SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1994
SECTION
Michigan to take on the Irish
'Vintage rhetoric part of mental edge
Jayhawks spike 'Roos in opener
By Ron Lesko The Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Let the games begin.
Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz rolled out some of his best "we're-worse-than-they are" material yesterday as his No. 3 Fighting Irish prepare for their critical second-week game against No. 6 Michigan in South Bend on Saturday.
Even with Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley doubtful with a separated shoulder and two other key Wolverines expected to miss the game, Holtz slathered on the hyperbole.
"This Michigan team is the most talented, best football team they've had since I've been here," he said. "... Right now, I worry about Michigan embarrassing us."
Typical Holtz.
For his part, Michigan's Gary Moeller quivers at the thought of Fighting Irish quarterback Ron Powlus, even though Notre Dame could neither run the ball nor stop the run against Northwestern in last weekend's 42-15 victory.
The Wolverines also lost linebacker Matt Dyson in that game.
Michigan struggled at times in a 34-26 victory over Boston College without Wheatley and receiver Walter Smith, both preseason casualties.
It is vintage coaching rhetoric: don't give the opponent any extra incentive before the big game.
But one team will solidify its place as a legitimate national championship contender Saturday, the other will need lots of help to get back in the race. It has been this way between these traditional rivals for more than a decade.
"You're never going to be able to handle something like this," Moeller said of the injuries, "whether it's the beginning of the season or the end of the season."
These games make a season, and that one dream season can make a coach's career. Holtz and Moeller know that, and their griping comes more from pure anxiety than a desire to gain a mental edge.
Holtz has beaten Michigan five of eight times since he came to South Bend in 1986, with a 17-17 tie two years ago.
Moeller only has beaten the Irish once in four tries. That 1991 victory at Michigan Stadium propelled Desmond Howard to the Heisman Trophy and made the Wolverines a national title front-runner, until they lost at home to Florida State the following week.
This year is the last time Michigan and Notre Dame will play until 1997.
Kansas junior outside hitter Jitter Larson stretches to spike the ball past UMKC's Kelly Wempe last night at Allen Field House. Kansas defeated the Kangaroos in five games.
Kansas coach finds effective lineup with freshmen help
By Chesley Dohl
Kansan sportswriter
Ayoung, Kansas volleyball team displayed the character of a group of veteran players last night in defeating a more experienced UMKC team.
Kansas won its home-opener last night in Allen Field House, taking the match in five games. 11-15,15-11,15-4,11-15,15-11.
Kansas coach Karen Schonewise said the match gave her an opportunity to find a consistent starting lineup.
"Right now we're still working on finding six players to mesh out on the court," Schonewise said. "We have talent and athletes. It's just a matter of finding the right team to put out on the court."
Kansas started three freshmen, including Trisha Lindgren at setter and Maggie Mohrfeld and Leslie Purkeypile at the middle-blocker positions.
Junior outside hitter Jenny Larson had 11 kills for the night, starting at the right side of the court, while sophomore outside hitter Katie Walsh led all attackers with 13 kills.
Walsh and sophomore Lara Izokaitis combined for 24 kills on the night to make for a strong left side.
Shonewise said they were smart players with the ability to read the court.
"Katie and Lara hit great shots," she said.
"They know where the players are and where to find the holes. They were hitting the corners tonight."
Kansas lost the first game 15-11. But the Jayhawks came back strong in the second game to win 15-11.
Schonewise tried different player combinations during the match, seeking an effective sixplayer lineup.
Kansas won its second game when Schonewise put four freshmen out on the court: middle blockers Kendra Kahler, Leslie Purkeypile and setter Trisha Lindgren. That
group, teamed with Walsh and Isokaitis, seemed to play with confidence, Schonewise said.
"We had a huddle in the beginning and told ourselves we couldn't slack off," Purkeypile said. "We weren't nervous tonight. It was great to be playing at home with a crowd."
Purkepyile and Mohrfeld led the team in blocks, combining for 11.
Larson said it was good to have two dependable freshmen as middle-blockers.
"I feel very confident with their blocking," she said. "It's a big relief knowing we have two strong middle blockers in the game."
Kangaroo coach Dawn Bunting said the Kansas team showed character coming back in the second game without flinching.
"They came back and played really hard and they didn't falter that second game. They showed some real character out there." Bunting said. "They're a young team, but they showed they have the talent. They didn't give up."
MICHIGAN STATE PREVIEW
Kansas showed signs of inexperience in the match with mental breakdowns, committing serving and passing errors at crucial times.
Starting the home season with a victory, the team can only improve with time and experience. Schonewise said.
"They did some very good things tonight," Schonewise said. "It's everyone's job to better the ball out on the court."
Larson said she was glad to be back at Kansas.
"Having a home crowd was nice," she said.
It's good to be back — there's just something about playing at home."
Spartans rely on intelligence
Larson said she was glad to be back at Kansas.
After a tournament at Colorado State last weekend, Kansas has a record of 2-3.
By Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
When the Kansas football team faces the Michigan State Spartans at 7 p.m. Saturday, the Jayhawks will be up against more than an athletic and skilled Big Ten Conference foe.
