SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 9,1995 PAGE 3B Jayhawks dreams come true 'Hawks dominate Big Eight Indoor Based on this past weekend, I apparently was wrong when I wrote that Kansas football coach Glen Mason made a bad decision in changing defensive coordinators. I didn't mean to take anything away from the team and its success with a 4-0 record. I was trying to explain that this year's defense wasn't any better than last year's defense and that the firing of two coaches was unreasonable. After Kansas' domination over the former No. 4 Colorado Buffaloes, it would be easy to say that Mason made the best decision in finding a new defensive coordinator. Former Colorado defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz may have made the difference in the game against Colorado. But, until we see more games, we won't know whether the coaching right decision. As for now, the Kansas football team only deserves praise. The No. 9 (C N N / U S A "Team Coaches" Poll) Jayhawks moved up in the polls because of the most impressive victory in college football this season. SPORTS REPORTER Former Big Ten Kansas sophomore wins singles championship after early exit last week By Dan Gelston Kansan sportswriter Kansas senior quarterback Mark Williams lit Colorado up like a switchboard. The Kansas offense looked like Penn State's offense of last season. Nobody should expect Kansas to play that well again anytime soon, but it possible. But, while the players spend their week thinking about Iowa State, their fans should continue to celebrate their top 10 ranking and head for the tanning salons. A farmer's tan will look funny in January in Arizona. Kansas fans better hope that the Jayhawks don't overlook an improved Iowa State team this weekend, though. Kansas has put itself in position to do something special. Perhaps Mason should be praised for letting offensive coordinator Pat Ruel have more control. He installed a new offense, and it wasn't completely effective in the team's first four victories. But when Kansas needed it to be completely effective, it was. Conference doormat Northwestern has beaten two traditional football powers — Notre Dame and Michigan — and many other top ranked teams have had impressive victories against other top 25 teams. TOPEKA — After a disappointing loss in the first round of the qualifying round at the Clay Court Championships last week in Baltimore, normally reserved sophomore Christie Sim turned to Kansas women's tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher. Kansas scored 40 points on a defense that ranked eighth in the nation in scoring defense. Colorado had only given up 73 points in its first five games. "I feel sorry for whoever has to play me next in the Big Eight," Sim said. There were plenty of players to feel sorry for this past weekend at the Big Eight Indoor Women's Tennis Championships at Woodvalley Racquet Club, as Sim left a trail of losers on her way to capturing the indoor championship. Sim didn't lose a set on her way to the title and won the championship 6-2, 6-1 against third-seeded Yana Dorodnova of Kansas State. This is the second consecutive week that a Kansas player has won a major tournament. Last week, junior Kylie Hunt won the Clay Court Championships. Sim lost a total of just 14 games in both singles and doubles play, and none of her opponents scored more than three games in a single set. "The work we're putting in, in the weight room, is really paying off," Merzbacher said. "We're making sacrifices and doing what it takes to win these tournaments. We showed we're the team to beat in the Big Eight." But Kansas' victory was the most impressive of the season. The Jayhawks didn't just defeat a national championship contender that had proven itself against other national championship contenders, they dominated it — in Colorado's house. ESPN analysts Lee Corso and Craig James said Colorado was just mentally tired after playing Texas A&M and Oklahoma. "I stayed focused on every point and didn't think about the last one," she said. "I'm also a lot stronger and that helped. We put a lot of time in on weights and conditioning, and it's really paying off." "I haven't played that well for a long time," said Sim, the fourth seed. "Before the tournament, I said I'd love to win, but I was just focusing on improving my game." The most impressive part of the Kansas victory was the offensive performance. The slogan "There's something new in the air" should be changed to "Something special in the air." Colorado has had a tough non conference schedule for years and is used to playing games that threaten its chances for a national championship. When it plays good teams in the Big Eight Conference, it wins. That's why Colorado played Nebraska every year for the right to go to the Orange Bowl. "I really didn't know what to expect," Sell said. "I knew the competition was going to be tough, but this turned out to be a real confidence booster for me. Knowing that I can play at this level and that they're not so much better than I am is great." "I am