FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
3C
Volleyball team enjoys playing in smallest arena
By Bill Cross
bcross@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWINTER
Horeisi Family Athletics Center may be small, but Kansas volleyball players wouldn't want it any other way.
"it's cozy." freshman opposite hitter Emily Brown said.
Horeisi holds only 1,300 fans, by far the smallest capacity among Big 12 Conference volleyball arenas. The next smallest are Oklahoma's McCasland Field House with a 2,000-person capacity and Texas' Gregory Gym with a 4,000-person capacity.
Other Big 12 teams, including Missouri, Kansas State and Iowa State, play in buildings built for basketball.
Practicing with the close walls
Brown said playing in such spacious arenas could play tricks on a player's mind.
and low ceiling of their own coeum helps the players, but they said it was not difficult to adapt to the larger arenas in the Bif 12.
"The ball definitely hangs up a little bit," she said. "That's something I have to adjust to."
Senior middle blocker Ashley Michaels said depth perception was not an issue once the match started.
"It's something we adjust to in warm-ups," she said. "I don't even think about it when I'm playing."
Prior to Horejsi's opening in 1999, Kansas played its home matches in Allen Fieldhouse. Coach Ray Bechard, who coached one season in the field-
house, said the team's facilities had improved since it received its own arena.
"There's no question it's an advantage to have your own building," he said.
But at times in the fieldhouse, the Jayhawks could enjoy many more fans than they do now. Four times, the fieldhouse seated more than 10,000 patrons for a volleyball match. But those four games immediately preceded the "Late Night with Roy Williams" festivities to open the basketball season.
The team's only sellout victory in Horei s also preceded Late Night. Kansas defeated Iowa State on Oct. 15, 1999. Other sellouts have seen crowds bolstered by Nebraska and Kansas State fans.
- Edited by Neil Mulka
FOOTBALL
Perkins says location for facility not decided
The University of Kansas Athletics Department countered reports yesterday that a proposed new facility for the Jayhawk football team would be built in the south end zone of Memorial Stadium.
Articles in the Lawrence Journal-World have reported that the University was working
on the donation necessary to fund the endeavor, and that it would be built in the south end zone of Memorial Stadium.
In Tuesday's University Daily Kansan, columnist Ryan Greene criticized the location of the project because it would interfere with the traditional "walk down the Hill" of the University's graduating senior.
In response to the reports,
Athletics Director Lew Perkins
released a statement that con-
firmed the department was pur-
suing fundraising for the project,but that the location of the future facility had not yet been determined.
"When we have secured the funding necessary to build a suitable facility, we will meet with the chancellor and all appropriate University administrators to determining the best location for it," Perkins said.
He added that whatever decision was made would recognize and consider the graduation traditions associated with the stadium.
-Kansan staff reports
OWENS: Banquet raises money
CONTINUED FROM 1C
"I just can't believe how many people came such a long way to contribute to tonight," Owens said.
the third annual benefit put on by the Bert Nash Center, a mental health service provider. Proceeds go to the Bert Nash Center's Community Endowment Trust Fund. About 500 guests attended.
"Back in 1964, we all thought Coach Owens has serious mental health issues." Morningstar said.
Morningstar found humor in the collaboration of former basketball players and coaches and the Bert Nash Center.
Owens is the third-winningest coach in Kansas history. He led Kansas to six Big Eight Conference titles and an overall winning record of 348-182. He coached five All-Americans.
"The most outstanding thing about coach is the longevity he has here, with the number of All-Americans and good teams he coached," Dave Robisch, an All American, said.
Morningstar agreed that
Owens remained a part of his former players' lives.
"He has always kept in touch with us throughout our lifetime," he said. "I have had a wonderful ride through life and Coach has been a huge part of that."
Owens said hearing from his former players was rewarding.
"It makes me feel so good when they came back and say, 'coach we remember when you said this and that.'" Owens said. "I am happy just to have been part of their lives. That is my greatest memory."
Edited by Bill Cross
BASKETBALL: Players ready
CONTINUED FROM 1C
but said workouts left something to be desired.
"I don't think practices have been bad, but they haven't been great," Self said. "We have talked a lot about that as a team. I feel like our energy level and our enthusiasm and intensity haven't been consistently good enough."
The game could be a good change for the Jayhawks, who had 10 extra days of practice before Labor Day exhibition trip in Canada.
"We're all ready." Robinson said. "I think we've put enough work in practice and in Canada that it's time we start the season off."
Galindo may miss Sunday's game because of injury. He is listed as questionable after missing practice earlier this week with an injured groin. He returned to practice Wednesday.
Guards Stephen Vinson and
Jeremy Case, who are also afflicted with groin injuries, will not play
One guard who will be available is Nick Bahe. The 6-foot-2 sophomore sat out the entire Canadian trip to consider a red shirt, but has decided to play this season after talking with Self.
The contest will be a homecoming of sorts for Emporia State coach David Moe. The fourth-year Emporia State coach was a graduate assistant to former Kansas coach Larry Brown in the 1987-88 season when the Jayhawks won the National Championship. Self was also an assistant on Brown's staff, serving in the 1985-86 season when the team finished with a 35-4 record and a trip to the Final Four.
Before coming to Emporia State this season, Moe worked as a Colorado assistant coach for eight seasons and developed a friendship with Self, who was an
"I went down there and spent some time with him earlier this fall," Self said, "and I know that he likes his team."
Moe will find out quite a bit about his team early, facing a challenging six-day exhibition schedule. The Hornets travel to Spokane, Wash., tonight to face Gonzaga before returning to play Kansas Sunday. The team will then go on the road Wednesday to take on Wichita State, which is picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference by coaches and media.
Emporia State finished 22-7 last season, ending with at No. 22 in the final Division II poll.
The Hornets will look to rebuild this season after losing all five starters from last year's squad.
assistant at Oklahoma State during the same time.
"That's a pretty tough stretch for any team," Self said.
Edited by Bill Cross
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