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BASKETBALL Four players are being considered for the starting post position in Sunday's exhibition game. PAGE 8B
SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2004
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Bring on round two
'Hawks weather Cyclones, advance in tournament
Kellis Robinett/KANSAN
Senior forward Gabriela Quiggle chased down a ball during the Jayhawks' victory against Iowa State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament yesterday.
BY KELLI ROBINETT
krobinett@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Iowa State has had its fill of the Kansas women's soccer team after losing 4-0 and 4-1 to the Jayhawks in a five-day span.
Kansas senior midfielder Amy Geha scored two goals in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament yesterday, helping the Jayhawks advance to the second round of the conference tournament for the second time in school history.
"We came down here to win the Big 12 Tournament, and for us to win and for me to score two goals is just awesome," Geha said.
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The victory means the Jayhawks will face Texas in a second-round matchup at 5 p.m. tomorrow, a game that will be televised on Fox Sports Net, channel 36 in Lawrence.
Junior forward Caroline Smith kicked off the scoring against Iowa State and recorded the first goal of the game at the sixth minute on a penalty kick.
The first of Geha's two goals came in the 21st minute, when she took a bending pass in heavy traffic from senior forward Rachel Gilfillan and headed the ball into the upper right portion of the net to give Kansas a 2-0 lead.
SEE ROUND TWO ON PAGE 8A
Forward improves quickly
BY JESSE NEWELL
jnewell@kansan.com
KANSAN SWIFTWRITER
Kansas freshman forward Sasha Kaun said he often found himself disoriented on the court during the team's exhibition trip to Canada, but it had nothing to do with the fact that the Jayhawks were in a different country.
"Then it was just so quick, you just kind of lose yourself in the middle," Kaun said. "I think I've become more relaxed and more understanding of the game."
The 6-foot-11 Kaun struggled at times in the Labor Day Canada trip, with coach Bill Self commenting that the game was still moving too fast for Kaun.
But Kaun's progress in the last two months has been so great that coach Self called him the most consistent of the three freshmen big men in practice.
"He's a sponge, and he's just picking stuff up," Self said. "He's starting to get it. Now is the game still too fast for him? Yes, but it's not quite as fast for him as it was before."
Kaun began playing basketball his sophomore year of high school after coming to the United States from Russia, and his ability to learn quickly has paid off at Kansas.
"He's definitely a great listener and a very coachable kid," senior forward Wayne Simien said. "I think it's something that's helped him progress and come along this far. Hopefully, he'll continue to make those jumps."
Kaun remains one of four candi
"He's definitely a great listener and a very
coachable kid. I think it's something that's helped him progress and come this far. Hopefully, he'll continue to make those jumps."
Wayne Simien Senior forward
dates — along with junior forward Christian Moody, freshmen forward Darnell Jackson and freshman center C.J. Giles — for the final starting position.
Self said the fifth starter would be relied upon to do the little things, such as rebound and screen, and that Kaun was willing to do whatever it took to earn playing time.
"He says, 'Coach, just tell me what me to do,'" Self said, "And he'll try to do it."
Kaun said that starting for a team as talented as Kansas would be an honor, but it would not be his main focus.
"I think for me it's more important to help the team in any way I can, whether I'm starting or not," Kaun said.
Teammates agreed that Kaun had greatly progressed since first arriving at Kansas.
SEE FORWARD ON PAGE 8A
Sasha Kaun, freshman forward, shoots during warm-ups yesterday at the Horeaji Athletic Center. Kaun said he was excited about the upcoming season and contributing to the team.
John Tran/KANSAN
Volleyball swept again on the road
BY BILL CROSS
bcross@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Kansas volleyball team lost its second straight match last night. As if that wasn't bad enough news for coach Ray Bechard's team, it's the second straight sweep by a Big 12 Conference rival.
Kansas lost in three games to Missouri, 23-30, 26-30, 25-30. The team lost to Kansas State in similar fashion Saturday.
