2B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11,2007
TENNIS
Injuries, losses annoy Kansas Missing players, close defeats complicate season
BY RUSTIN DODD
The Kansas tennis team may have perfected the recipe for an agonizing season — injuries, close losses and blowout losses.
First, No. 1 singles player sophomore Ksenia Bukina was sidelined for good on Jan. 27 after battling a continual injury. Juniors Stephanie Smith and Lauren Hommell joined Bukina on the injured list by missing some time this season.
Second, the "oh-so-close" losses against rival Missouri and Syracuse, and the blowout losses to powerhouses Baylor and Texas. To say this has been a frustrating season on the tennis court might be an understatement.
But coach Amy Hall-Holt doesn't want to word it that way.
"I wouldn't say frustration," Hall-Holt said. "But it's tough when we only have six players, and girls in the lineup are playing and battling injuries."
The lavhawks will match up with
a team that may be able to relate to their struggles. Kansas plays host to in-state rival Kansas State at 2 p.m. today at the Robinson Center courts.
But while Kansas has dropped four straight dual matches to drop to 4-12 and 2-5 in the Big 12 Conference, K-State has won two straight and sits at 4-11 and 2-4 in conference play.
As always, doubles will play a crucial role in deciding which team grabs a victory — Kansas is 0-12 when losing the doubles point and both team possess a potent doubles team. Olga Klimova and Katerina Kudlackova have a 5-1 record playing primarily at the No. 2 doubles position for K-State, while junior Elizaveta Avdeeva and sophomore Edina Horvath lead the Big 12 with six victories at the No. 1 doubles for Kansas.
Kansas leads the all-time series 37-7, but has lost the last two years, including a 6-1 defeat last year in Manhattan.
Although records are thrown out
whenever these two schools meet up, junior Stephanie Smith said the team had a desire to finish strong.
"Everyone left on the schedule is beatable," Smith said. "Yeah, there is a sense of frustration on the team, but everyone is just trying to support each other because of the injuries."
This is not what Hall-Holt anticipated after a 14-11 record a year ago, but despite the long list of setbacks, Hall-Holt has constantly voiced pride in her group of players.
"We have stuck together as a team," Hall-Holt said. "The problems haven't disrupted the team and our ability to go out and compete."
Today's match will be played at the Robinson courts, weather permitting. Otherwise, the match will be moved to First Serve Tennis Center, 5200 Clinton Parkway.
Kansan sportswriter Rustin Dodd can be contacted at rddd@kansan.com.
- Edited by James Pinick
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dodgers give up early lead, commit errors in 4-2 loss
CHICAGO — Chris Sampson pitched five shutout innings, and the Houston Astros beat the Cubs 4-2 on Tuesday in a game that included three errors by Chicago shortstop Cesar Izturis.
Sampson (1-0) allowed three singles in his fourth major league start, his first this season.
Izturis, who won a Gold Glove in 2004 with the Dodgers, made back-to-back errors in the fourth and fumbled a leadoff grounder to start the fifth.
Houston bunched four straight hits in the first inning to take a 3-0
lead against Jason Marquis (0-1),
who allowed four runs on four hits
and four walks in five innings.
Morgan Ensberg doubled with one out, Lance Berkman singled, Carlos Lee hit an RBI single and Luke Scott followed with a two-run double that went over Alfonso Soriano in center.
AMERICAN LEAGUE Red Sox rock Mariners in home opener 14-3
BOSTON — The Red Sox pelted World Series star Jeff Weaver with seven runs in the first two innings and celebrated their home opener with a 14-3 victory on Tuesday.
Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis each had three of Boston's 14 hits, and J.D. Drew homered in his first official Red Sox at-bat at Fenway Park. Josh Beckett (2-0) pitched seven innings of two-hit ball. He had eight strikeouts and gave up one run.
Weaver (0-1) was dismal in his first outing since pitching eight innings of four-hit ball in the final game of the St. Louis Cardinals' World Series victory over Detroit. He allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks, throwing 70 pitches in two innings in the Seattle Mariners' first game since a blizzard snowed them out of four straight in Cleveland.
Associated Press
Four years of playmakers
GO ROYALS?
