2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2007
TENNIS
Squad won't get break against Colorado
BY RUSTIN DODD
Sometimes the best medicine for a struggling team is a cupcake victory against a weak opponent. The problem for the Kansas tennis team is that their schedule isn't exactly doing them any favors.
After five straight losses, the Kansas Jayhawks will host No. 30 Colorado on Sunday, Colorado comes to town following two straight victories, while posting a 5-2 record in the Big 12 and 12-6 mark overall. Following a five-match slide, Kansas finds itself at 2-6 in the Big 12 and 4-13 overall.
The theme of the losing streak has been missed opportunities, and the Jayhawks missed a big one against Kansas State on Wednesday. After eight straight losses in the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles positions, junior Lauren Hommell and freshman Kunigunda Dorn ended the streak with a huge victory against Katerina Kudlackova and Olga Klimova of Kansas State at No. 2
doubles. But Kansas couldn't capitalize, as junior Elizaveta Avdeeva and sophomore Edina Horvath fell at No. 1 doubles. Kansas State gained control of the match and went on to a 5-2 victory.
Hommell and Dorn do appear to be gaining chemistry, and that bodies well for a Kansas team that has had a laundry list of troubles on the doubles court.
"We're getting better." Hommell said after her doubles victory against Kansas State. "We've been playing well at practice, just getting to know each other's game, and I'm feeling more comfortable with her in the matches."
Hommell started the season paired with Dorn but also spent time playing doubles with sophomore Yuliana Swistun and junior Stephanie Smith.
Colorado sophomore standout Monica Milewski, ranked No. 42 in the country, is one reason why Colorado sits at fifth place in the Big 12. Milewski, the ITA/Central
Region Rookie of the Year last year, has provided a solid No. 1 singles player for Colorado, boasting a 13-5 record and 5-2 in the Big 12.
Coach Amy Hall-Holt expressed her team's dissatisfaction after the match.
"They're tired of it," she said.
The lajahawks have persevered and tried to stay positive.
"We can't get down on ourselves," Stephanie Smith said earlier this week. "We have a desire to finish out the season strong."
Kansas defeated Colorado twice last season, including a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in the 1st round of Big 12 Championships. An upset win against Colorado in its last home match of the season would do wonders for a teams that is desperately in need of a victory.
Kansan sportswriter Rustin Dodd can be contacted at rddd@kansan.com.
Edited by Kelly Lanigan
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Ksenia Bukina, Obninsk, Russia, sophomore, was injured in a Jan. 27 match against Texas.
Including the loss against Texas, Kansas is 2-5 in the Big 12 going into Sunday's match.
Kansas heads to east coast to swim with big fish
ROWING
BY CATHERINE ODSON
The Kansas rowing team is ready for some confused looks when it travels to the East Coast this weekend.
"Usually we get, 'You're from Kansas. There's water there?' " junior rower Annie Sims said.
Even random people in the airport have questioned whether the team had water to practice on in the past, senior rower Tiffany Jeffers said.
"Obviously we do," she said.
Coach Rob Catloth said the "geographical misconception" provided humorous motivation for the team
as it prepared for the Knecht Cup on Saturday and Sunday in Camden, N.J.
Sims said the regatta was an
Sims said opportunity for the rowers to dispel the myths that a school from Kansas couldn't possibly have a good rowing team.
week's U.S. Rowing Poll.
Senior coxswain Samira Naji said the team was ready to race against teams from outside the Midwest.
"Usually we get, 'You're from Kansas. There's water there?' "
Kansas 12 year-old rowing program will race against long-established and recognized programs from across the country, including Gonzaga, whose varsity eight boat got votes in this
ANNIE SIMS Junior rower
"The East Coast mentality of rowing is really competitive, and it's nice to get a taste of that," senior coxswain Samira Naji said.
The team practiced in back-up boats Thursday because the competition boats had already left for New Jersey on a trailer.
More than 50 schools will compete at the Knecht Cup. Kansas will race against three to five boats in each race and have to advance through preliminary races to reach
the grand finals.
The large field — 29 first varsity eight boats will compete in five heats will allow Kansas the opportunity to match up with teams that don't race in the Midwest.
Catloth said this weekend's races could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Larger races tended to be more exciting and faster because there was more competition, she said, but there was also more to pay attention to.
"It will be a good test of where we are because we haven't had any big races," Jeffers said.
Kansas last traveled to the Knecht Cup in 2005. The Jayhawks' varsity four boat won its grand finals race, and three other boats placed second in grand finals races.
this week to improve and come back calm after this race as a more seasoned team." Catloth said.
Kansan sportswriter Catherine Odson can be contacted at codson@kansan.com.
"It's still an early-season race, but we need to use all the races we have
—Edited by Will McCullough
TRACK AND FIELD Distance runners expected to highlight in Oklahoma
The Kansas track and field team travels to Norman, OKla., today for the John Jacobs Invitational.
Jayhawk junius Paul Heferon and Colby Wissel will run in the 5,000 meters. Junior Patrick McGowan will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.Scheduled to run in the 1,500 meters are senior Melissa O'Rourke,juniors Melissa Moody and Lisa Morrisy, and freshmen Kellie Schneider and Cassi Sokol.
Competing in the long jump Saturday is Co-Big 12 Athlete of the Week, Barrett Saunders, who is fresh off of a victory at the Texas Relays. Saunders' jump of 25-10 feet is a personal best and leads the nation. Junior Crystal Manning will take on the long jump, triple jump, 200-meter dash and run as a leg in the 4x100-meter relay team. Senior Benson Chesang will make first outdoor appearance of 2007 in the 1,500 meters.
— Taylor Bern
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Kansas secures final class commitments for 2007
The women's basketball team completed its 2007 signing class Thursday, securing commitments from three high school seniors. The signees are Krysten Boogaard, Nicollette Smith and Chakeitha Weldon.
Boogaard graduated from high school one year ago and should be able to handle the transition to Big 12 Conference basketball smoothly to an extra year of experience playing at the Canadian National Elite Development Academy.
Smith is a McDonald's All-American nominee who shot 34 percent from three-point range during her high school career.
Weldon averaged 17 points per game as a senior in high school. The McDonald's All-American shot 87 percent from the free throw line.
— Asher Fusco
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VS. BAYLOR
FRIDAY, APRIL 13
4:00 PM
$10.000 AT&T BALLS AND STRIKES CONTEST
SATURDAY, APRIL 14
1:00 PM
SUNDAY, APRIL 15 1:00 PM kuathletics.com
'07 KANSAS SOFTBALL
VS. TEXAS A&M
SATURDAY, APRIL 14 2:00 PM
$5.000 AT&T BALLS AND STRIKES CONTEST
SUNDAY, APRIL 15
NOON
BARK IN THE PARK AND FLYING DISC GIVEAWAY
DOGS ADMITTED WITH DONATION TO THE LAWRENCE HUMANE SOCIETY
Students Free with KU ID
.