THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Inside Sports
Sports
Coaches from around the Big 12 Conference give their opinions on the performance of Nebraska's secondary and other issues. See Page 8A
Big 12 Volleyball
Nebraska setter Fiona Nepo traded sunny beaches for cold Nebraska winters.
Tuesday
September 1, 1998
Section:
A
Page 10
College Football
SEE PAGE 8A
Oklahoma State has overcome obstacles with coach Bob Simmons at the helm.
SEE PAGE 8A
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Kansas Football
Cornerback Jamie Harris, right, defends against linebacker Jay Ferguson during practice. Harris is the only returning star in the defensive secondary. Photo by Dan Elavsky / KANSAN
No old-timers in secondary
Competition fierce for defensive backs
By Jodi M. Smith Kansan Sportswriter
They are some of the most visible positions on the defense, and if one of them gets burned, everybody knows it.
The defensive backs are four individuals responsible for covering the opposing wide receivers and providing run support.
After ranking in the top 10 defenses in the nation last season, the Jayhawks must work hard to maintain defensive superiority.
"I think we all think we're going to be so much better than last year because we've got so much talent back there," said free safety Chad Coellner.
Talent ves — experience, no.
*With only one starter returning, inexperience could be a factor, but Coellner is not worried.*
"We lack experience, but we've been practicing the same defense for two years now, so I'm sure we're more than ready to step it up." Coellner said.
Lost from last year's secondary are free safety Tony Blevins, strong safety Maurice Gaddie and cornerback Jason Harris—all
fifth-year seniors with three varsity letters.
"That in and of itself has really opened up the whole secondary in terms of competition for positions," said secondary coach Dick Moseley. "That's the good news. They've responded to the challenge and there's a lot of real keen competition going on for those positions."
But the competition, for now, has played itself out with the three replacement players chosen.
Cornerback Jamie Harris, the only returning starter, will be joined in the backfield by Coellner, strong safety Michael Allen and transfer cornerback Muhammad Abdul-Rahim.
Each has a role on the team, said
Coellner.
Harris has been dubbed the "old man." Allen is the communicator, making certain everyone is where they need to be.
tain everyone is where they need to be.
Occlery and Moyhery are the talents.
Coeiner and Muninnah are the talents. Although they have not discussed goals for the year, there are unspoken agreements between the four.
"I think our main goal that we really don't have to talk about is we don't want to blow any assignments," Coellner said. "I know we will give up a lot of long plays because we've been playing more man to man, but that's just expected. We have a lot of goals, we want to make more plays, have more of a turnover ratio. We just want to make sure we're fundamentally sound."
Jason Benavides, Kristi Elliott / KANSAN
Volleyball team ranked low
Preseason poll doesn't surprise members, coach
Kansan sportswriter
By Laura Bokenkroger
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said the results from the preseason poll came as no surprise.
Out of 11 volleyball teams in the Big 12 Conference, Kansas
was picked to finish 10th
After winning just two of 20 conference games last year and finishing tenth in the league, the
Jayhawks were prepared for a low preseason ranking.
"I think a lot of it is based on prior performance," Bechard said. "We lost four players in a conference which is heavy with seniors. I think it's pretty typical if you view a program which is in transition."
As a conference, the Big 12 is one of the strongest in the nation. Four Big 12 teams were picked to finish in the Top 25, including two in the Top 10.
Only the PAC 10 Conference
had more teams ranked in the Top 25, boasting five teams predicted to finish near the top.
Beachard said his team's goals include finishing in the middle tier of the Big 12, an accomplishment which could result in a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Last year, six Big 12 teams participated in the NCAA tournament. The number of teams invited to the tournament increased this year from 56 to 64, making room for eight more teams.
"The top five or six teams in the Big 12 should again be in the top 25 nationally," said Brian Hosfeld. Baylor volleyball coach.
In fact, three Big 12 teams are predicted to contend for the national title: No. 5 Nebraska, No. 9 Texas and No. 12 Colorado.
Predicted to finish first in the league, Nebraska returns five starters from last year's squad. The Cornhuskers finished 27-7 last season, losing at the NCAA Pacific Regional Finals to Long Beach State to end their run for a second national title.
BIG 12 VOLLEYBALL
Preseason Big 12 Conference
Volleyball Poll
Senior setter Fiona Nepo returns to lead the Cornhuskers after spending the summer playing with the USA national team.
