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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Jayhawks volleyball season opens today
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
Sophomore setter kara Wehrs of the Crismon team tries to tip the ball over two Blue team defenders during the volleyball scrimmage Saturday afternoon.
MATT GALLOWAY
mgalloway@kansan.com
Last season, the volleyball team started strong, winning their first seven games. While they would finish the season on a 10-14 slide, the importance of starting the season strong has not been lost on the returning players or on coach Ray Bechard.
The volleyball team opens the season at 3:30 p.m. today in Athens, Ga., against Florida A&M as part of the Georgia Bulldog Invitational. On Saturday, the Jayhawks will play in two games against Liberty and Georgia.
Padding their win total against non-conference schools will be critical if the Jayhawks want to make their first NCAA tournament since 2005. However, Bechard spoke highly of all three opponents after Tuesday's practice, citing preseason polls that picked Florida A&M and Liberty to win their conferences.
The Georgia Bulldogs are a different story. They have a new coach this season in Lizzy Stemke, and what they will bring to the table in a loaded SEC remains a bit of an unknown. Bechard said he is thankful for the opportunity to scout Georgia in two games before their matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m.
"It's a little difficult with new personnel to get information on how they were last year," Bechard said. "It's a new year, so you go in a little bit blind with the first match."
Florida A&M will likely have a chip on their shoulder when they open the season against the Jayhawks this afternoon. Last season, the Lady Rattlers fell short of their 10th consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship after a stunning loss to Delaware State in the conference tournament semifinals. Liberty Flames finished last season 25-9, one win shy of an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The
Flames, who will face the Jayhawks second at 9 a.m. Saturday,received three presaemon All-Conference selections in the Big South.
Bechard said
"It's been a little uneven this week because of the start of class and the schedule change ... I don't think it's a matter of effort. It's a matter of execution and time management."
While schools like Liberty and Florida A&M may not appear to be critical for a Big 12 school, starting strong against two potential recipients of automatic bids to the NCAA tournament could boost the team's stature more than a victory against Georgia by the time the season winds down, Bechard said.
"So we've go to get off to a fast start," Bechard said. "We've got 12 opportunities before we start league play, and we've got to maximize every one of those."
his team was having a hard time with time management early this week in practice. However, he does not think his team is alone in their struggles.
"It's a new year, so you go in a little bit blind with the first match."
"I don't know that there is a college coach comfortable having to play this week," Bechard said.
RAY BECHARD
Coach
Balancing schoolwork with practice should come naturally as the season draws on, especially for the two freshmen on the team.
"I mean, our freshman are learning, but we've been through that before," said junior middle blocker Tayler Tolefre. "We're ready to start the grind again. I think we're focused on the season, so that will transfer into focusing and prioritizing all areas of our
Tolefree said she expects the team's two freshmen, outside hitters Chelsea Albers and Sara McClinton, to contribute early on and help the underclassmen-heavy team in their postseason push.
studies, too."
"They're really ready to work hard and they're really ready to learn." Tolefree said. "There's not like an awkward 'Where's my place?' moment. They know they belong with us and they are expected to and need to contribute just like everyone else. They fit in really well and they're ready to work hard and contribute too."
Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc said she liked what she's seen from the freshmen and also thinks they will be key if the team wants to match or even surpass their hot start from last season.
"I think both of them already have great, developed skills and both of them are super athletic," Jarmoc said. "I think that they're going to definitely come in right away and have an impact on the team."
The final game of the invitational against Georgia will be available to watch online at http://www.georgiadogs.com/allaccess.
Edited by Jason Bennett
INTERNATIONAL
Japan will defend its title in Little League World Series
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Seconds after the ball left his bat in the third inning, Yoshiki Suzuki raised his right arm in celebration and admired his opposite-field blast just over the left-field wall.
Then he did it again in the fifth.
Suzuki got his home-run trot down pat Thursday at the Little League World Series. His two homers led Japan to a 9-6 win Thursdays over Macacay, Venezuela, to advance to Saturday's international final against Mexico.
The mashers from Hamamatsu City are just two more wins away from defending the World Series crown won last year by Japan, though the latest victory didn't come easy.
Venezuela had the tying run at the plate with one out in the sixth after Yonny Hernandez's RBI single. Reliever Gaisha Iguchi struck out the last two hitters to finally allow Japan to celebrate and eliminate Venezuela.
Another elimination game was slated for Thursday night between Huntington Beach, Calif., and the local heroes from
Clinton County, Pa. The team from the Keystone Little League is based just 30 miles away from South Williamsport — the first Williamsport-area team to qualify for the World Series since 1969. The winner of that game moves on to face Billings, Mont., in the U.S. bracket final Saturday.
Ken igeta had an RBI double in the third before Suzuki belted the first of his two homers. Doing his best impression of slugger David Ortiz, the left-handed Suzuki watched in ave at the plate as the ball clear the 225-foot wall.
Hiroyasu Sugiura, 12, was so excited that he bolted out of the dugout and raced toward home, nearly beating the happy Suzuki to the plate.
"Both times, I was just trying to hit the ball to center," Suzuki said.
Not quite,but Japan will gladly take the two shots to left just the same.
After Iguchi's game-ending strikeout, Japan's players briefly exchanged handshakes and pats
on the back before lining up on the third-base line to exchange handshakes with Venezuela, a Little League tradition.
Kazuo Takakura added a three-run homer in the fourth for Japan. It was his first-ever home run for the 12-year-old Takakura, and his teammates toasted him at the plate by raising both his arms in victory as if a prize-fighter following a title-winning bout.
"We are from Japan so we don't have much power. Ask the players." Japan manager Akihiro Suzuki, no relation to Yoshiki, joked with a chuckle. "That's why we reacted like that. We were all very happy for him."
Venezuela trailed 8-0 before finally solving Japan pitching in the fifth. Elio Narvaez highlighted a five-run inning with a two-run blast to right with two outs to cut the deficit to three runs.
"Our bats didn't come today. Our rally was too late," manager Gustavo Narvaez said through interpreter Edwardo Caraballo about his nephew "Japan is a very good team, they fouled off a lot of pitches and wore down our pitchers."
SPORTS
Women's basketball needs more men
The Kansas women's basketball team is looking for a male practice player to make up the next "Dream Team." This is an opportunity for Kansas students to play a role in the preparation of the women's team who has appeared in the WNIT the last
four years.
The team needs males that play at a high level and can challenge the women in practices and workouts.
Players would need to devote three to five afternoons a week to help prepare the women's team for their upcoming season. Most practices would run from 3-6 p.m.
Applicants must complete NCAA compliance paperwork, pass a physical exam through the KU athletic department, complete a sickle cell test and provide proof of insurance.
Contact Danielle Campbell for more information at 785-864-7718.
Edited by Josh Kantor
AUDITION UNIVERSITY DANCE COMPANY
Friday, August 26
Shabbat Dinner 6-7 p.m. Bruckmiller Room,Adams Alumni Center
Join KU Hillel and the KU Alumni Association for our annual Jayhawk Shabbat. Stop by the Adams Alumni Center for a free dinner and lots of giveaways! Rock Chalk! Join us for the Jayhawk Shabbat!
Co-Sponsored by KU Alumni Association and KU Hillel