very pleased with the way everybody played this weekend," he said. "I think Christie has established herself as one of the elite players in the country. As for Kris, she has made herself known and established herself as a presence in the Big Eight." However, the Kansas defense turned Mason's dreams into a reality by taking the ball away from Colorado four times. Colorado didn't play its best game, but its high-powered offense still racked up 510 yards against Kansas. It paid off for the rest of the Jayhawks as well. All six of the participating members won at least one match. They went 14-6 in singles play and almost saw an all-Kansas There were mixed feelings for Sell and Sim about the possibility of facing each other in the finals. Sell said she had liked the idea and was excited about the possibility, while Sim said she didn't like to play teammates because it was difficult. Freshman Kris Sell, playing in her first collegiate tournament, rolled to three consecutive wins before losing to Dorodnova in the semifinals 6-3, 6-2. For Merzbacher, the championships showed that Kansas is ready to defend its Big Eight Conference championship. final. Sim also excelled in doubles as she and sophomore Bianca Kirchhoff advanced to the semifinals of the doubles bracket before losing 6-2, 6-3 to Monique Malan and Kara Golfin of Oklahoma. Like most coaches, Mason seems to live by the motto that turnovers decide the game. When Kansas players fumble, they rarely see the field again. So when a defensive player takes the ball from the other team. Mason must be in heaven. BIG EIGHT INDOOR TENNIS Kansas Results SINGLES Questions Semifinals Sim, KU, def. Yang, UNG, 6-1, 6-2 Sim, KU, def. Duc, CUT, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 Quarterfinals Sim def. Fischer, CU, 6-2, 6-2 Dorodnova, KSU, def. Sell, 6-3, 6-2 DOUBLES Finals HILL FOOTBALL Doradova/Nicholson, KSU, def.Atkerson Doratoglu, KU, 6.1, 7-6 Sim/Kirchhof, KU, def. McIntosh/Bartascu CU, 6.7, 6.2, 6.3 Sim def. Dorodnova, 6-2, 6-1 Semifinals Malan/Goffin, OU, def. Sim/Kirchhof, 62 Open division tournament starts with quite a 'display' By Jeffrey Auslander Kansan sportswriter There was a show at 23rd and Iowa streets yesterday. To be more specific, there was an Aerial Display. The Aerial Display embarrassed its opponent, Big Potato, 52-0 in the first round of the flag football men's open tournament. The 52 points the team scored were four short of the Hill record for flag football. Aerial Display out-gained Big Potato 289 yards to 12. Someone turn off the oven, this potato is cooked. potato is cooked. "They are really, really good," said Big Potato member Brandon Parkinson, Scott City junior. "They have great passing and fast receivers. That short guy, with the crew cut, is as fast as we have seen." The short guy is Aerial Display receiver Greg Papineau, Overland Park senior. raced free for a 35-yard touchdown catch that set the tone for the rest of the game. "We had a crossing pattern, and the guy covering me went with another receiver," Papineau said. "I was wide open, and G robned me one." Papineau's second touchdown made the score 21-0, and the rout was on. A big reason for the easy victory was the passing performance by Maher. He went 10 for 14 with 216 yards and five touchdowns. Chad Reader Lansing senioron Aerial Display quarterback Rob Maher Papineau started the scoring barrage with a touchdown in the first minute of the game. The play developed when Aerial Display quarterback Rob Maher, Gardner graduate student, rolled right and lofted a 10-yard pass to back of the end zone. Papineau jumped up, took the ball away from a defender and managed to keep his toes in-bounds for the touchdown. Unfortunately for Big Potato, Papineau was just warming up. A few minutes later, with the score 14-0, he "He was his usual self today," said Aerial Display teammate Chad Rader, Lansing senior. "He has those Jack-benimble feet back there, and everything he throws is right in your hands." Maher attributed his performance to his teammates. "The offensive line protected me well and our receivers showed their great hands," he said. "As for the team's "I think that we should make it to the final round," Papineau said. "All we have to do is play the way we have." As for the team's "We had a sound performance," he said. "When you ask what the score is and you drop your jaw at the answer, you know you played well." The team advanced to the quarterfinals and is looking to continue it's winning ways. performance and the lop-sideo score, Maher said that the team was pleased. Big Potato's Charlie Sexton, Lansing senior, pressures Aerial Display quarterback Rob Maher, Gardner graduate student. Pam Dishman / KANSAN Women's soccer suffers setbacks with two losses Kansan staff report The Kansas women's soccer team could not manage a upset this weekend as it lost to No. 21 Minnesota 5-1. Despite Saturday's loss, Kansas women's soccer coach Lori Walker was not disappointed with the team's performance. "This was not a bad outcome against the No. 21 team in the country," she