friday, august 29, 2003
sports
the university daily kansan 3.
3B
Injuries force volleyball team changes
Kansan File Photo
By Mike Morris
mrorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Josiane Lima middle blocker attempted a jump serve during a Kansas women's volleyball practice. The Jayhawks begin their 2003 campaign with a tournament at Northern Illinois University this weekend.
The Kansas volleyball team will play its season opener at 5 p.m. today in the Best Western Inn and Suites Invitational in Dekalb, Ill.
FOOTBALL
"We know they were 33-5 last year and they've got most all their starters back," coach Ray Bechard said. "They'll be a difficult opponent."
The team will take on the Western Kentucky University squad that made the NCAA Tournament last year.
cut opponent.
Josi Lima, sophomore middle blocker, knows Western Kentucky will be tough, but she thinks the team is prepared.
Assistant coach Jill Stucky said the team, which narrowly missed the NCAA tournament last year, has improved since the first day of practice.
"We've definitely come a long way," she said. "The first day of practice balls are flying off of us. Our
skill level is a whole lot better."
Despite many upsides to the team, the Jayhawks have been bitten by the injury bug. Caitlin Mahoney, freshman middle blocker, is unable to play this season due to injury.
And because of a recent injury, Andi Rozum, sophomore setter, will be sidelined indefinitely.
Rozum, who played a big part in the team's 19-victory season last year, will be missed. But Ashley Bechard, sophomore setter, will be asked to step up and take her place. Stucky isn't worried about the change in the lineup.
"We've adjusted to make that particular group better, with or without the injured people," she said.
Ashley Bechard, who played in only 10 matches last year, said she is ready for the challenge.
tenge.
"It's really unfortunate that Andi's going to be out for a while," she said. "All I can do is do the best I can and rely a
whole lot on my teammates to help me out."
There is, however, good news about Lima, who was battling a knee injury this summer. It is probable that she will play this weekend.
weekend. The injuries could easily leave the Jayhawks down on themselves, but the attitude of the players is just the opposite.
"Our whole team is bigger than any one person," Ashley Bechard said. "So, we'll get the iob done."
Sarah Rome, senior outside hitter, also said the team was starting to come together despite the injuries.
the impact. "I think everyone is taking that little step to increase the team chemistry," she said.
After the matchup with Western Kentucky, the Jayhawks will face Liberty University at 11 a.m. tomorrow, and the host team Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.
— Edited by Ashley Marriott
The Associated Press
ST.LOUIS After taking most of the summer off, it was time for Orlando Pace to go to work.
Unlike Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, who didn't start for the St. Louis Rams in the final tune for the regular season, a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup game, Pace, a contract holdout all summer, played most of the first half.
The Chiefs (3-2) also limited their star players' exposure or held them out altogether in a game so lacking in drama the biggest cheer of the night came when Kerry Robinson hit a game-winning ninth-inning homer as the Cardinals beat the Cubs at Busch Stadium.
"The biggest emphasis was to get out there, get a few plays and get out healthy," Rams
offensive tackle Kyle Turley said. "That's what I think we accomplished.
"It wasn't too ugly."
Kansas City's Trent Green played one series, completing his only pass for a 6-yard touchdown to Omar Easy in the first quarter. Priest Holmes didn't play, a precaution after his hip injury last year, and tight end Tony Gonzalez also sat after a minor knee injury on Tuesday.
"Obviously, it's nice to come to St. Louis without getting anyone hurt in a preseason game," Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. "I don't know if that's an indication we're a good or bad football team."
But Pace played most of the first half for the Rams (1-3) to shake off the rust with a little more than a week to go before the start of the regular season.
The Chiefs open at home against San Diego.
Women's soccer freshmen lead team to opening game
Kansan File Photo
Two KU women's soccer team players battle for a loose ball during a practice. The Jay Hawks take on Northwestern at home on Friday.
By Nikki Nugent
nnuget@kansan.com
Kansan Sportswriter
The Kansas women's soccer team will play the Wildcats this weekend, but these Wildcats aren't coming from the west.
The Jayhawks start their season off against Northwestern today. The team will then face Evansville on Sunday.
Coach Mark Francis said he's not sure what to expect from the weekend's opponents.
"The first weekend of the season is always tough because they haven't played any games," he said.
Francis is more clear about what to expect out of his players. He said the younger players were really pushing the returning players.
"You're probably going to see quite a few of them on the field this weekend," Francis said.
surt.
Northwestern is coming off a 4-9-5 season. The Wildcats return nine players who started at least 10 games last season, five of which started all 18 matches. The team also returns all of its scorers.
Anthony Manfretti, Northwestern sports information director, said the Wildcats would come to Lawrence as healthy as they have been in recent season openers. Manfretti said the Wildcat defense should be strong this year, despite giving up 30 goals last season. He said one of the team's main struggles last year was putting everything together and playing a complete game.
Evansville recorded a 6-12-2 finish last season and open their regular season in Lawrence. In an exhibition game against Miami of Ohio, the Purple Aces lost 2-0.
In a second exhibition game, the team lost 4-0 to Auburn in a game where they had only 13 healthy players.
Bob Boxell, Evansville sports information director, said the two early losses may not fully represent the team. The losses came against teams that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. Boxell said the team expected to be healthy when coming to Lawrence.
He said the team was strong with experience, including six seniors, four of who played on the 2001 NCAA Tournament
team. Boxell said the team would like to work on scoring after recording only 19 goals last season, a tough task against what should be a strong Kansas defense.
Coach Francis said he thought the Jayhawks wouldn't have trouble scoring this season. He knows the team needs to improve defensively from last year, but he thinks it has the talent to do so.
"I think defensively we need to give up fewer goals," he said. "Potentially we should be very good in back."
The Jayhawks play Northwestern at 5 tonight and Evansville at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both games will be played at SuperTarget Field.
Edited by Ashley Marriot
Students get in free with your KUID All home matches are played at SuperTarget Field located behind Oliver Hall
for schedule information log onto: KUAthletics.com/soccer
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