Freshman opposite hitter Emily Brown, who had five kills on the night, said it would not be easy to recover from the two losses.
"We need to beat teams that are going to be in the tournament, and K-State and Missouri were good opportunities to do that," she said. "Not getting either one is definitely a disappointment."
With a narrow lead, sophomore outside hitter Jana Correa served for the lavhawks.
On the next volley, outside hitter Paula Caten's elbow hit Lima's face as they were running for the same pass.
Lima stayed down for three minutes before Bechard helped her stand up and walk off the court.
Her teammates immediately fell to a 6-8 deficit before a run led by the serving of senior middle blocker Ashley Michaels tied the game 10-10.
Then Lima returned and gave her team a 12-10 lead with a quick kill.
"She was very courageous, but we have been depending on her a little too much." Bechard said of Lima.
The Jayhawks remained competitive until the score reached 19-19, when Missouri outside hitter Shen Danrui's jumps served took over.
She reeled off five consecutive points after a kill by teammate Lisa Bovd.
Serving became a factor again when Missouri libero Tatum Ailes nailed her thirdace of the set to give her team a 27-20 advantage.
"How come it can't swing the other way?" Coach Ray Bechard said. "That's the way you've got to look at it, especially on the road."
It looked like the momentum might fall his way in game two.
The Jayhawks fought their way out of a 11-18 deficit to the tie at 23, but the Tigers' balanced offense led them to the victory.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 9A
Brothers dedicated to hockey
Editor's note: Athletes at the University of Kansas are more than just victories and statistics — they're real people with opinions on sports, life and love. Each Thursday, Kansan sportswriter Shane Kucera sits with a student athlete and discusses issues beyond the playing field.
When Geoff and Dave Knight wear their Kansas Ice Hockey Club t-shirts, they are often stopped and questioned by students on campus: "Do we really have a hockey team?"
Geoff is a fifth-year senior and the team president. Dave is a junior and team treasurer.
Yes, Kansas does have a hockey team.
Though many KU students and alumni aren't aware of the team, Geoff and Dave's commitment isn't affected.
The brothers do double duty, serving as both players and administrators for their team.
That's how it goes for some of the lesser-known and lesser-funded club teams here at Kansas.
SHANE KUCERA skucera@kansan.com
GOING DEEP
While the basketball team flies on a private jet with a food buffet, the hockey team is left to find its own sponsors, pay
for its own gas on road trips and drive 30 minutes to Kansas City, Kan., for every game and practice.
The Toronto natives dedicate valuable time to their favorite sport, expecting nothing in return but the chance to play hockey and go to school.
Geoff: It was very much hockey oriented. I started at 4 and Dave started at 5, so it's basically like we say we're Canadian so it's now our job to play hockey.
This week the brothers tell us about their experiences with hockey and more.
Athletes like Geoff and Dave may define the truly dedicated athlete.
Q: Does hockey seem more intense in Canada then here?
Q: What was it like growing up in Canada?
G: I don't know if it's more intense.
It is like a one-sport deal, and hockey is the sport in Canada.
but it's definitely like the passion for the game is just like what football is to Texas.
D: We had a nice thing going last year, but this year we're still trying to get back the fan base from last year. Usually 200 or 300 people roughly.
G: There are hockey players on our $5 bill, so yeah, they do it seriously.
Q: What kind of following does the hockey team have?
The first game we had a decent crowd against Missouri.
G: Last year we had maybe over 300 people at the games at the end of the year.
We're trying to get that back.
We're trying to get some sort of party bus to take people to the games.
The biggest problem is that there's not a rink in Lawrence.
D: Yeah, the main reason we don't have bigger following is because we don't have a rink here. People have to drive 30 minutes to K.C. now.
SEE BROTHERS ON PAGE 8A
Ginny WeathermanKANSAN
Geoff Knight, president of the KU Ice Hockey Club, and his brother, Dave, came to Kansas from Canada. The team's next home game is Friday, Nov. 12, at Ice Sports Arena in Shawnee.
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