said. "We had a fantastic defensive effort. Jackie Dowell had another solid game. Micaela Brogan and Amanda Romek stepped up and marked well against some of the best forwards in this region, if not the country." Kansas freshman goalkeeper Erin Hon, who had 13 saves, also played a tremendous role in keeping the Jayhawks in the game. Walker said. Minnesota scored three goals in the first half. After Minnesota added a fourth goal in the second half, Kansas freshman Kerry During scored an unassisted goal. "We let them come out and really intimidate us in the first half. But we came back in the second and were able to play pretty well." Walker said. Kansas lost its first game of the weekend on Friday to Minnesota-Duluth 2-0, a game Walker thought the Javahaws could have won. "This is the first game that we've actually lost. Up to this point we were beat, but tonight we lost," she said. Minnesota-Duluth lost earlier in the season to Minnesota 11-0. Kansas outshot Minnesota-Duluth 16-7, marking the first time this season the Jayhawks have outshot their opponent and lost. "We had an outstanding defensive effort again by Jackie Dowell, Erin Hon, Kim Ambruz and Micaela Brogan," Walker said. "We just couldn't finish. The balls were rolling across the front of the goal." 'Little errors' lead to volleyball team's loss By Bill Petulla Kansan sportswriter Just hours after the Kansas football team upset Colorado, the Kansas volleyball team was looking to make the Jayhawks 2-0 against Buffalo opponents for the day. Before the match, a Kansas supporter even waved around a sign anchored by a broom that read "Sweep the Buffs!" "There were a lot of things that didn't go our way," Kansas senior middle blocker Jenny Larson said. "We made a lot of little errors and some mistakes at crucial times. But they were all within our control." However, the broom would go back into the closet as the Jayhawks fell just short of a victory Saturday night, losing to Colorado 3-1 at Allen Field House. The Buffaloes won by scores of 15-12, 16-14 and 15-11. Kansas won the third set 15-10. None of the Buffaloes' three game victories were decided by more than four points. "Serving and defense were really the keys in the match." Kansas volleyball The Jayhawks (5-12 overall and 0-4 in the Big Eight Conference) had 20 service errors. Colorado also finished with 20 service errors but managed 13 aces, compared with Kansas' seven. The Buffaloes (8-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big Eight) came into Lawrence after having lost its last five matches. Although Colorado coach Brad Saindon was pleased with the win, he admitted the match wasn't pretty. Schoonewise said that many times the Jayhawks were out of position on defense and when they were in position, often they were ineffective. coach Karen Schonewise said. "We've really struggled lately, and I'm happy that we were able to end the five-game losing streak," Saidon said. "But, to tell you the truth, we didn't play that well." "It was a competitive match. We didn't know what to expect out of Kansas, and we really didn't know what to expect out of ourselves." The Buffaloes were led by junior hitter Rachel Wacholder, last season's second For Kansas, which won the third game, it marked the first time since Nov. 6, 1993, that Kansas won a game against Colorado. However, this loss was disappointing for Larson. On the Jayhawks' side of the net, Larson had a career high in kills with 22. She also totaled 14 dives. Sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Kendra Kahler finished with 13 kills and 15 digs. team All-Big Eight selection, with 21 kills. Freshman outside hitter Tegan Lynch added 17 kills and 14 digs for Colorado. "We're going to turn our luck around sooner or later." Larson said. The Jayhawks battle Missouri on Wednesday at Allen Field House. Although coaches and players said that the team had been playing well, the Jayhawks haven't registered a win in their last six matches. The team, however, remains optimistic. GAME STATISTICS "This is the closest we've ever been to beating Colorado since I've been here," she said. "I just hope it's sooner," sophomore setter Tiffany Sennett said. Colorado 3, Kansas 1 COLORADOP K, E TA Pct. Set SA O SE Dig BS BA Lynch 17 L 8 36 .333 34 0 5 14 0 1 Lodge 5 2 16 .188 5 2 5 7 0 1 Williams 14 6 32 .250 5 2 2 13 1 4 Wolfe 2 0 2 1.000 24 3 0 5 0 1 Wacholder 21 11 60 .167 0 1 1 14 0 2 Owens 2 1 9 0.000 0 3 1 8 0 0 Anderson 1 2 4 -.250 27 1 1 11 0 1 Bunce 1 3 7 -.286 1 0 1 7 0 0 Koepke 6 3 18 .167 1 1 1 8 0 2 Total 69 34 184 .194 61 13 20 87 12 KANSAS K E TA Pct. Set SA SE Di Eng BS BA Mohfeld 8 1 10 .350 .182 2 3 1 15 0 3 Kahler 13 5 44 .182 2 3 1 15 0 1 Rohde 7 7 26 .000 0 2 3 15 1 3 Purkeyple 4 1 9 .333 0 2 0 2 1 1 Larson 22 5 47 .362 0 1 4 14 2 4 Sennett 0 0 1 .000 57 0 4 7 0 2 Starnes 0 0 0 .000 0 0 2 1 0 0 Walt 0 0 9 .000 0 1 0 9 0 0 Donovan 7 4 23 .130 0 4 8 0 2 Total 61 23 179 .120 59 7 20 78 7 18 Key: K=kill; E=error; TA=total attacks; Pct=attack percentage; SA=service ace; SE=service errors; BS=solo blocks; BA=assisted blocks ---