Thursday, December 3, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 9
Volleyball reaches new heights in coach's first year
By Laura Bokenkroger Kansan sportswriter
Significant changes don't happen overnight, and Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard learned that firsthand this season.
Bechard took over the Kansas coaching position this year with high expectations. He wanted to take the program, which began the season ranked 10th of eleven teams in the Big 12 Conference, to the middle of the pack. He wanted a winning season — which is no small feat, especially in the best volleyball conference in the country.
Although those goals weren't realized. it's important to keep things in perspective.
For the first time since 1993, the Jay
hawks collected 15 wins. Although they were two matches below .500 for the season, it was a significant improvement compared to last year's 9-24 effort. They
improved to eighth in the Big 12, winning three more conference matches than in 1997. And they posted a 10-2 record against non-conference teams — including winning
— including winning one preseason tournament and finishing see
ment and finishing second in two others.
But no one on the Kansas volleyball team was satisfied at the end of the season.
"There were five more matches we should've won this season," said defensive specialist Kristi Kiyabu. "We were disappointed because we wanted to get that last
Although great strides have been taken during the course of this season, middle blocker Amanda Reves said that there was still work to be done.
win and let the seniors go out winning. We got close, but we never got over that hump."
"We know what we have to do to improve," Reves said. "We'll work on it in the spring."
But for now, looking back, Bechard said that he was proud of the way his team battled and competed every day. He said that the highlights of this season would be remembered by his players.
"There were many times this year that our team was proud to have Kansas on their backs," Bechard said. "After the Western Michigan tournament, walking to the airport, people would ask how we did
and our players were very quick to respond 'Hey, we won the tournament.' And they were very quick to say where they were from and what university they represent. And we made some fans from other teams, that recognize that we were playing at a much higher level."
Besides an improved record and heightened conference standing, Kiyabu said that there was also a new and improved sense of togetherness that was missing from previous seasons.
"There were a whole bunch of changes all good changes like the connections between positions and the way we came together. It was by far the best year I've had."
Sik Jayhawks were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team.
Reyes. Kivabu and right side hitter
Nancy Bell were first-team selections, they achieved at least a 3.2 GPA. Setter Laura Rohde, outside hitter Mary Beth Albrecht and middle blocker Anné Kreimer were honorable mention selections, achieving at least a 3.0 GPA. All selections also had to have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's matches.
Reves was also named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 for her contributions this season, including leading the team in kills (388), kills per game (3.59), hitting percentage (.296), block solos (39), and block assists (122).
"I'm excited to receive this honor," Reves said. "It's something which shows how much our team has improved this season. It's impossible to be an outstanding middle unless you have a great team backing you."
Wildcats dominate All-Big 12 team with nine players
By Denne H. Freeman The Associated Press
DALLAS — Kansas State domi-nated The Associated Press All-Big 12 team much as it did their oppo-
bent out a career season
for Coach Billy Snyder and his talent, unblemished Wildcats
Snyder: Says he's happy for all Kansas State fans.
Kansas State placed nine players, five on offense and four on defense, on the first team selected by a panel of Big 12 writers.
Bishop was joined in the backfield by the celebrated Heisman Trophy candidate Ricky Williams of Texas and hard-running Devin West of Missouri.
Williams, who passed Tony Dorsett's career rushing record, ran for 2,142 yards this year, an average of 5.9 yards per carry and 193.09 per game.
fans of Kansas State who have stuck with us all these years," Snyder said. "They finally got their just due."
Leading the mythical offense was Davey O'Brien quarterback finalist Michael Bishop, who was eighth nationally in passing efficiency The senior from Willis, Texas averaged 28.36 yards passing per game.
"Dat had an amazing season," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "He was an inspiration to every player on the team."
He wasn't too shabby on the ground either, rushing for 58.82 yards average and scoring 13 touchdowns. He passed for 2,503 yards and 21 touchdowns and was intercepted only three times as Kansas State posted an 11-0 regular-season mark.
"I'm just happy for the
Williams only had one poor game when he was able to rush for just 43 vards against Kansas State.
"It was amazing to me what Ricky was able to accomplish this year," said Texas coach Mack Brown. "He was just phenomenal."
Other members of the first team defense included lineman Darren Howard, backbackers Jeff Kelly and Mark Simoneau, and defensive back
Jarrod Cooper, alu of Kansas State.
Other linemen were Montae
Reagor of Texas Tech and Kelly
Gregg of the Oklahoma Sooners.
Craig Heimburger, both of Missouri, Josh Heskew of Nebraska and Ben Adams of Texas.
