4B
Friday, October 27, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Volleyball team to play UMKC
By Bill Petulla Kansan sportswriter
Two days after losing to No. 1 Nebraska, the Kansas volleyball team will try to get back on the winning track as it takes on the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The Jayhawks will battle UMKC in a two-match series in Allen Field House this weekend — at 8 tonight and 3 p.m. tomorrow.
"We've been working very hard in practice, and the team is anxious to see some results in the win column," Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise said.
Kansas, 6-15 overall and 1-7 in the Big Eight Conference, will be led on the court by outside hitter Leslie Purkeypile. The 6-foot sophomore
led the Jayhawks in kills against Nebraska with seven.
Senior middle blocker Jenny Larson, who played an important part in Kansas' effort against the Cornhuskers, also will be a go-to player. She finished the match with five kills and 15 digs.
Larson played great defense against Nebraska, and Purkeypile played a lot more enthusiastically and aggressively, Schonewise said.
UMKC is 6-19 overall and 4-4 in the Mid Continental Conference. The Kangaroos' attack has been paced this season by sophomore hitter Katie Simpson, who leads the team in kills with 248 for the season, and freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Whitener, who is second on the roster with 181 kills and leads the team
"Katie Simpson is a good all-around player, and Elizabeth Whitener has been playing really well for us this season," UMKC volleyball coach Dawn Bunting said.
with 30 solo blocks.
The Kangaroos have no seniors on their squad.
"We're a very young team. Only two of our players have ever played together, and one is a front-row hitter, and the other is a back-row hitter," Bunting said.
Although Kansas will be facing a less experienced team, Schonewise said they wouldn't be taking the 'Roos lightly.
"This match is very important for us," she said. "The team needs to see the benefits of working hard in practice."
Practice propels rowers to succeed
By Erin Johnson
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's rowing team may be more prepared for the Head of the Iowa Regatta this weekend in Iowa City, Iowa, then it has been for the other two regattas this fall.
And after finishing in the top among collegiate teams at both regattas, that preparation could do damage to other competitors Sunday.
"We practice so hard, so much," Kansas sophomore rower Kristen Wiebe said. "We definitely have trained just as much as the other schools, if not more, so I think that gives us an edge on them."
Wiebe said the combination of conditioning and race experience
should make the Kansas crew stronger in Sunday's regatta than in the previous two.
"I think when you finally get into racing, it reminds you why you've been practicing so hard," she said. "I think we're all very prepared for this regatta. We're all trying as hard as we can now, so I think everyone's going to give 100-percent effort."
Kansas women's rowing coach Rob Catloth said Iowa would be the Jayhawks' toughest competition. The Hawkeyes are one of the top collegiate teams in the nation.
"I'm expecting them to be fairly fast from how they did last year," Catloth said. "Their freshmen were basically one of the fastest crews in the country."
Catloth said he was expecting the Jayhawk freshmen to do well Sunday. Since the freshmen's last regatta two weeks ago at the Head of the Kaw in Kansas City, Mo., they have been looking stronger in practices.
The Head of the Iowa Regatta will complete the Jayhawks' fall distance racing season. Kansas competed in three regattas this fall and will turn to the sprint racing season this spring. Catloth said the fall season prepared the rowers for the spring season, where they could go to nationals if they did well. However, Iowa is the only on Kansas' mind this week.
"After we take care of things regionally, we'll see how we can do nationally," Catloth said.
Soccer team aims to keep defeating first-year teams
By Jason Strait
Kansan sportwriter
Following a 3-0 loss last weekend to Drury College, the Kansas women's soccer team is ready to extend its 5-0 mark against first-year opponents.
The Jayhawks (5-9) will play Eastern Illinois (7-10-1) at 3 p.m. today and North Texas (8-5-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at SuperTarget Field. Both teams in their first seasons.
Kansas, already missing injured co-captain Audra Henderson, lost co-
captain Jackie Dowell early in the first half of last weekend's game with an arm injury.
"It was a unique experience losing Jackie, because that is one of the positions we've never trained as far as making a switch there," Kansas women's soccer coach Lori Walker said. "We've trained Kimberly (Ambruz) a little bit more as a sweeper. But obviously having her back, even in a brace, brings the team's confidence back up again."
Walker said she thought Kansas would compete evenly with Eastern Illinois. Against North Texas, Kansas will face a more successful first-year team, though.
"If we can keep our wounded healthy, we should do real well," Walker said.
Kansas freshman infielder Jen Magid played with four North Texas players and is excited about that game as well as the remaining three.