Kansas will play a team led by intelligence.
Michigan State senior flanker Mill Coleman returns as the Spartans' flashiest and most studious player.
Coleman's stats and awards speak for his abilities on the field.
After being named Michigan State's most valuable player in 1992, Coleman had his best year receiving in 1993 with 48 catches, finishing third on the Michigan State all-time list for catches in a season.
Coleman was selected to the 1992 and 1993 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten team. This year, he needs 46 catches to break the school record of 146 held by Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Adrean Rison.
Coleman's awards off the field speak for his academic ability and reflect on his football ability.
He was selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team his first three seasons and was selected to the CoSIDA District IV Academic All-American Team in 1992 and 1993. Because Coleman was redshirted as a freshman, he graduated in four years with a business administration degree and is now studying for a master's in finance.
player will do on any given play, said Michigan State wide receiver's coach Skip Pete.
Coleman doesn't leave his intelligence in the classroom. He has knowledge of what each
"The strongest asset Mill Coleman has is a great understanding of our offense." Peeled said. "He used to be a quarterback.
"When you have an understanding of what the defense is going to do on each play, that is a huge asset." Peete said.
Coleman said that he agreed experience was important and that he was still learning. In the learning process, Coleman stressed repetition. He said he spent this summer and every summer working out and running routes.
After a summer spent trying to improve his game, Coleman will start his senior season playing the team he had his best game against last year.
passes in 11 of 12 games, and against Kansas had eight receptions for 112 yards. Both were career highs.
"The coaches called some pretty good plays to get me in the open." Coleman said.
Last season, Coleman caught
"If we win and we're successful, all the individual stuff will come with it," Coleman said. "I'm only one part of the team."
Despite this humility, Coleman could break the school record for receptions and receive All-Big Ten honors.
The coaches will look to Mill Coleman to defeat Kansas.
"We've been concentrating on designing plays to go against the Kansas defense," Peete said of Coleman's adversaries in the secondary.
"He'll have the opportunity to play against a lot of different guys."
Jayhawks to kick up spirit at tonight's kickoff rally
Kansanstaffreport
The Kansas football team is hoping to see large crowds this season at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks will begin their season with the third annual Kick off pep rally at 6:30 tonight at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion.
After performances by Kansas' spirit squads and the Marching Jayhawks, Coach Glen Mason and selected players will speak about the Jayhawks' home opener against Michigan State.
The entire team will meet fans and sign autographs after the speeches. Posters and senior team photos will be distributed to fans.
Meghan Dougherty / KANSAN
Kansas sophomore runner Eric Richard(left) and senior runner Kevan Long stretch on the Memorial Stadium field prior to cross country practice yesterday. The Kansas men's and women's cross country teams open the 1994 season Saturday and play host to six teams in the Jayhawk Invitational at Rim Rock Farm. The Kansas men's team returns its top two runners from 1992, All-Big Eight performers Michael Cox and David Johnston, who both sat out last season.
Tennis partners earn respect
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
For the last two years, they've been perfecting their show at Kansas. Last week, they took it to Broadway.
Well, it wasn't exactly Broadway, but the women's doubles tennis team of Nora Koves and Rebecca Jensen competed in New York at the U.S. Open. Koves-Jensen won their first-round match Thursday in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 but were defeated in the second round Saturday 6-2, 6-2.
"The first match they played was probably one of the best matches I've ever seen them play," Kansas women's tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher said.
Koves and Jensen have been members of the Kansas tennis team for the last three years and have been doubles partners for two years. They won the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Doubles Championship last spring to earn their U.S. Open invitation.
When Merzbacher put Koves and Jensen together, he was looking for complementary players, one outgoing and one quiet. This is normally the
"You need the power, but you also need somebody that's going to be consistent," Merzbacher said.
Koves and Jensen were unique because each could play both the role of aggressor and the role of stabilizer, Merzbacher said.
formula that equals doubles success
"With Rebecca and Nora, I think when one is more aggressive, the other one backs off," he said. "I wouldn't say one is definitely one way."
Much of the success Koves-Jensen has experienced is a direct result of their friendship.
Something Merzbacher could not have planned when he paired them up was how Koves and Jensen would get along. However, the team has been quite compatible.
"We understand each other on and off the court," Koves said. "We are very good friends, too."
Since all of the pieces have fallen into place, Koves and Jensen have experienced success never seen before at Kansas. Merzbacher attempted to put their success into perspective.
"To win an NCAA Championship and go the U.S. Open and win a round, we may never ever, ever see that again here," he said.
Koves is returning to Kansas for her senior year, while Jensen is foregoing her final year of eligibility to play professionally.
Even though they may have played their last doubles match together for awhile, Koves said she would like to join her partner on the pro tour.
V
Merzbacher said the team should be highly regarded in the collegiate tennis.
"I wouldn't say they're the greatest team that ever played collegiate tennis, but they're one of the greatest teams that have passed through the college ranks," Merzbacher said. "You've got to give them that much credit."
By winning the college championship, Koves and Jensen accomplished a first in Kansas tennis history.
V
"The University should take pride in it because we don't see those things everyday," Merzbacher said.
$ \angle k $
1