thursday,september11,2003
sports
the university daily kansan
9A
Bump,set,spike: Volleyball seeks fourth straight championship at Jayhawk Classic Stories by Mike Norri
Razorbacks, Jayhawks to clash at Jayhawk Invitational
For Arkansas volleyball coach Chris Poole, last season was a successful one, at least in most people's minds.
The team finished 27-6, second in its conference, was ranked 18th in the country and made it to the finals of the South Eastern Conference Tournament.
So why didn't the Razorbacks make the NCAA Tournament last year?
"We didn't have a representative on the NCAA committee
board," Poole said. "And the NCAA failed to recognize it."
The "we" Poole referred to was the Southeast Region. The NCAA is made up of eight regions that represent different schools on the NCAA selection committee.
Arkansas' NCAA representative retired last year, and the NCAA didn't replace her.
Poole said the retirement was the only reason why his team didn't get invited to the tournament.
"Someone told me it was the first time in any sport that a team who finished in the top 20 in the country, and top five in the conference, didn't make the post-season," he said.
Poole said after losing three all-conference players from last year's team, this year's team would have to work harder.
"We lost 75 percent of our offense," he said. "We're rebuilding a little bit."
The Razorbacks, 7-3 this season.
The still has Sara Kinaicad, senior
middle blocker, who leads the team with 3.93 kills and 1.27 blocks per game.
Despite viewing this season as a rebuildingyear. Poole looked forward to the Jayhawk Classic this weekend.
"There will
Kincaid
Poole. "We're glad to have an opportunity to play."
Arkansas will meet Kansas for the first time in its opening match at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Horesji Family Athletic Center.
Poole said the Jayhawks would be a tough opponent.
"They are very, very scrappy,
he said. "I love their enthusiasm."
Saturday, Arkansas will take on North Carolina at 11 a.m. and Creighton at 5 p.m.
ARKANSAS:
"There will be great competition," said —Edited by Jonathan Reed.
Coach: Chris Poole, 10th year,
(227-97).
Key Player: Sara Kincaid,
Senior middle blocker. 3.93
kills/game 1.27 blocks/game
Current record: 4-3
Last year: 27-6
What to watch for: The Razorbacks have lost a lot of talent, but Poole has never had a losing record in 10 years.
Tar Heels look for experience
The North Carolina volleyball team finished last season with a 32-4 record and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
This year's team has four new starters, and coach Joe Sagula knows it may take a while for his young team to develop. That's why he said the Hampton Inn/Jayhawk Classic this weekend would be a good learning tool for his team.
"This weekend we will try to improve our play and get better," he said. "We need to prepare to be successful on the road."
The Tar Heels, with a record of 3-2, are led by Molly Pyles, junior outside hitter, who is averaging 4.88 kills per game.
The team won the UNC Volleyball Classic to start the season, but is coming off consecutive losses.
Sagula said he realized the team may not be as welcome as in the past, but didn't expect there to be a problem.
When the Tar Heels play Kansas on Saturday, it will mark the first time a team from Chapel Hill has traveled to Lawrence since the departure of basketball coach Roy Williams.
NORTH CAROLINA:
Coach: Joe Sagula, 14th year. (274-165)
Key Player: Molly Pyles, Jr.
outside hitter, 4.88 kills per
game, 2.31 kills per game
Current Record: 3-2
Last year: 32-4
What to watch for: The Tar Heels were picked to finish second in the ACC. They have lost two in a row, but Sagula has done nothing but win since he arrived in 1990.
"We have a lot of respect for Kansas," he said.
Courtesy UNC
Sagula said he expected the crowd to have the same respect for the Tar Heels.
The match-up between the 'Hawks and Tar Heels will be the teams' third ever, with the series tied 1-1.
Sagula knows if his team wants to improve to 2-1 against KU, it will have to step up its play. He described the Jayhawks as explosive and playing well right now.
If the Tar Heels win both of their matches, and the Jayhawks
are successful in their two matches, North Carolina and Kansas could be playing for the tournament championship when the meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Senior University of North Carolina middle hitter Aletha Green is in action during a game. The Tar Heels are one of four teams competing in The Hampton Inn/Jayhawk Classic this weekend at the Horeksi Family Athletics Center.
Creighton seeks improvement
The Creighton University volleyball team has already won two-thirds as many games as it did last year.
But don't tell that to first-year coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth.
"We don't talk a whole lot about last year," she said.
The Blue Jays (2-4), finished 3-23 last year, but Booth is looking for the team to rebound and has seen many positives in the players.
The team is led by sophomore Wichita-native Leah Ratzlaff. Ratzlaff is first on the team with 4.23 kills per game.
"They have been nothing but great to work with," she said.
Booth said Ratzlaff and Liz Hagerman, Onaga sophomore, would have some fans in the crowd.
The entire coaching staff for Creighton is in its first year, but Booth said the players have responded well.
"They are working their tails off." she said.
The team has shown some improvement with two wins in the Iowa State Invitational in August.
Since the two wins, Creighton
CREIGHTON:
Coach: Kristen Bernthal Booth
Key player: Lahz Rattazl So.
outside hitter. 4.23 kills per game
Current record: 2-4 Last year: 3-
23
What to watch for: Booth has the young team believing it can win, and the Wichita-native Ratzlaff returns to her home state for the tournament.
has lost three in a row, but Booth said it will use this tournament to improve the team.
booth said the Jayhawks would be a tough opponent.
"KU is a very strong team," said Booth. "And Ray [Bechard] is a great coach."
KU has beaten the Blue Jays both times the two have faced off.
If the team can pull off a victory in the tournament, it will have already equaled last year's total.
Booth said just the experience in the tournament would help.
"We don't want a repeat of last year," she said.
The Blue Jays will open up the
Courtesy Creighton
Leah Ratzlaff, Creighton University sophomore, hit the ball in match play. The Blue Jays will take on Kansas and UNC during the Jayhawk Classic this weekend at Horejsi Athletic Center.
tournament with a match against North Carolina at 5 p.m. tomorrow. They will play Kansas at 1 p.m. Saturday, before wrapping up with Arkansas at 5 p.m.
—Edited by Nikki Overfel
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