Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, September 21, 1998
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Volleyball's secret exposed
The biggest Kansas sports story of the weekend happened in Allen Field House, not at Memorial Stadium.
Commentary
Shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, the Kansas women's volleyball team stepped onto the court for their first home game of the season.
The team is playing for first year coach Ray Bechard in its final season in the field house. Volleyball competitions will move to a new building between Allen and Anschutz Sports Pavilion as early as November.
The move is the future, the game was the present and losing, hopefully, is the past.
Shortly after 9 p.m., Bechard and the Jayhawks walked off the court victorious, having won their match against San Francisco three games to none.
The win was historic in several ways.
First, coupled with a win Saturday afternoon, it gave the Jayhawks nine wins — as many as the team had all last year.
Second, the Bechard era at Kansas began with success. I say Bechard era because he
will turn the team into a perennial top-25 team during the next four seasons.
Third, it only took one game to convert me into a Kansas volleyball fan — something everyone at the University should consider.
Matt Friedrichs
mattt@ukans.edu
Ive met Bechard, who formerly coached Barton County Community College, and I like his personal manner and dedication to his players.
Then I attended a KU practice. The women practiced hard, trying to improve on weaknesses.
The game Friday brought it all together. Bechard's
studied concentration, the players' exuberance and a competitive setting topped by a win helped me see what a handful of people already knew — volleyball, especially disciplined, winning volleyball, is exciting
Unfortunately, only a small crowd witnessed the 1988 home opener.
I arrived shortly before game time and had no problem parking or finding a seat in the fifth row.
To be sure, I wouldn't expect 16,300 people at the first game of a team that won only nine games last year, but now the secret's out.
Becky Albrecht, mother of outside hitter Mary Beth Albrecht, waved a KU flag whenever the Jayhawks plued well.
Besides winning and Allen Field House, volleyball has much to offer. The pep band, cheerleaders and quirky between-game promotions only added to the few — but knowledgeable and enthusiastic — fans.
She made the trip from St. Charles, Mo., to see her daughter and the team play.
Karen Donovan, stepmother of outside hitter Moira Donovan, wore a denim shirt with a Jayhawk painted on the left shoulder and "You go girls" painted on the right shoulder.
Do you need another reason?
The serve is high, Kristi Kiyabu passes it to setter Laura Rohde, who sets the ball, and, THUMP, Albrecht spikes it between two defenders. The ball hits the floor and bounces high off the court.
You can be there next time the official says, "Point KU."
Friedrichs is a Bremen graduate student in journalism.
Women's golf team to play in Colorado
The women's golf team competes today and tomorrow in the Heather Farr Memorial Invitational in Boulder, Colo
The University of Colorado sponsors the tournament at the Coal Creek Golf Club.
Susan Tessary placed 13th last week at a tournament in Lincoln, Neb.; the team placed 13th.
Kansas, Colorado, Iowa State and Kansas State represent the Big 12 Conference at the tournament.
Coach Jerry Waugh said the team should play better this week.
"The kids played as I thought they would," Waugh said. "The fall season
is a process of finding out who the team will be in the spring. It also gives us a chance to begin preparation for the conference championships and to set our goals for the year."
Kansas swimmers dominate competition
The KU swimming team placed first in both the men's and women's 5-kilometer open-water赛 Saturday in Carbondale, ill.
The men beat Southern Illinois 20-39. The women beat Southern Illinois 25-31.
Junior Tyler Painter placed first in 1:01.20. Freshman Nathan Rice placed second in 1:03.90.
KU SWIMMING
Kansas' top-five men completed the race in a combined time of 5:15.18 while Southern Illinois swimmers finished in 5:23.31.
Sophomore Amy Meyer finished first among the women in 1:05.55.
Sophomore Adrienne House finished second in 1:05.57.
The top five Kansas women completed the race in 5:33.39 while Southern Illinois women finished in 5:35.35.
Kansas will compete again Oct. 16 in the Crimson and Blue Intrasquad meet.
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