6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
VOLLEYBALL
Jayhawks can't overlook struggling Red Raiders
Weston White/KANSAN
Freshman middle blocker Tayler Tolefie tips a ball past a Texas blocker on Oct. 14. Kansas next takes on Texas Tech, which is wireless in conference play.
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
The Kansas volleyball team has a big challenge ahead of it: Don't underestimate Texas Tech.
The Jayhawks (10-8, 3-6) will face the Red Raiders (21-5, 0-8) in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech has struggled all season and has only won one set in Big 12 Conference play all season.
While Texas Tech is the last place team in the Big 12, it could be easy for Kansas to overlook the Red Raiders coming off an emotional victory at Kansas State and with a rematch against Missouri coming up this Saturday.
Coach Ray Bechard said that if his team looks ahead in the Big 12, it could come back and bite them. The team is focused on Texas Tech, though, Bechard said.
"Small steps in this league are hard enough, and you can take big steps backwards real quick," Bechard said. "The most important match on our schedule right now is tomorrow night at Tech."
"They have some dynamic athletes. They continue to work
Texas Tech has only won a single conference match in the last three seasons, but has a new coaching staff that hopes to turn the program around. Texas Tech also has some talented players, Bechard said.
hard and you can see they are making progress", Bechard said. "Obviously we have to be well-prepared and execute well."
Junior libero Melissa Manda said that it would be easy to look ahead, but the team is focused right now
just as any other game and try and get better this match," Manda said.
"We are going to focus on them
While Texas Tech doesn't
"The most important match on our schedule right now is tomorrow night at Tech."
RAY BECHARD Kansas volleyball coach
texas Tech doesn't have a conference victory yet, Texas Tech isn't as bad as its record suggests, sophomore outside hitter Lauren Hagan said.
"I heard they played Texas and were at 20-20," Hagan said. "I
lost in three, but they still put pressure on Texas."
Kansas hopes to use the Kansas
State victory to help gain some momentum for Texas Tech and the second half of Big 12 Conference play, Manda said.
"We feel really good," Manda said. "It was definitely a step forward for us. We aren't letting it go to our head, but it helps boost our morale."
Edited by Tim Burgess
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Undefeated Iowa fights for reputation
ASSOCIATED PRESS
IOWA CITY, Iowa — No. 7 Iowa is still having a tough time convincing others of its status as an early contender for the national title.
Sure, the Hawkeyes (7-0, 3-0) are the only undefeated team in the Big Ten, and yes, Iowa has already beaten Penn State, Wisconsin and Iowa State on the road.
But looking at the Top 25 poll and BCS standings shows that there's still some doubts about the Hawkeves.
So what does Iowa have to do to move up in terms of both national perception and in the rankings?
Iowa has reached its highest spot in the Top 25 since 2002 and is sixth in the BCS standings. But the other unbeaten from BCS affiliated conferences; Alabama, Florida, Texas and Cincinnati, are all ranked higher than the Hawkeyes in the Top 25 and the BCS.
Coach Kirk Ferentz doesn't
know — and he insists that he does not particularly care either.
"It's October 20th, so I'm not too worried about any of that stuff right now," Ferentz said. "It's pretty simple. When you win, you feel pretty good. When you don't, you don't feel so good. That's good enough for us right now."
The Hawkeyes will have another chance to prove themselves Saturday night when they play at Michigan State (4-3, 3-1), which has rebounded from a 1-3 start with three straight wins.
The Hawkeyes are a one-point favorite against Michigan State, yet another sign of the doubt many have about the Hawkeyes.
"The best way for us to get anywhere is just try to take care of this week, and that's about all we can handle right now," Ferentz said.
Perhaps the biggest reason Iowa is such a question mark is because of something Ferentz has never cared for: style points.
The Hawkeyes don't have them and neither does the Big Ten.
Iowa didn't win many folks over with its narrow 17-16 escape over FCS school Northern Iowa in the opener.
Iowa used a 21-10 victory at Penn State to get back into the Top 25, but the Hawkeyes followed that up by struggling to put away Arkansas State and Michigan at home before winning at Wisconsin 20-10 last weekend.
Iowa's winning formula, while far from flashy, has worked so far.
The Hawkeyes rely on a stellar defense that takes opponents out of their comfort zone and forces turnovers — Iowa is fourth in the nation in turnover margin — and a balanced offense that uses the clock and limits game-changing mistakes as much as possible.
"We don't really care how we win. I mean, a win is a win," Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi said. "The style points and all that — we're not exactly the flashtest ballclub. Everybody knows that, so we didn't think wed be winning any style points anyways."
No white flags
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Mitch Murray, Lawrence junior, tries to outpace Adam Price, Garden city senior, in an effort to gain a first down. Murrow's team, the BFFS, and Price's team, the Mighty D'Y', were both undefeated before Sunday's match.
A Friend Dies. Who Cares?
Toxic drinking is an epidemic on campuses all across America.
It means consuming so much alcohol the drinker passes out. But while "sleeping it off," the victim may be quietly dying.
When you come right down to it,students themselves are the best ones to tackle this problem. So, in growing numbers. Stony Brook students have joined together in the Red Watch Band movement.
Working with experts, they fine-tuned a course in techniques to handle these alcohol emergencies. Red Watch Band members can act fast, when every second counts. They know the quick steps they can take to rescue a passed-out student from a drinking death,and can immediately summon professional help.Everyone completing the course is given the distinctive red watch for identification.
Since its inception at Stony Brook University in March 2009, approximately 40 schools across the country have signed on to implement this lifesaving program.
To prevent toxic drinking deaths,go to redwatchband.org
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