Volume 125 Issue 6
kansan.com
Monday, August 27, 2012
KANSAS SOCCER INVITATIONAL
COMMENTARY Offensive line must function
If the Jayhawks have any shot at improving those numbers, it all starts and ends with the big guys up front. With the leadership and experience in the trenches, the offensive line should be primed and ready to be the cornerstones of the Jayhawk offensives.
Edited by Andrew Ruszczyk
There are many determining factors that will decide how successful this Kansas football team can be.
Many perceive senior quarterback Dayne Crist as the missing piece to the Kansas offense. The wide receiver core has plenty of talent with three seniors in D.J. Beshears, Kale Pick and Dayne Patterson. Even the backfield features three solid running backs, which include junior James Sims and sophomores Tony Pierson and Brandon Bourbon.
These elements, however, are not the answer to the Jayawks' problems. The answer lies in the trenches, and it starts with the offensive line.
Yes, the big guys up front may not receive all the glory, but offensive linemen are extremely crucial to a team's success. Their ability to protect the quarterback are two main attributes that many programs look for.
The Jayhawks have experience with tackle and team captain Tanner Hawkinson, guard Duane Zlatik and center Trevor Marrengelli. All three of these linemen are fifth-year seniors, with Zlatik and Hawkinson starting the last 20 games together. This unit will rely on that experience to help protect Crist.
Now for the bad. Protecting the quarterback has been a struggle at Kansas. Last year, the offensive line failed to provide any sort of protection, allowing former quarterback Jordan Webb to be sacked 31 times.
The 2011 offense must improve after averaging a dismal 167 passing yards, good for 101st in the nation. The layhawks also need to score more points, only averaging 22 points per game last season, 95th in the nation.
Webb was tied for 13th in the nation for getting sacked the most, and sadly, the numbers get worse. Last season, the Kansas offensive line allowed 2.58 sacks per game, a mark that tied with Indiana for 96th in the country in sacks allowed.
At the University of Notre Dame, quarterback Dayne Crist had his moments, but battled injuries back in 2009 and 2010. The line should be motivated to protect a vital part of the offense that has batted injuries in the past. If the line allows 30 or more sacks like last season, Crist won't be able to stand or succeed for his one year to shine.
Those are alarming numbers, but maybe the line will be extra motivated this season to turn things around.
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
SECOND-HALF SENSATION
Senior forward Whitney Berry runs toward her teammates to celebrate her goal, the first in the Jayhawk's game against UNLV Sunday Aug. 26 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. Kansas defeated UNLV 3-0.
Junior forward Caroline Kastor keeps her eye on the ball and away from her UNLV opponents Sunday Aug. 26 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. The Jayhawks won 3-0.
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
ANDREW MORRIS
amorris@kansan.com
"We fought hard all weekend, we were able to get two wins in one weekend," Berry said.
The Kansas soccer team beat the UNLV Rebels 3-0 on Sunday in the final game of the Kansas Invitational. Senior forward/midfielder Whitney Berry had a goal and two assists, while freshman forward Courtney Dickerson scored her first goal as a Jayhawk.
Dickerson.
The Jayhawks did not look back and took over the game in the second half. Dickerson and sophomore forward Jamie Fletcher each scored on assists from Berry as the Jayhawks improved their record to 4-1 on the season. The team ended the weekend with two wins — both shutouts — despite the absence of senior defender Cassie
Kansas started the game slowly and struggled to possess the ball during the opening half hour before Berry opened the scoring. She received the ball from a UNLV clearance and curled a right-footed shot into the upper corner, leaving the goalie rooted to the ground.
UNLV struggled to create scoring chances as the Kansas defense got its second straight shutout. Senior goalie Kat Liebetrau made four saves.
Last weekend, the Jayhawks dropped the second game of the tournament to Northwestern, but this time, there was no letdown after beating No. 24 Georgia on Friday night.
Fletcher and Berry caused UNLV problems all day and Dickerson had the best game of her young career as the three combined for 15 of the Jayhawks 23 shots.
"She is now confident about coming out," Francis said when discussing her command of the box.
"For us to achieve the goals the kids set at the beginning of the year, we can't split on weekends," coach Mark Francis said.
