4B SPORTS
THE INVERSITY DIRY KANSAN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
VOLLEYBALL
Obstacles on and off court
BY BRITT BEASLEY
bbeasley@kansan.com
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Senior middle blocker Brittany Williams goes up for a block. The volleyball team will face off against Baylor this weekend in Waco, Texas.
People who know senior middle blocker Brittany Williams say she has an aura about her that is present when talking to her.
Volleyball was the one thing that staved with her through her move.
Williams came to Kansas after a long journey during her senior year in high school, Williams, a New Orleans native, was displaced after Hurricane Katrina. Her family left home and moved to Atlanta, where she finished up high school,
"Volleyball was my confidence," Williams said. "It's the same game where ever you are."
She was actually on her official recruiting visit to Kansas the weekend before Katrina hit. Immediately she fell in love with the campus.
"Campus really sold me," she
said. "It was late July or early August that I got here and campus was just gorgeous. I felt like it could be a home away from home"
After Katrina, Williams was forced to overcome another challenge. During her sophomore year at Kansas, Williams tore multiple ligaments in her knee, forcing her to miss the rest of the season.
"She is a real burst of energy and is usually doing something silly to make people smile."
far as getting back on the court, that was my number one thing and I reached my goal and was able to play the next season."
JENNA KAISER Junior outside hitter
"I was actually pretty calm about it, but then we started do rehab and stuff like that, that's when it started to get tough." She said "As
She had to slowly go through the process of getting herself back on the court. She took everything in stride and made herself get better. She worked her way from walking to running, then to jumping just to get herself back on the court.
Junior Outside
Hitter Jenna Kaiser had positive things to say about Williams.
"One word to describe Williams is random." Kaiser said "She is a real burst of energy and is usually doing something silly to make people smile."
how Williams took care of her teammates.
"Brittany has taken more of a leadership role." Kaiser said.
Kaiser was also impressed with
Coach Ray Bechard had a tough choice in deciding what one word would describe Williams.
"How do you throw energetic, enthusiastic, and athletic all into one word?" Bechard said. "I would say energetic though. She is pretty excited about life and each and every opportunity. She is a really good teammate. She is somebody I really enjoy coaching."
— Edited by Jonathan Hermes
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MLB
Nationals hit 100th loss after playing Dodgers
WASHINGTON — Rafael Furcal hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning Thursday night, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Washington 7-6 to hand the Nationals their 100th loss of the season.
Furcal's drive off Ron Villone (4-
6) was his fourth hit of the game.
Ramon Troncoso (5-4) pitched 1
1-3 innings to get the win, and
Jonathan Broxton finished for his
36th save.
The win reduced the Dodgers' magic number to one for clinching a playoff berth.
The Nationals, who were 59-102 last season, are the first NL franchise to lose 100 games in consecutive seasons since the
San Diego Padres, who dropped 102 in both 1973 and 1974. In five seasons in Washington, the Nationals already have matched the number of 100-loss seasons the franchise had during its 36 seasons as the Montreal Expos — and that includes the formative 110-loss season as an expansion team in 1969.
Associated Pres
Hope for victory on the road
VOLLEYBALL
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
The road is long and often difficult for a Big 12 team. Volleyball is no exception. Kansas is coming off a hard fought five-set victory over Oklahoma and now will have to face a ranked Baylor team that is coming off of a sweep over No. 11 Iowa State.
"Baylor has been playing really good so it's not going to be easy, but right now we feel nothing is out of our reach," said outside hitter Karina Garlington.
Kansas has dropped several close sets in its last two losses
Baylor (13-1, 2-1) also defeated a then-ranked Kansas State team this season and its only loss came to No. 2 Texas in Austin. Kansas (8-3, 1-1) will need to work on its end game if it hopes to be successful against Baylor.
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writer Zach Getz
at twitter.com/
zgetz.
when the score is tied up very late in the set. It's not just about the end game, senior middle blocker Paige Mazour said, but also about starting off the match and valuing every point.
"Baylor is very physical and have a very smart setter," sophomore
"You have to take it point by point and push the end game," said Mazou. "It's who gets to 25 first."
Kansas will also have its hands full with Baylor's setter Taylor Barnes, who recorded a triple-double in Baylor's sweep against Iowa State on Wednesday. Barnes is often seen making key digs and kills around the court.
settar Nichole Tate said. "I'm excited to get going there."
Kansas must limit its errors as the team is averaging over 30 errors per match in its three losses. Kansas also must learn to win on the road. The team went 1-9 last season on the road in the Big 12 and already lost its first game on the road this season.
"We are going to have to win some big matches on the road in order to be competitive in the Big 12," said Garlington.
"We have to remember to play our game regardless of the environment," junior libero Melissa Manda said.
Garlington said that there is no reason that Kansas cannot win on the road and the team needs to take advantage of opportunities to win some road games.
—Edited by Jonathan Hermes
CHIEFS
Contract sets high expectations
BY DOUG TUCKER Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One game into his career as quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Cassel finds himself surrounded by skeptical fans and critical media. The endorsement he got this week from his head coach?
Lukewarm at best.
"I don't think a contract has anything to do with it," Cassel said Thursday, his appointed day to speak with the media. "I think
they're going to play the best person out there."
Maybe it's a good thing Cassel never reads the newspaper, listens to the radio talk shows or watches sports on television. Otherwise, he might get the idea that some people are wondering if his guaranteed $28 million contract is the reason he's starting against Philadelphia this week and Brodie Crovie is not.
That's exactly what coach Todd Haley keeps saying, that his message will be consistent with every position regardless of how high
a player was drafted or how much his contract might cost owner Clark Hunt.
just like every other position as he sets about repairing a franchise that's won only two of its last 27 games.
"Obviously, I think they feel I'm the best guy for the job."
MATT CASSEL Chiefs quarterback
consideration. He's known to be a point of pride to general manager Scott Pioli, who drafted him at New England, brought him to Kansas City and gave him the first megaback deal he's negotiated as a GM.
But Haley keeps saying that not even all that will buy Cassel one extra minute to prove himself, that quarterback will be evaluated
"You've got to ultimately do what you think gives your team
terms.
the best chance to win", Haley said. "If that means another quarterback being in there other than Matt Cassel, then sign me up"
Cassel insists he sees it in no other
"I think they're going to play the best person out there," Cassel said. "Obviously, I think they feel I'm the best guy for the job. Otherwise, going into the season I wouldn't have been offered what I was offered."
If Cassel reaches every incentive of the six-year deal, it could be worth more than $60 million.