Welcome Back Picnic lets fans get to know women's basketball players.
The Emmy Awards honored the best in television last night. "The Office" and "24" received the top honors.
MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
PAGE 10A
VOLLEYBALL
Emily Brown garners award helps team to 2-1 record
BY DREW DAVISON
Emily Brown was named to the all-tournament team at the Academy Sports/Crimson Tide Invitational. When asked about being selected to the tournament team, Brown said jokingly, "Can I say no comment?"
Lacey Novak, senior forward, trys to kick past Rachel Fry, sophomore midfielder, during the first half of Friday's shutout game against Furman University. Novak scored one of the Jayhawk's three points, her first goal since her freshman year.
Brown, junior setter, said being named to the team was more a reflection on the Kansas team than on her.
The jayhawk volleyball team started its season in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and left with a record of 2-1.
"I think we played well," said Jana Correa, senior outside hitter. "There were our ups and downs. We still have a lot to work on."
Kansas swept Alabama A&M Friday to start the tournament, 30-17, 30-8, 30-14. Kansas beat Miami in its first game on Saturday before being swept by host Alabama in its night game. The tournament was held at Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension on Alabama's campus, known as the CAVE.
Jared Gab/KANSAN
"We were hot and cold Saturday," coach Ray Bechard said. "We beat a good team Saturday but 'Bama was really good Saturday night. Overall, we learned a lot."
Kansas shuts out Furman despite slow first-half start
Bechard said serving and passing are the two areas he would like the Jayhawks to excel in. Throughout the weekend, Bechard said the serving was solid, however, their passing gave them problems against Alabama.
SOCCER
"She had freshman moments," Bechard said. "That means she did a lot of good things for us, but at times she looked inexperienced out there. Her learning curve is sharp and she'll improve as she grows more comfortable."
Another question mark heading into the season was the middle-blocker position. After junior Natalie Uhart suffered a season-ending injury, the team looked to freshman Brittany Williams to become the starter.
In the Alabama A&M game Friday, Correia showed she is fully healthy this season, after recovering from a knee injury, leading the team with 14 kills.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 8A
BY MARK DENT
Sara Rogers couldn't have picked a better time to score her first career goal.
With Kansas struggling throughout almost the entire first half, the sophomore forward scored the first goal in Kansas 3-0 victory against Furman on Friday.
Senior defender Nikki Alvarez controlled the ball just past midfield, while Rogers streaked toward the goal.
Alvarez fired the ball in Rogers' direction as the Furman goalkeeper rushed in to cut it off. Rogers barely snuck past the goalie and tapped the ball in.
"I got a good pass from Nikki." Rogers said. "Luckily the goalkeeper
er gave me a good angle to slide it into the far post."
Even with Rogers' goal, Kansas coach Mark Francis was far from pleased with his team's effort in the first half and let his team know with a fiery speech at halftime.
Senior midfielder Holly Gault said, "We came out slow because we thought we were better than this team and could go half speed. But coach definitely got us going in the second half"
Monica Dolinsky was the first to answer Francis' call. The freshman forward knocked the ball in after receiving a pass from senior defender Afton Sauer directly in front of the net.
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 8A
Vanessa Pearson/KANSAN
Brady Gowin, facilities and event intern, left, and Casey Cook, assistant director of event management, pack up after rain forced Sunday's soccer game to be canceled. The Kansas soccer team was set to play Loyola Marymont at 1 p.m. Sunday, but the game was pushed first to 2 p.m. and then postponed after rain continued to fall on and off during the day. The makeup game was not scheduled yet on Sunday.
THE TRUTH
Steroid use mires track and field's integrity
BY DEJUAN ATWAY
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
DATWAY@KANSAN.COM
The mythical title of world's fastest man was once a coveted and prestigious title. Now, that honor and its sport, track and field, lie in the dark and shady waters created and contaminated by constant steroid abuse and allegations.
Justin Gatlin, the reigning 100 meter dash Olympic and world champion, tested positive for an increase in testosterone levels and steroids shortly after competing in the Kansas Relays on April 22.
Last week, Gatlin decided to cooperate with doping investigators and accept an eight-year ban from competition. He avoided a lifetime ban for his cooperation but the eight-year ban will essentially end his career.
It is equivalent to Lebron James being suspended from the NBA or Peyton Manning sitting out the next eight years in the NFL.
How does a sport recover when its youngest and arguably brightest superstar is suspended for steroid abuse?
Gatlin, along with Tim Montgomery, two of the last three men who have held the title of world's fastest man, have tested positive for banned substances and the only similarity between the two is their coach, Trevor Graham.
If track and field wants to clean up its sport and retain some of its integrity, it must find a way to rid itself of Trevor Graham.
Graham continues to attract some of the world's elite track and field athletes despite the fact that 11 of his athletes, including past world champions Marion
SEE ATWAY ON PAGE 8A
FOOTBALL
Inexperienced wide receivers look to step up, help lead offense
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
They just might be the most anonymous group on the Kansas football team.
Senior wide receiver Brian Murph leads a squad of inexperienced wide receivers on this year's football team. Murph is the Jayhawks leading returer in total yards, receptions and touchdowns.
With no true No. 1 guy, identifying three starting wide receivers is certainly a challenge. But it's a decision Kansas coach Mark Mangino will have to make this week, with only five days remaining until Saturday's season opener against Northwestern State.
Ryan McGoonov/KANSAN
At least six different players have seen time with redshirt-freshman quarterback Kerry Meier and the first-team offense in practice. Among the players competing for a starting spot is senior Brian Murph, who is the Jayhawks' top returning receiver. As a starter last season, Murph recorded 33 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns.
Mangino said he thinks Murph will be the leader of this year's crop
"Brian Murph's been making plays," Mangino said. "He did last
of receivers.
year and there's no reason for him not to this year. He's had a good training camp"
As the team's leading returner in several statistical categories, including total yards, receptions and touchdowns, it was assumed that Murph would be the team's top receiver. However, Murph sees the situation differently.
Aside from Murph, the main knock against this year's receivers will be their lack of experience.
"I'm up for the test," Murph said. "But I don't feel like I need to be the No. 1. I guy because we've got a lot
1
of great receivers.
I feel like any of us
could do it at any
given time."
"Any time you lose players like Mark Simmons — who have been in your program as a four-year starter — and a player like Charles Gordon, you feel like you need to get the next guys ready," he said. "But I know the young guys will be ready. It is no more a concern of mine than any other parts of the team."
With the graduation of two of last season's starters, Mangino knows it.
"It is no more a concern of mine than any other parts of the team."
rience on the field.
MARK MANGINO Kansas football coach
will be difficult to replace their exe
At least four other receivers with limited experience are competing for the final two starting spots, including senior Dominic Roux, junior Marcus Henry and Herford and
Fields may be best remembered for his touchdown reception against Iowa State, the first of his career, which helped tie the game and send it to overtime.
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Herford, Henry and Roux all saw action in 11 games last season and each averaged nearly 10 yards per catch.
Dexton Fields.
Kansas went on to win the game, its sixth of the season, and advance to the Fort Worth Bowl.
While the receivers are fairly inexperienced as a group, Mangino still has high hopes.
"I think those kids are coming together and there'a a lot of abebodied kids there." Mangino said.
Kansan senior sportswriter Ryan Schneider can be contacted at rschneler@kansan.com.
— Edited by Catherine Odson
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