The return specialist was David Allen of Kansas State, who scored four touchdowns on punt returns.
Williams is a finalist for the Doak Walker award as the nation's best running back.
Texas A&M's Warrick Holdman was the fourth linebacker.
Defensively, the first team was an impressive unit headed by Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, a finalist for the Butka and Outland awards. Nguyen finished with 12
Joining Cooper in the secondary were Ralph Brown of Nebraska, Harold Piersey of Missouri, and Rich Coady of Texas A&M.
The place kicker was Martin Gramatica of Kansas State, who hit 18 of 26 field goal attempts and scored 120 points, second in the Big 12 behind 168 points from Williams, who scored 28 touchdowns.
tackles against Texas for a career total of 500.
Texas A&M, who averaged 43.49 vards per punt.
The buldozing West rushed for 1,578 yards and a 5.6 average. He averaged 143.45 yards per game.
O育威利 linemen included Ryan Young of Kansas State, Rob Riti and
The first team wide receivers, Darnell McDonald of Kansas State and Wane McGarity of Texas, put up spectacular numbers.
McGarity caught 58 passes for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 18.74 yards per reception.
McDonald snared 69 passes for 952 yards, an average of 13.8 yards per catch. He also scored eight touchdowns.
The punter was Shane Lechler of
ALL BIG 12 TEAM
DALLAS — The AllBig 12 Conference football team, as selected by writers and released yesterday.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Tight End: Shelldon Jackson, Nebraska, 6-4, 245, Sr., Diamond Bar, Calif.
Offensive Line: Ryan Young, Kansas State, 6-6, 330, St., Saint Louis, Mo.; Rob Riti, Missouri, 6-3, 285, Jr., Florissant, Mo.; Craig Heimburger, Missouri, 6-3, 313, Sr., Belleville, Ill.; Josh Heskew, Nebraska, 6-3, 290, Sr., Yukon, Okla; Ben Adams, Texas, 6-5, 315, Sr., Ben Mirai, California.
Wide Receivers: Darnell McDonald, Kansas State 6, 5-3, 200, Sr., College Park, Md.; Wate McGarry, Texas, 5-9, 180, Sr., San Antonio.
Quarterback: Michael Bishop, Kansas State, 6-1, 205, Sr., Willis, Texas Running Back: Devin West, Missouri, 6-2, 225, Sr., Moberly, Mo.; Ricky Williams, Texas, 6-0, 225, Sr., San Diego.
Placekicker: Martin Gramatica, Kansas State, 5-9, 175, Sr., Buenos Aires, Argentina
Linemen: Daren Howard, Kansas State, 6-4, 265, Jr. St. Petersburg, Fl.; Monta Reagar, Texas Tech, 6-2, 270, Sr., Waxahache, Texas; Kelly Gregg, Oklahoma, 6-0, 280, Sr., Edmond, Okla.
Linebacker: Jeff Kelly, Kansas State, 6-0, 250, Sr., La Grange, Texas; Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M, 5-11, 221, Sr., Rockport, Texas; Mark Simoneau, Kansas State, 6-0, 240, Jr., Smith Center, Kan.; Warrick Holdman, Texas A&M, 6-1, 230, Sr., Alief, Texas.
Secondary: Ralph Brown, Nebraska,
59, 18, Jr.; Haecia Heights, Calif;
Jarrod Cooper, Kansas State, 6-1, 205
So., Pearland, Texas; Harold Piersley,
Missouri, 6-2, 202, Sr., Kansas City,
Kan; Rich Coady, A&M, 6-1,
59, Jr., Richard Texas.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Return Specialist: David Allen, Kansas State, 5-19, 185, So., Liberty, MB.
Punter: Shane Lechler, Texas A&M, 6-8, 220, Jr. East Bernard, Texas
Offensive Line: Todd Neimeyer, Missouri, 6,51; 310, Brookfield, Mo.; Jay Humphrey, Texas, 6,7; 300, Sr., Richardson, Texas, Ryan Johanningehem, Colorado, 6,72; 295, Jr., Louisville, Col.; (lie) Curtis Lewynx, Texas Tech, 6,52; 327, Jr., Stephenville, Texas and Adam Davis, Oklahoma State, 6,44; 274, Jr., Holkau, Oka.
Wide Receivers: Donnie Hart, Texas Tech, 6-1, 197, 197, Wolffarth, Texas, and Darin Chiaverino, Colorado, 6-3, 198, Sir, Corona, Calif.
