SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
TENNIS
Competition continues after end of season Six members experience defeat,success in summertime singles, doubles play
BY ANTONIO MENDOZA
Although the tennis season has ended, team players have played competitively throughout the summer.
Six team members from the University of Kansas tennis team competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Summer Circuit Central Region, which was played at the Robinson tennis courts on campus. Team members occupied two of the top four seeds: junior Liza Avdeeva, first overall seed, and junior Lauren Hommell, third overall seed.
Both the singles and the doubles championship matches had at least one player from the Kansas tennis team.
Hommell made it to the championship game in singles play. For her to get there, she had to defeat her doubles partner, sophomore Edina Horvath, and another teammate, junior Stephanie Smith.
"I got to the finals. I had to play two of my teammates, but that's how it goes in the summer tournaments." Hommell said.
Hommell ended up losing the
final match to No. 4 Colleen Riley of Notre Dame, 6-2, 6-1.
"I could have done better in the finals. I really was disappointed in myself. I didn't play very well and was sore from being out there all day the day before," Hommell said.
Even though she did defeat Horvath in singles play, they played as doubles partners and won the championship 9-7.
Junior Liza Avdeeva made it to the semifinals of the tournament but ended up losing to the same person who beat Hormell in the championship, Riley, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0.
"Having them, especially Lauren, making it to the finals, and Lauren and Edina winning the doubles — it looks good for us starting out in the fall," coach Amy Hall-Holt said.
Other team members in the tournament were sophomore Yuliana Svistun and senior Ashley Filberth.
Kansan sportswriter Antonio Mendoza can be contacted at amendoza@kansan.com.
- Edited by Shanxi Upsdell
>> SERENITY NOW
New quarterback brings high hopes
Redshirt freshman could lead Jayhawks to a winning season, Big 12 North Championship
I left KU Football Media Day last Thursday sweaty, confident and impressed.
Sweaty because the Memorial Stadium press conference room felt more like a sauna in light of the air conditioning apparently not working.
And I was impressed with what I heard from the person who's going to help make that Big 12 Championship date in Kansas City on Dec. 2 possible — Kerry Meier.
Confident about my prediction that KU will win the Big 12 North division for the first time in school history.
"If Kansas is going to win ball games, then I'm going to have to make some plays," the blonde-locked Meier said last Tuesday.
Trust me folks - Kerry Meier is that guy.
The 6'3", 210 lb. redshirt freshman has considerable pressure on him, as he is easily the most physically gifted quarterback coach Mark Mangino has had during his five-year tenure here at Kansas.
And given the hodgepodge that has plagued the quarterback position at KU since Bill Whitemore left, Meier has Jayhawk fans salivating for a capable, dynamic signal caller.
Humble and positive, Meier sat calmly as he answered question after question about what's expected of him this season. Easily the biggest draw at Media Day, I marveled at how focused he was and how little the media attention affected him.
"I just go out and play." he said.
I just go out and play. He said.
When asked if he was concerned about making mistakes, Meier, wearing his number 10 blue jersey, sighed briefly and said, "We go by a motto here, 'the next play is the most important,' and I really stick to it. I just take it all in, learn from it, and with it."
season that it wasn't whether Meier could make the throws but whether receivers could catch his passes.
Eric Washington, a senior linebacker who will help KU fans forget Nick Reid, told me after last
Mark Jones, a junior-transfer tight end who chose KU instead of Michigan State and other major-conference schools and figures to get plenty of action opposite Derek Fine this season, said Meier was one of the best quarterbacks he's ever played with.
"He's a heck of a quarterback," jones said. "I've been very impressed with such a young guy and how he's able to settle down the offense. He's excellent."
After receiving confirmation from Jones, Aqib Talib and Angus Quigley said that KU had as good a chance as anybody to win the Big 12 North, I asked Meier if capturing the Big 12 North was a reality.
"it's gotta be a reality," Meier said purposefully as he sat up in his chair. "If you're gonna come out and play the game, you have to have that mindset and set your goals high, and that's a big time goal for us, and we're gonna be willing to work for it."
So KU fans, get ready. You've
got a quarterback who favors reading than playing video games. He prepares for games listening to the likes of Widespread Panic, a jam-rock band, and The Grateful Dead because he said they help him relax.
"The thing about quarterback, you can't be all hyped up, you have to be relaxed and confident," Meier said.
