SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
September 26,1994
3B
Home play challenges golf team
Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's golf team has an appetite for victory.
The team finished in second place last weekend in the Falcon/Cross Creek Invitational. Being only three strokes out of first place might have been the best thing that could have happened to Kansas, junior Alan Stearns said.
"That gets us hungry to win a tournament," he said. As the players head into the Kansas Invitational today at Alvamar Golf Course, 1800 Crossgate Drive, they hope to improve their shot selection, Stearns said. Last weekend the team gave away several shots when they got into trouble.
Instead of opting for the easiest way out, the golfers often tried to do things that were difficult, which led to higher scores.
"There are just some little things you try to work on, course management-wise," Stearns said. "That way we don't maximize our mistakes."
Kansas coach Ross Randall said he has emphasized to the players the importance of each shot in a tournament. However, the weather and other events previously scheduled at Alvamar have limited Kansas' practice time this past week.
"We're anxious and ready to go, but physically we haven't been able to practice as much as we'd like," Randall said.
The weather may also impact play in the tournament, Randall said. Rain the area received last week has left the ground saturated. With soft conditions, players do not get the normal distance out of each club.
Stearns said one advantage Kansas could count on was knowing its home course. They practice on it every day.
"We all know the course really well," he said. "We're a lot more comfortable than other golfers will be."
Stearns said that there was a pressure of being at home, though.
"Everyone assumes you'll just walk away with it," he said.
Stearns placed fourth last weekend in only his second collegiate tournament.
He was two strokes behind the champion after shooting a 69 on the final day of competition. Stearns said he received a big boost of confidence after the tournament.
"It helped my confidence to go out in a college tournament and shoot under par," he said. "It at least lets me know I can do it again."
Volleyball team looks on bright side
Team encouraged despite two losses
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan sportswriter
Despite two weekend losses, the Jayhawks felt little disappointment walking off the volleyball court in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday.
Instead, the Jayhawks breathed a collective sigh of relief after the conclusion of the Arby's Classic, the final weekend road trip of the non-conference schedule, freshman middle blocker Leslie Purkeypile said.
"I think we all felt some relief the week
end tournaments were over," she said. "We played a lot better this weekend and we're ready to start the conference schedule and the tough competition in the Big Eight."
Even though Kansas, 3-11, picked up two more losses, coach Karen Schonewise said the team met the goals it had set for itself going into the tournament.
"We wanted to see good communication, a good blocking game and no balls hitting the floor," she said. "All three goals were met at the tournament."
Kansas played the nationally ranked New Mexico Lobos Friday, losing in three games. Despite starting with 4-15, 1-15 losses, the team battled back in the third game to challenge the Lobo's, 12-15.
"We just came back and things started working for us in the third game."
"They were a good team, but we weren't thinking about them being ranked when we went into the match." Purkevile said.
Schonewise said the Jayhawk's offense and defense came together for the first time this season.
Controlling the offense, freshman setter Trisha Lindgren assisted Purkeypile, who led the team with eight kills against New Mexico.
Defensively, the Jayhawks had to combat a hard-hitting New Mexico team. Junior outside hitter Jenny Larson and sophomore outside hitter Katie Walsh led the defensive effort with 11 digs each and combined for 11 defensive kills.
Friday's solid performance carried over into Saturday as the Jayhawks took the Pittsburgh Panthers into five games, 15-5, 11-15, 15-6, 11-15, 15-7.
Strong defensive play and good blocking
allowed the Jayhawks to turn in their most consistent performance of the season. Schonewise said.
Purkeypile and Walsh Jed the team with 14 kills each.
Defensively, Walsh turned in an equally impressive performance with 16 digs.
Continual improvement and a high level of intensity after this weekend's tournament should have Kansas ready for conference play, Schonewise said.
With weekend tournaments out of the way, Kansas will concentrate on a match against the Iowa State Cyclones Sept. 28.
"We may have lost, but we felt better about things." Purkepvile said.
"We played really good defense this weekend, which is what we've been working on."
BRIEF
Jayhawks clean up in softball tournament
Kansanstaffreport
The Kansas softball team swept through the Jayhawk Invitational Saturday and yesterday, winning all five games it played.
The Jayhawks faced Johnson County Community College in their opening game Saturday. The Jayhawks won 10-5. Both teams had nine hits and five errors. Junior pitcher Beth Robinson picked up the win for Kansas.
Kansas defeated Kearney State in their second game, 8-2. Kansas pounded out 13 hits in the victory. Sophomore Tiffany Blood was the winning pitcher.
On Sunday, Kansas defeated Kearney State for the second time, 6-5. Despite the win, the Jayhawks were outhit 11-8 in the contest.
ne team continued its win streak against Washburn with a 7-0 victory. Robinson had her second win in the two-hit shutout. Kansas committed no errors in the contest.
In Kansas' final game, the Jayhawks dismantled Johnson County, 4-1. Blood had her second win of the weekend as the team outfit Johnson County 9-1.
Previously unbeaten Chiefs fail to score against LA Rams
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What Chuck Knox calls the best team in the NFL wasn't even the best team in Kansas City on a rainy day when Joe Montana has the flu.
Montana, fighting what Kansas City Chiefs officials called a viral infection, played his worst game of the year and failed to get his team into the end zone for the first time in a 15-year career.
Willie Anderson scored on a 72-yard play off a deflected pass, and the Los Angeles Rams defeated the previously unbeaten Chiefs 16-0 yesterday.
The Rams (2-2) were heavy underdogs, and their coach knew it.
"This is the best football team I've seen in the NFL this year," said Knox, repeating what he's been saying about the Cheifs all week.
"We're playing the best passer in pro football," Rams tackle Jackie Slater said. "We beat probably one of the best teams in the AFC, maybe the best team in all the game."
In another historical oddity, it's the first time the Chiefs were shut out at home since 1985 when the same team beat them by the same score.
The Rams seized a 13-0 lead after the first quarter and maintained command throughout. The Chiefs had opened the season with victories against three NFC West teams — the Saints, 49ers and Falcons — who were all favored over the Rams.
"I don't think in your worst nightmare you could imagine the performance we put on out there today," Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
Montana said his illness had not been a factor in his performance — 18-for-37 for 175 yards and three interceptions. In a storied career that includes four Super Bowl titles and the highest passing percentage in NFL history, he had never before failed to guide his team to a score.
"That doesn't mean anything," he said. "I felt fine. I didn't take any (medication) today."
Jerome Bettis, the Rams' 243-pound running back, picked up 132 yards on 35 carries, going more than 100 yards for the third straight game and helping the Rams (2-2) get rolling on their first possession behind second-team quarterback Chris Chandler.
Tony Zendejas hit a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead, and a few minutes later, Louis Aguiar's 45-yard punt put the Rams on their own 28.
Chandler dropped back and fired over the middle to Jessie Hester, but the pass was high, and Hester leaped and tipped the ball higher.
It flew squarely into Anderson's arms at the 45, and he romped untouched for a 72-yard touchdown play, silencing the sellout crowd and giving the Rams an improbable 10-0 lead with more than three minutes left in the first quarter.
"If you're not playing at the top of your game, this can happen to you," Chandler said. "We had the tipped touchdown. We got some lucky breaks. We got some tipped ball turnovers that you don't normally get against Joe Montana."
"It was one of those days," said Schottenheimer, "that they throw a ball, and we're closing on it, and it deflects off the receiver's hands and goes to a guy who's running loose behind it. It was miserable."
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