Tight End: Derek Lewis, Texas, 6-2,
235, Sr., New Orleans.
Quarterback; Major Applewhite, Texas, 6-1, 200, Baton Rouge, La. Running Back; Ricky Williams, Texas Tech, 5-9, 190, So, Duncanville, Texas (te) De Moond Parker, Oklahoma, 5-10, 196, Jr., Tulsa, 5-8, and Darren Davis, Iowa State, 5-8, 190, Jr., Miami.
Placekicker: Chris Birkholz, Texas Tech, 6-0, 170, 170, Temple, Texas.
Return Specialist: Joe Walker, Neb
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Lineemen: Chad Kelsay, Nebraska, 6-3, 250, Sr., Auburn, Neb.; Mike Rucker, Nebraska, 6-4, 260, Sr., St. Joseph, Mo.; Aaron Humrep, Texas, 6-3, 255, Jr., Lubbock, Texas.
Linebackers: Kenyatta Wright, Oklahoma State, 6-1, 235, Jr., Vian, Okla; Jay Foreman, Nebraska, 6-1, 240, Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.; Sedric Jones, Oklahoma, 6-2, 248, Jr., Uae; (tie) Travis Ochs, Kansas State, 6-3, 225, Sr., Overland Park, Kan; and Pat Brown, Kansas, 5-11, 210. Sr., Westerville, Ohio.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Secondary, Gayton Baxter, Baylor, 6-1,
193, So.; Tyler, Texas; Wade Perkins, Missouri, 6-1, 189, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.; Mike Brown, Nebraska, 5-10, 205, Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz.; [lie] Ben Kelly, Colorado, 5-10, 175, So. Cleveland, Ohio; Lamar Chapman, Kansas State, 6-0, 180, Jr. Liberal, Kan.; Jasper Webster, Texas A&M, 5-9, 178, Jr. Houston; Ricky Thompson, Oklahoma State, 6-1, 180, Sr., Hubbard, Texas Punter: Kyle Atteberry, Baylor, 6-0.
Punter: Kyle Atteberry, Baylor, 6-0,
174, Jr., Kingwood, Texas.
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Bishop to attend Heisman ceremony
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State senior quarters
Bishop: Has been invited to New York for presentation.
b a c k
Michael
Bishop has
be e n invited
to New York to
attend the
presentation
ceremony for
the 1998
Heisman
Trophy, the
university
announced
Wednesdow
Bishop, who is the first
Bishop has earned firstteam All-America and firstteam All-Big 12 honors as a record setting quarterback for the Wildcats. He also is a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.
Kansas State player invited to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation, will join Texas running back Ricky Williams, UCLA quarterback Cade McNown and Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch at the ceremony Dec. 12.
Kansas State player Lynn Dickey finished 10th in Heisman voting in 1970, and Chad May was 11th in 1994.
Florida State coach gets added incentive in football clashes with Clemson, his son
Two Bowdens for Atlantic Coast Conference
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Tommy Bowden is leaving Tulane, the team he coached to an 11-0 record this season, to become the coach at Clemson.
"This was not an easy decision. Tulane and the city of New Orleans have been very good to me and my family both personally and professionally. I leave here with nothing but fond memories." Bowden said in a statement released by Tulane's athletic department.
Bowden did not say when he
Clemson said earlier that plans were being made for a Thursday news conference to introduce Bowden.
Liberty Bowl.
Clemson
reportedly
has offered
to pay half
of Bowden's
$ 75.00, 0.00
b u o v t
clause, the newspaper said. Bowden would become the school's 23rd football coach.
bowden is a son of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and brother of Terry Bowden who quit as Auburn's coach last
month.
Clemson and Florida State are in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The wait for a decision was hard on Tulane assistants.
"It's just one of those things you go through in coaching," said Tulane offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez. "We're just trying to take care of business and see what happens."
Bowden is replacing Tommy West, who was fired just before completing a 3-8 season last month. The Tigers reportedly are offering Bowden a yearly package of between $750,000 and $800,000.
Bowden, who snapped Tulane's 15-year losing streak last season and led them to a perfect record this year, toured the Clemson campus Monday and met with school President
Constantine "Deno" Curris for about two hours.
Tulane players begin practice for the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 9.
"We're pretty helpless," quarterback Shaun King said. "What can we do? I hope he doesn't go."
Freshman Derrick Joseph, a candidate to replace King, said he might consider transferring. "The question is, if he leaves, who's going to take his place?" Joseph said.
Candidates to replace Bowden are said to be Rodriguez and Louisiana Tech coach Gary Crowton.
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