His favorite quarterback growing up was one of the fiercest competitors in NFL history, Brett Favre;
He's got the physical tools, the mental ability and an entire Jayhawk nation behind him ready to anoint him the Next Great Kansas Quarterback. Does the legend begin this season?
"I think this season might be a special one." Meir said.
I do too Kerry. I do too
Kansan columnist Fred A. Davis III can be contacted at fdavis@kansan.com.
CLUB SPORTS
—Edited by Janiece Gatson
I was impressed with what I heard from the person who's going to help make that Big 12 Championship date in Kansas City on Dec. 2 possible - Kerry Meier.
Cycling club aims to attract recreational ridership
BY KAYVON SARRAF
"Not all members race competitively. We are also a club for people who enjoy riding bicycles and are just looking to get into the sport," assistant coach David McLeod said.
Whether cyclists wish to compete for trophies or simply find another recreational activity, the KU Cycling Club hopes to give both groups the opportunity to do so this season. In addition to defending its North Central title, the club also wants to increase the number of recreational riders.
The club also offers an opportunity for racers seeking competition.
The team includes women's conference champion Kim Kissing and men's B-conference champion Jeff Schroeder, McLean, Va., graduate student. The conference also includes an A-level conference with more advanced riders.
Competitive racing can serve as a stepping stone to higher levels of cycling. Former club member Brian Jensen now races professionally with team Jelly Belly.
The Collegiate National Championships will be held in Lawrence for
the third consecutive season. The event draws more than 500 athletes and 1,500 visitors to town.
"Nationals are a great opportunity to race with talented cyclists
and its a lot of fun, Kathy Kalbac, KU Cycling Club president said. "Schools from all across the country come to KU and it's a chance to increase our team's visibility."
to women, hold coaching seminars specifically designed for women and organize regular women's rides from campus.
The three returning
"We hope to have women who
"Not all members race competitively. We are also a club for people who enjoy riding bicycles and are just looking to get into the sport."
DAVID MCLEOD Assistant Coach
women all raced at nationals last year, and McLeod hopes to see even more women participate in the club this season.
McLeod said that because so few women are involved, the club hopes to attract them by encouraging women to ride with other women and realize how fun and competitive cycling can be.
To increase the club's female membership to more than 10 women, the group will loan bikes
have a bike,
or who want a
bike and have
never tried it,
to come out
and ride with
us," McLeod
said. "This is
a great year to
try it out, so
especially with
nationals being
in Lawrence.
O w n i g an expensive
bike and investing in equipment isn't necessary to join the club. Just about any bike will suffice.
"Last year's national champion rode an old 1992 Trek. It was great to someone win on an old bike," Kalbac said.
Kansan sportswriter Kayvon Sarraf can be contacted at ksarrafkansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
Ania Niedringheus/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A marathon session
Italy's Stefano Baldini celebrates after winning the gold medal in the Men's Marathon during the European Athletics Championships in Goteborg, Sweden, Sunday Aug. 13, 2006.
Players look to improve after last season
BY ANTONIO MENDOZA
Coming off of their best season since 2001-2002, the Kansas tennis team returns five of its six starters from last year's squad.
Last year's team had a 14-11 record, more than twice the number of victories from the previous two seasons combined. It finished ranked No.64 in the nation, according to the International
Tennis Association's rankings. But not everyone was completely satisfied with the team's improvement.
"I thought we could have done better," junior Lauren Hommell said. "There were some rough spots with the team."
Hommell said the team needed to pull out more of the matches it lost by a score of 4-3. She said if Kansas won more matches against higher ranked schools it would have had a better chance of get-
The team finished the season by defeating Colorado in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, and then lost to Baylor in the second round. Even though it finished ranked No. 64, the tennis team was not given a bid to the NCAA tournament, which accepts 64 teams.
ung into the NCAA post-season tournament.
Coach Amy Hall-Holt said she was happy with the team's performance throughout the year.
"We are going to continue on building from what we did last year into this year," she said.
The team also had a Big 12 Conference record of 5-8, finishing eighth in the conference.
Two Jajhawks even made the All-Big 12 team. Sophomore Ksenia Bukina and junior Liza Avdeeva made the singles team, in addition to making the doubles team as partners. During the regular season they held the team's No. 1 doubles spot.
"Anytime you have a handful of girls returning and all of them are in your lineup, you are definitely looking good," Hall-Holt said.
Christine Skoda will be the only player not returning.
Kansan sportswriter Antonio Mendoza can be contacted at amendzo@kansan.com.
Edited by Travis Robinett
---