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Simien named to list
Simien named to the Kansas forward Wayne Simien was named one of 21 players on Collegeinsider.com's preseason All-American list. PAGE 9A
The University Daily Kansan
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'Hawks to rebuild
Thursday, October 16, 2003
By Jesse Newell jnewell@ansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Kansas coach Marian Washington knows rebuilding a basketball program takes time.
takes time. However, at the annual women's basketball media day, Washington said she had no doubt her program was headed in the right direction.
"I think this team will be much improved," she said. "I think you'll see another step in women's basketball."
another step before it. With one senior and a crop of incoming players, it is unknown just how big that step might be.
Kansas brings back all five starters junior guards Blair Waltz and Aquanita Burras, senior guard Leila Menguc and sophomore forwards Tamara Ransburg and Crystal Kemp, from a 2002-2003 squad that finished 11-18. The Jayhawks finished with three conference victories, just one year after a winless conference season in 2001-2002.
season in 2001-2003 The Jayhawks also return with the services of sophomore guard Erica Hall-
man and forward Alicia Rhymes, who are coming off injury-plagued seasons last year.
last year. Washington, in her 31st year at Kansas, helped the Jayhawks on the recruiting path with six newcomers on this year's team.
"I think when you're trying to get a program back on its feet," Washington said. "It takes a couple of years, and I think the last couple of years we've had some very good recruiting results."
some very good recruiting in Washington brought in four junior college players, guards Kaylee Brown, Larisha Graves and Syretta Coleman and forward Kandis Bonner, to add some experience to her squad. She also brought in a pair of top-30 recruits to the layhawks.
jayhawks
Forward Lauren Ervin, who turned down Tennessee to come to Kansas, and guard Sharita Smith will provide inside and outside talent for this year's team.
"There's more depth at every position," Hallman said. "It's going to be good for us at practice, because we're going to be able to push each other
harder
Smith will get a slow start on the year, as she will be held out of practice for at least another month with a knee injury. Washington remains optimistic that both freshmen will have an impact on this year's team.
"It takes some time for freshmen to adjust to this level," Washington said, "but the potential is definitely there."
The Jayhawks benefited from a trip to Mexico on Aug. 30-31. The team played four exhibition games and was able to gain some valuable practice time before the season started.
Kansas finished with a 4-0 record in the exhibitions, and Washington said the team had developed some chemistry during its stay.
during his say.
Waltz said she thought this team was a more cohesive unit than last year's squad.
squad. "The biggest difference is just the enthusiasm that each of us has," she said, and the enthusiasm that all the coaches have."
Edited by Nikki Overfelt
Kansan file photo
Junior guard Blair Waltz drove past a Nebraska defender during a 2002 game. The women's basketball team begins its 2003 campaign Nov. 10.
'Ray's Boys' show support for volleyball
Avid volleyball fans Ray's Boys attended the Kansas/Missouri game in Columbia Oct. 1. Ray's Boys attend every home game and even make it to some away games, such as the games in Manhattan and Columbia.
By Jason Hwang
jhwang@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Tomorrow night, more than 15,000 Jayhawk fans will be loud and excited for the basketball teams' debuts at Late Night in the Phog at Allen Fieldhouse. But few of those fans can match the dedication of Ray's Boys, the boisterous crew that regularly makes the Horejsi Family Athletics Center a tough place for opponents to play volleyball in the Big 12 Conference.
These guys make any hard-core groupie of a rock band look indifferent.
This circle of fans has attended every home match of the Kansas women's volleyball team this season, and the group has gone to road matches at Kansas State, Missouri and Oklahoma.
State, Mission Missio
The original four Ray's Boys are seniors Matt Unger, St. Louis; Brandon Tobias, Osage City; Jordan P. Smith, St.
Joseph, Mo; and Josh Wunderlich, Stillwell, from Pearson Scholarship Hall.
The group created Ray's Boys, named after volleyball coach Ray Bechard, at the Texas A&M match last season. Since then group members have become loyal, and vocal, supporters.
"The most enjoyment I get out of it is when other fans around us finally get to pick it up a notch, because what's the point in being there if your not going to let your support be heard?" Smith said.
Bechard said he was excited that Kansas volleyball was attracting such a loval fan base.
Wunderlich said fans have come out in drove to support the football team when it was doing well, and there were consistent sellouts at Allen Fieldhouse. But he said what made Ray's Boys unique was their unconditional support since last season.