Among the great performances
for the layhawks was sophomore defender Caroline Van Slambrouck, who got forward from her left back position to contribute to the layhawks offense all afternoon.
Senior forward/midfielder Haley Yearout, who started the game, left in the 33rd minute after suffering a slight tweak in her leg during the first half.
"She probably could have played her if we had to," Francis said. "We decided to keep her out rather than making it worse, let her get better and that way by Tuesday and Wednesday she will be back at it."
The Jayhawks will play Creighton on Friday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex before a Sunday afternoon game against Arizona State.
"The standard is winning for us," Berry said. "I think overall, mentally and physically, everyone is here and going to come out and do their best no matter what."
Edited by Andrew Ruszczyk
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
Freshman forward Courtney Dickerson races to beat the UNLV gole to the ball on Sunday Aug. 26 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. The Jayhawks defeated the Rebels 3-0.
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas defeated at Arkansas Invitational
GEOFFREY CALVERT
gcalvert@kansan.com
The volleyball team played three solid games statistically at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., during the weekend. However, costly errors during the title match against Arkansas left the Jayhawks with a 2-1 record as a result.
The Jayhawks defeated the Northwestern State Lady Demons in their first match Friday night 3-0, and defeated the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks also 3-0.
They took the first set against Arkansas 25-18 and had set in front in the second set after an ace by junior middle blocker Marianne Beal. Yet a 5-1 run by the Razorbacks lost them the set, which set the tone for the rest of the night. Arkansas won the close match 3-1, despite a statistical advantage for the Jayhawks in hitting percentage.
service aces, blocks and digs.
"There were times tonight where we were dominant," coach Ray Bechard said. "We were in a great position a couple of times, but this is a very good Arkansas队."
The third set was similar to the second, as the Jayhawks saw a 23-19 advantage end up in a 26-24 set loss. The Razorbacks used their momentum to build a comfortable lead in the fourth set before withstanding a desperate Kansas rally. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Norton paced Arkansas with a game-high of 20 kills against the Jayhawks.
Serving was key during the Arkansas match. The Jayhawks had four aces and 11 service errors, while Arkansas had one ace and eight errors. Although Kansas had a better ratio, Bechard said the timing of the Jayhawks' errors hurt them.
"Obviously, I think we had one at set point," Bechard said.
"That's a big no-no. I'm not that disappointed in the number as I am maybe the timing of them."
During the tournament,
Bechard varied his starting line-ups — 14 jayhawks played — and most players had a significant effect. Redshirt junior outside hitter Catherine Carmichael had 29 kills during the tournament, including a career-high 14 kills against Arkansas. Carmichael had 37 kills last season. Sophomore outside hitter Sara McClinton contributed 35 kills as well, including a career-high of 16 kills against the Razbards. Defensively, junior defensive specialist Brianne Riley recorded 66 digs, which earned her the tournament's outstanding libero honor.
Junior setter Erin McNorton may have had the most impressive tournament for Kansas. She entered the tournament with 129 career assists, but set a new career-high in each of the three matches, notching 131 assists for the tournament. McNorton said she was able to get that many assists because the Jayahwaks made solid contact on almost all of their hits.
"I think our passes were really good," McNorton said. "Our first contact is something that we always work on."
Senior middle blocker Tayler Toilefre also starred in the Northwestern State match, recording seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage, leading the team to a .364 overall hitting percentage, easily outdistancing Northwestern State's .019 percentage. She followed that up with another hitting percentage — .412 against Tennessee-Martin — and had a .368 percentage against Arkansas to go with eight blocks
Redshirt junior Caroline Jarmoc, a preseason All-Big 12 team selection, had 34 kills, 11 digs and 12 blocks. She spearheaded a strong team offensive
performance throughout the tournament, as she, McClinton, sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Albers, Toleflee and Carmichael all had at least one match with nine blocks. Jarmoc said the Jayhawks' court positioning keyed their strong offensive performance.
"I think maintaining spacing from the net and getting our feet to the ball was a huge thing, obviously," Jarmcad sme.
The Jayhawks begin a seven-match home stand this Friday at 11:30 a.m. when they host Sam Houston State in the Kansas Volleyball Invitational at the Horeksi Family Athletics Center. Kansas will also host Tulsa and Arkansas State during the tournament.
Edited by Christy Khamphilay
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