The Longhorns of Texas boast the return of three-time All-American Demetria Sance, the six-foot senior who was the Big 12 Player of the Year in 1997. She
1. Nebraska
2. Texas
3. Colorado
4. Texas & M
5. Kansas State
6. Texas Tech
7. Baylor
8. Oklahoma
9. Missouri
10. Kansas
11. Iowa State
also made the American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team.
Sance leads the Big 12 defending champions in their quest for their 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The University of Colorado's volleyball team graduated only one senior from last year's NCAA Sweet 16 team.
The Buffaloes return five starters, including two All-Big 12 Conference players. The senior-laden Buffaloes are led by Sarah Lodge, All-Big 12 selection and Region V All-American outside hitter.
Texas A&M, Kansas State and Oklahoma were the other Big 12 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year.
Send us a letter, leave a note in 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall or call us at 864-4810 with a column idea and tell us what stories you would like to read.
Do You Have An Opinion?
Pick 'em games Week 1, Sept. 5
Also, take a few minutes to predict who is going to win Big 12 Conference
Team Score
Score
Alabama Birmingham at Nebraska
Bowling Green at Missouri
Colorado State at Colorado (Denver)
North Texas at Oklahoma
Michigan at Notre Dame
Ohio State at West Virginia
On Fridays, Kansan sportswriters,
columnists and editors will predict
who's going to win the weekend
matchups.
Maybe you have better insight, a clearer crystal ball or some inside knowledge.
We'll list the upcoming games on Tuesdays. Return your picks to the newsroom (111 Stauffer-Flint Hall) or e-mail them to the sports editor (mattf@ukans.edu) by 4 p.m. Fridays.
football games.
Kristi Elliott / KANSAM
Defender Sarah Karpi (right) challenges forward Lindsey Horner (left) near the White team's goal. The Blue/White intrasquid scrimmage Sunday turned into a defensive battle and ended in a 1-1 tie. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
We'll list the top five prognosticators each week, and we'll publish everyone's results on the Kansan web site.
Sports is about rivalries, ma,cots,
college pageantry and emotion.
Share your love of sports, your stories, your opinions and your predictions with us and the rest of campus.
Improved defense important for women's soccer success
Defenders hope to work as a unit to earn shutouts
By Brad Hallior
Kansan sportswriter
Opponents attacking the penalty box will be tackled, and Kansas defenders could lead the team in yellow cards again this season.
Defenders are some of the more physical players on the Kansas women's soccer team, and their ability to stop opponents will be important if the Jayhawks are to be successful.
The Jayhawks return the nucleus of a defense that allowed 51 goals last fall (2.55 per game), but coach Dan Magner said he expected those numbers to decline.
"This year, the defenders need to be organized," he said. "To be successful, it will be important that they communicate with each other."
Sarah Korpi, defender, agreed with Magner. She said defensive success would come from working as a unit.
Magner said he wants the defense to be disciplined.
"They need to show controlled aggression," he said. "Times they choose to tackle will be very important. If you are reckless in the back, it can hurt your team a lot. Your decision to go hard must be accurate."
Defensive positions in soccer are not the most glamorous. They rarely score, and their statistics are usually fouls committed and yellow cards earned.
So why play what seems to be a little-respected position?
"It's fun frustrating other players and being able to see the whole field." Korpi said.
Magner said he would like to see defenders get involved in the all-in.
"I like the contact and knocking others down," said Lindsey Loeffler, defender.
defenses and snatch an opportunity to score, something that must be timed correctly.
"You push up only when you see space." Dahle said.
Cynthia Dahle, defender, said she liked to sneak up on opposing
"Shutouts make you feel like you did your job well," Loeffler said.
Dahle, Korpi and Leffler said the most satisfying part of playing in the back was shutting out the other team.
Some defenders said they liked the aggressive nature of the position.
"Stripping the ball from an opponent and knocking them down I enjoy." Dahle said.
An important ally for the defenders in this year's 3-5-2 formation, will be a defensive central midfielder, a position Magner called the great organizer.
"We will rely on whoever is playing there to cut out trouble before it starts, so that person must be a thinker and trying to take away passing lanes or make play for predictable for the other backs," he said.
The defense will get its first regular season tests this weekend against Florida International and a University of Miami team in its first year of Division I soccer.
Kansas defense
Kristi Elliott / KANSAN
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