Ray's Boys stand out from the other fans at Horegi Family Athletics Center
by chanting specific cheers throughout the matches. To start out the match and some games, Unger leads off, yelling "Who's house?" while the rest respond "Ray's House!" to fire up the team and the crowd.
the crowd.
Other cheers now common at volleyball matches are "No me gusa!" meaning "I don't like it!" after a bad call by the official. After a big spike by one of the Jayhawks, they yell, "In your eye!" Finally, after Lindsay Morris, junior outside hitter, gets a kill, Rav's Boys reply, "Way to go, L-Mo!"
Ray's boys play, "Those guys are great." Morris said. "They're always enthusiastic and help keep the crowd going."
keep the crowd going.
How effective are Ray's Boys? Last year in a home match against Missouri, Ray's Boys gave Christi Smith, Missouri middle blocker, a hard time throughout the match. After she registered a kill, she congratulated her teammates, turned around and stared down Ray's Boys. It's rare for a volleyball player to acknowledge a crowd during the match.
Throughout the matches, opposing coaches try put up fingers to tell their team where to place the serve, but Ray's Boys blurt out that number to help the home team. Unger said the Nebraska coach was visibly upset each time they did this.
"Of course we're doing this only to support the girls," Smith said. "But with all the road trips and time and effort spent into Ray's Boys, we all have become closer friends, and we hope that other members of our hall will continue to make this work."
Despite the recognition for being such loyal fans, Tobias said the fame is not the motive for Ray's Boys.
not the move for Kay. "Coach Bechard turned the volleyball program around and made them a winning team," Tobias said.
—Edited by Katie Bean
Practice pays dividends for Kansas tennis team
After a week of intense practice, the Kansas tennis team took its talents to Flushing Meadows, N.Y., site of the U.S. Open, for the Women's College Tennis Invitational this past weekend.
After advancing through the first four rounds of doubles competition, Haylock and Steinbock fell to 4th-seeded Aibika Kalsarieva and Sarah Foster of Kentucky in the finals.
Kansas doubles partners Emily Haylock and Kristen Steinbock had a productive tournament, finishing second in the main doubles draw.
Despite only winning four singles matches in Tulsa,Okla., two weeks ago,Hail emphasized that players not defeat themselves in close matches.
"They had an outstanding weekend and I think this will be a great boost to the rest of the season," Hall said.
lan Chao of Perm S, 0-6, 10-6
In singles C, Filibert posted a solid performance. Her 2-0 match record in the consolation bracket included victories over Lauren Edelschein of Rutgers and Amanda Saiontz of Brown.
That advice resulted in five singles victories on Sunday as seniors Haylock and Steinbock, sophomores Christine Skoda and Luiza Loureiro and freshman Ashley Filberth each posted a victory.
"Everyone is really enjoying the experience and we are starting to play up to our potential," Hall said.
tory.
In singles A, sophomore Christine Skoda posted a 2-0 record in the consolation half of the bracket. Skoda defeated Kerry Meath of Brown, 6-2, 6-2 and followed up with a victory over Sheila Chao of Penn 3-6, 6-2, 10-5.
— Rahul Sharma
Kansas golfer ranked in top 10
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Andrew Price is at the top of his golf game, but he needed a break.
"I asked coach Randall because you can't really miss the chance to see the Cubs clinch." Price said. "It's good to get away from it for a day, but it's also not good."
The Illinois native took a few days off practice with the Kansas men's golf team to make it back to the Windy City for Tuesday evening's match-up between the Cubs and Marlins.
Not only did Price see his Cubs lose game six of the series, but he was away from the game he excels in. Price is just starting to make a name for himself in collegiate golf. The junior garnered his first two top-10 finishes of his career at The Ridges Intercollegiate on Sept. 13 and the Kansas Invitational on Sept. 22-
Price said he gained confidence during the summer months through his strong showings in the Illinois Amateur and the Illinois Open, leading him into Kansas' fall schedule.
Price has been able to become a true threat to win tournaments based on his lowered stroke average of 71.6 strokes per round. This average includes a round of 80 that Price recorded in the second round of the Pepperdine Club Glove on
Kansas fan schedule "I didn't know exactly how well I would play." Price said. "I wanted to win a tournament in the fall, and I did that. So I want to win the next tournament and the one after that."
23. Price even captured the individual tournament title at the Kansas Invitational played at Alvamar Golf and Country Club with a three round total of 207. The score is the fourth-best three-round total in Kansas history.
Manan True/Kansar
SEE PRICE ON PAGE 8A
Andrew Price was named September golfer of the month for the Big 12 Conference. Golfweek magazine ranked him No.8 in the country.
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TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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