Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Team seeks rival revenge
The Jayhawks look to compete against Mizzou. CROSS COUNTRY | 4B
Kick the Kansan in football
Kansan to pick who wins. THE WAVE | 22
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY,SEPTMEBER 11,2009
DIGGING IN FOR FINAL SEASON
PAGE 1B
Adam Buhler/KANSAN
KU Senior Katie Martinick flips a ball over the net in a warm up before Kansas' game against FI Friday night at the layback Invitational. Martinick has demonstrated consistency throughout her career as a layback.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Senior setter Martinicinch jumps in excitement as KU scores a point. In 2007, ESPN voted her Academic All-District Third Team for excelling in academics and sports.
Senior's experience helps team
BY BRITT BEASLEY bbeasley@kansan.com
Senior setter Katie Martinicich is the only current volleyball player that was on the last team to see NCAA postseason play five years ago.
Katie grew up in Shawnee, only a short trip to Lawrence. When the opportunity came up for her to come to Kansas to play volleyball, it was a no-brainer.
"I was pretty much born to be a Jayhawk," Martincich said. "It was my dream come true to come here."
Follow Kansan volleyball writer Britt Beasley at twitter.com/ BBeasley12.
Sophomore setter Nicole Tate praised her teammate.
"You can see a lot of interaction between the bench and the court." Martíncich said. "We are playing as 15 girls together."
She was redshirted her first year at Kansas. This allowed her to practice and travel with the team and she was able to see what goes into the tournament run.
"Over the years I have played a lot, played a little, so it kind of makes it easier to relate to every person on our team," Katie said. "I can help people in all different stages of their careers right now."
"Katie is a leader of this team, on
The team has had only six games so far this season. With a 4-2 record, the team has come far in little time.
Katie was able to make a splash in the collegiate volleyball world her sophomore year. She started in all 29 games that year and also started in 102 sets. She led the team that year with 1,193 assists, 1,042 more than the next closest player.
and off the court," Tate said.
Not only does on the court, but also in the classroom. In 2007, ESPN the magazine named her Academic All-District Third Team. an honor given to student athletes who excel in both sports and academics.
Coach Ray Bechard said Martinicin's leadership on the
"Over the years I have played a lot, so it kind of makes it easier to relate to every person on the team."
Martinicich's consistency around the court has allowed her to be a very versatile player.
KATIE MARTINCICH KU senior setter
Ray Bechard said his leadership on the court can help this year's team be successful.
"She has seen all different levels of Big 12, all different levels of non-conference opponents, and she's got a lot of experience to draw from," Bechard said. "She is always easy to interact
with just by how she represents herself and Kansas."
— Edited by Jonathan Hermes
SOCCER
Jayhawks remain modest about high ranking
BY CLARK GOBLE
cqoble@kansan.com
There are a couple reasons the Kansas women's soccer team heads into the Colorado College Invitational with a target squarely on its back.
The layhawks are also ranked No.13 in the Soccer America poll, their highest ranking in almost five years. They are undefeated for just the third time in team history.
In the first game Friday they take on the University of Denver, whose 2008 NCAA Tournament dreams ended in a 2-1 loss to Kansas.
Denver is looking for both revenge and to topple a highly-ranked team.
Coach Mark Francis said he didn't think the ranking mattered to his team, but it might matter to its opponents. He
who we're playing, we're going to get their best game"
Senior midfielder Monica Dolinsky thinks the ranking affects the team, but not significantly.
Follow Kansan football writer Clark Goble at twitter.com/cgobley
atcgobley
"I guess the experience is helpful. But honestly, rankings don't matter."
said he expects the toughest challenge of the season so far from Denver.
"There's a little more pressure," Dolinsky said. "We try not to talk about being ranked that much."
GENEVA MAGNESS junior defender
Thomas Aquinas High School, whose soccer program is usually ranked among the top national programs. In 2005, the Saints finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final NSCAA/Adidas national poll.
Overland Park junior defender Geneva Magness went to St.
"We still just have to go out and play," Francis said. "If they beat us, it's a good win for them. No matter
rience is helpful," Magness said. "But honestly, rankings don't matter."
Both players agreed that Denver would approach the game differently knowing Kansas is ranked.
"I guess the expe.
Dolinsky said last year's game against Denver was really close and that "it could have gone either way."
She said she thought this year's team would be no different.
The organization of the Kansas defense will be key. In Sunday's game against Rhode Island, Francis subbed in senior goalie Julie Hanley for freshman Kat Liebetrau at halftime. The players noticed a difference between the goalies just in how they vocalize themselves.
"We've heard some things about them this year and they seem pretty tough and organized," Dolinsky said.
However, Francis said that he didn't know if he would make the substitution again and that it depended on the game situation.
Whoever plays goalie likely won't change the physicality of the game. In the rematch of last year's tournament, Magness knows what to expect.
"It'll just be a battle," Magness said.
Weston White/KANSAN
Kickoff is scheduled for 2.30 p.m. The Jayhawks also take on Colorado College on Sunday.
Edited by Lauren Cunningham
Senior midfielder Monica Dolinsky plays a ball through to a teammate. Dolinsky scored one goal and assisted another in 19-3 win over Long Beach state last Friday afternoon.
COMMENTARY
New Web site brings order to intramurals
Kansas intramurals experienced a significant system overhaul this year, and I like it.
Typically when humans and technology interact for a purpose, things can go wrong pretty quickly. Case in point: last year intramurals used a software for online registration that left much to be desired. This software — which cost money — was not satisfactorily user-friendly.
Oftentimes, the intramurals administrators were unable to modify team schedules or upload the identification numbers of students.
I bet that the intramurals management team is happy with the outcome. So far this fall, 1,691 students comprise 415 teams in 13 leagues.
Students interested in playing an intramural sport should visit the recreation Web Site at www. recreation.ku.edu/programs/intramurals.
Towards the end of the 2009 school year, Matt Beck, intramurals coordinator, decided to search for an alternative that wouldn't be a nightmare. Thankfully, he tested and chose the Web site Athleague for this year's intramurals. Athleague is superior to the previous software because it's free and this allows funds to be saved and reallocated elsewhere within intramurals' budget.
All of this, of course, is a reflection upon the capable students and administrators who run the program. Alongside Beck, there are three student program managers, all of whom are responsible for jobs like scheduling and training officials and adding people to team rosters. In the preseason, the managers go over sports rules and intramural policies.
The best upgraded feature for students wanting to play is the improved online usability. From personal experience, last year's software would often lead to dead links or not show me the information for which I was looking. The new site has clearly-marked tabs which direct the student where they need to go. And, conveniently, a student now only needs to register in the system one time.From there the student can join as many leagues as they wish without the hassle of searching for the 12 digit student identification number which few probably bother to memorize.
The site boasts the great features of allowing for the creation of profiles and the ability to send messages and notifications similar to Facebook. Beck said one feature he finds particularly cool is the ability to sign up as a free agent and then wait for a team in need to message that person if more members are needed in a pinch.
Edited by Meqan Morriss
Follow Jordan
Williams at twitter.
com/salvio_hexia.