Team support appreciated by swimmer
"Hopefully, we can take the last four games and even out our record," Magid said.
Kansas freshman swimmer Mike Blundell isn't sure what he will do for an encore after winning the 200-yard breaststroke at the Kansas swimming team's first meet last weekend at Arkansas.
By Bill Kenealy
Kansan sportswriter
Blundell's victory helped the Jayhawks defeat nationally-ranked Louisiana State.
"I didn't expect to win at all, but our whole team was down by the starting blocks before the race, yelling. It really got me pumped up," he said.
By Linda C. Bi
"It was a lot of fun traveling to Arkansas. It was the first time I had ever been on one of those huge buses," he said. "Stopping to eat, being with the team, the whole thing was fun."
Blundell, who swam for Caulfield High School because his school, Pittsburg High School, did not have a swimming team, is enjoying his teammates' companionship and the opportunity to travel.
Blundell's father served as his coach for many years, but Blundell also was familiar with Kansas swimming coach Gary Kempf.
"I've known Coach for a long time," Blundell said. "I've gone to the Kansas swimming camp ever since I was a little kid."
Blundell's familiarity with the program helped him walk on this season.
He and his teammates on the men's and women's swimming teams will face Southern Illinois at 7 tonight. The Jayhawks defeated the Saluks in the Open Water Invitational at Lone Star Lake last month.
The women's team will compete against Minnesota at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Both meets will be at Robinson Natorium.
Kristin Nilsen, the Big Eight Conference record holder in the 400-yard individual medley, said the team was ready for the back-to-back meets.
"Our conditioning right now is really good. We can come back and swim the back half of our races well," she said. "You just go out and give it your best each day."
Horoscopes
Today's Birthday (Oct. 27):
Right now, your luck in love's so good you can't lose! Make your commitment now. You'll be lucky with money in December, so go for the gold. January's for learning and putting your experience to work. Heed an older loved one's advice in March. Costs could exceed income in June, so save up for it. July is best for travel by water. You'll power through to complete easily a dictatorial boss' assignment in August, so don't worry.
Aries (March 21-April 19):
Don't waste energy on a person who doesn't want to be convinced. Instead, play with someone who inspires you to new heights. Put off a career decision until tomorrow. Meanwhile, let your imagination wander. You may think of something better.
Taurus (April 20-May 20):
Don't let the euphoria of being with a person you admire convince you to spend more than you can afford. Secrets will work in your favor today. You also may find yourself revealing more than you intended. That's OK, if you're with the right person.
Gemini (May 21-June 21): Listen carefully this morning for news you can use. Concentrate your attention on a tough job or you may have to do it over. As soon as possible, break away from the pressure. A long drive and a good talk would get you back into your naturally cheerful frame of mind.
Cancer (June 22 July 22): The workplace is a flurry of activity today. Keep your head, even if those around you are losing theirs. Your sweetie may tell you something tonight that makes a big difference. Set the scene for it. It's a marvelous evening for a romantic commitment.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Don't get in trouble by talking leave of your responsibilities too early. Finish a tough job first, then you can go out and play. Someone at home needs attention now, so don't forget that, either. She or he may not ask directly, but you should be able to get the message.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Today's there's a danger that you won't care if anything gets done!
Don't worry, if you're far enough ahead of schedule to afford some free time. It's a marvelous night for a party at your house. Relax and let the place get messed up a bit; you can always clean it later.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You're even smarter than usual today. Unfortunately, you may not be very interested in the task at hand. It's really not a very good day to make decisions anyway, so put those off until later. Discuss your mutual destiny with an attractive friend tonight.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Play your cards close to the chest today. You can profit if you know when to wait and when to act quickly. Part of it is experience, but a lot depends on luck. Be in the right place at the right time and win. Ask an insider friend to confirm your hunch.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your confidence level should be high today. Use it to face up to a chore you've been avoiding. If you don't, your future plans could get loused up. If your sweetie is keeping something from you, don't worry. Ask again in private, late tonight.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A meeting should turn out very well for you today. You'll be good in a group, especially playing a game you've practiced for years. Communicate something important before this evening. Don't put it off any longer. When that's handled, you'll get a new chance.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you're stymied, maybe you ought to take a little break. Discuss your latest project with a group of friends. You'll get some good ideas you never would have thought of by yourself. Put off making your final choice for a couple of days, and you'll chose more wisely.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20):
Instead of dwelling on what's wrong, let an older person cheer you up. It's not a sin to laugh about your troubles. Actually, that might help you solve them. If you're looking for love, consider again a person who cares deeply but lives far away.
Note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and should be read for entertainment only.
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