice aimed at teaching the players the proper way to hit the deck.
MIKF GIUNNOF/KANSAN
"Sometimes it's all-out play and you've got to go, but there is a method to the madness," Bechard said. "You can either melt yourself into the floor, or you can plop yourself onto the floor. And trust me, melting into the floor is a lot easier on your body than trying to bruise the floor."
Sophomore defensive specialist Brianne Riley bumps the ball to a teammate Saturday. Riley led the team with 12 digs in the victory.
Most of the injuries on the court occur when players are pursuing 50/50 balls, Bechard said. It is common for two players to make contact when they both claim the ball. Bechard agrees with Riley that the dangerous aspects of volleyball are often underplayed.
"You've got six people on our space and you have five basketball players on a much bigger space," Bechard said. "So there is that opportunity for injury, and that's why communication is so important. The speed of the game makes communication during volleyls critical."
Bechard said when he names a team libero, he is looking for someone, like Riley, who has tremendous communication skills, good range and relentlessness. Riley is known to her teammates as the vocal leader.
Riley remembers going to her first volleyball practice as young girl, and wondering why nobody was saying anything.
"Bri is just constantly loud," sophomore sitter Kara Wehrs said. "She's always moving, talking and giving 100 percent no matter what. I think her effort and communication reflects on the team and makes her a good leader."
"I always thought it was so awkward," Riley said. "So when I go out there, even if no one is talking, I'm immediately going to start saying something to fill in the blank spots. I feel like I have more control and it puts me in a leadership position."
Edited by Alexandra Esposito
HOME FOOTBALL FRIDAYS!
Enjoy free food,free beverages,and music every Friday before home football games at the Alumni Center. All students are welcome!
11a.m.-1p.m., or until food runs out, weather permitting.
Event details
Friday, September 2
Friday, September 9
Friday, September 30
Friday, October 14
Friday, October 21
Friday, November 11
Where
Adams Alumni Center www.kualumni.org
CROSS COUNTRY
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Freshman James Wilson racing towards the finish line Saturday morning for the men's 6K run at the Bob Timmons Classic. Wilson earned fifth place with a total time of 19:37,90.
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
The results from the Bob Timmons Classic last Saturday, the first race of the season, were not exactly what junior runner Allie Marquis and the women's cross country team expected.
"We definitely went in thinking that we could win the race," Marquis said after finishing in fourth place individually. The team combined for a second place finish.
The team began the season with both men's and women's cross country ranked in the top 15 teams of the Midwest region by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
However, the team acknowledges that there are improvements to make.
"The distance between our first runner and our last runner was too big." Marquis said. "I think we definitely need to pack run and
learn that it's OK to get out of our comfort zone."
It did not take long for Reid Buchanon, a freshman middle distance runner on the men's team, to catch on to the concept. Buchanon said the pack strategy is not completely new, though it is certainly stressed much more with his coaches at the collegiate level than in high school.
"To win a cross country race, you have to keep your first and seventh runner close," Buchanon said.
He also said there is a mental advantage to running in packs in that it can intimidate other runners.
Although it has not yet been determined if Buchanon will redshirt this season, he said he has learned a lot so far and he owes much of his progress to the upperclassmen. Buchon said the team encourages each other to work hard on certain days and recovers together on other days.
Many people may view running as an individual sport, but runners rely on their teammates the same way they would in any other team sport.
On the women's team, Marquis said it makes a big difference that the runners are close, on and off the cross country course.
"We're best friends and know each other's strengths, and we want to run for each other," Marquis said.
Edited by Stefanie Penn
CONFERENCE FROM | PAGE 10
they would not waive the right of litigation against Texas A&M and the SEC.
If the eight Big 12 schools do indeed threaten to seek legal action against the SEC, it could potentially hinder Texas A&M's acceptance into the conference.
KU associate athletic director for media relations, Jim Marchiony, told The New York Times' Pete Thamel that Kansas ultimately decided to retain the right
to seek legal action against Texas A&M. although Kansas does not intend to sue either party.
Even if the Big 12 members eventually allow Texas A&M to join the SEC without the threat of legal repercussions, this delay buys the conference time to convince the University of Oklahoma to pledge its loyalty to the Big 12. Oklahoma President David Boeren announced Friday that the Sooners are exploring its conference affiliation options.
Multiple reports have linked
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Oklahoma to the Pac-12 Conference, but the Sooners would not be able to receive an invitation without Texas A&M first leaving the Big 12 free of legal hurdles. If Oklahoma is permitted to withdraw from the Big 12, its exit will most likely result in the end of the conference. It is apparent that the actions of the eight Big 12 "holdouts" are more about retaining Oklahoma than Texas A&M.
Welcome home!
T
Initially, Texas A&M planned a press conference and announcement celebration in College Station for Wednesday, but those arrangements have since been postponed indefinitely.
All in all, this leaves Beebe very little time for a last-ditch effort to retain the Big 12. Beebe had requested in his Sept. 2 letter to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive that the conferences reach a resolution by Thursday at 8 p.m. in order to avoid legal hurdles.
Edited by Alexandra Esposito
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