Star college athletes leave lasting impressions on sports fans
BY ERIC JORGENSEN
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
JEORGENSEN@KANSAN.COM
All this talk about NBA talent and players has had me thinking over the last day or two. I started reminiscing about all the best players I have seen during my time as a student at the University of Kansas.
I thought it would be fun to recapture those memories and rank the best sports players/athletes I've seen since I enrolled in Fall 2003. It should be noted that I never saw Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson play or two-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner run for Baylor.
As I started compiling my list, I got a little depressed as I realized the sheer number of Texas Longhorns on this list. But, here it is, the top ten athletes I've seen.
Vince Young, Texas, quarterback: The Longhorns gave the Jayhawks a chance to actually beat these giants on our turf in 2004. With a few minutes left in the game and Kansas with the lead, I was perched on the rail in the front row, waiting for the final horn to blow.
What ensued is now historic. Charles Gordon was called for the ever elusive offensive pass interference and Young did what he is now famous for: he drove the length of the field in less than two minutes and won the game.
He torched the Jayhawks the entire game and then finished them off by tearing their hearts out in the last minute. It was the only time I gave an opponent a standing ovation as he walked off the court or field. He is hands down the best athlete I have seen while in college.
Kevin Durant, Texas, forward:
Although he is the youngest player
I list, he is already one of the most accomplished. He won all six of the men's college basketball Player of the Year awards and is the best basketball player in Longhorn history,
get 20, if not 30, points and be the leading rebounder in the game. I have him pegged for next year's Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
Cat Osterman, Texas, pitcher:
One week, Osterman was pitching for Texas and the next she was pitching for the U.S. Women's Olympic Softball Team. She didn't have a buffer-time where Team USA nursed her to a starting position; she jumped straight into it.
He makes everything, rebounds well, blocks shots and can handle the ball like a guard. No matter how well the defense plays, he's going to
It's a rare moment when a college player is one of the best in not only college, but arguably the world.
Derrick Johnson, Texas, linebacker: I remember watching in the stands and discussing with my friends how this former Longhorn linebacker was around the ball on every tackle.
Knowing how bad the Kansas City Chiefs defense was at the time, I yelled, "Derrick, let the Chiefs draft you," over and over again as he exited the field. He looked over at me, gave me a "hook 'em" and smiled. Six months later he was drafted by the Chiefs. I've been smiling ever since.
Wayne Simien, Kansas, forward: Simien is the best Jayhawk basketball player I've seen in my four years. Everyone could count on him to make his shots and grab the hard rebounds. He always left his heart on the court and always gave the fans a show. He's my all-time favorite Kansas basketball player.
Cedric Benson, Texas, running back: He is the third player from the 2004 Texas-Kansas football
game to make this list. He is one of the best running backs in Texas history and is now starting for the Chicago Bears.
Courtney Paris, Texas, center:
Like Durant, Paris is young and her
talent ceiling is high. There is no
one in NCAA women's basketball
who can stop her.
Nick Fazekas, Nevada, center: He has flown under the radar during his time at Nevada, but there was no missing him when he came to Allen Fieldhouse two years ago. No one could stop him as he led the Wolfpack past the Jayhawks and made me boycott the state of Nevada ever since.
Don Czyz, Kansas, pitcher:
There have been some amazing baseball players who have made their way through Hoglund Ballpark in the last four years, but Czyz was the only one who stood out to me. In 2006 he won the Stopper of the Year award as the best closer in college baseball and was a first team All-American.
Acie Law, Texas A&M, guard:
Law was a Kevin Durant away from Big 12 Player of the Year this year and maybe one of the National Player of the Year awards. I'll always remember him as the best clutch shooter I have ever seen.
Honorable Mentions: Charles Gordon (Kansas cornerback/wide receiver), Bill Whitmoret (Kansas quarterback), Jon Cornish (Kansas running back), Julian Wright (Kansas forward), Brandon Rush (Kansas guard), Keith Langford (Kansas guard), Joey Graham (Oklahoma State forward), Jared Dudley (Boston College forward), LaMarcus Aldridge (Texas forward), Randolph Morris (Kentucky center), Jarrett Jack (Georgia Tech guard).
Jorgensen is a Baldwin senior in journalism.
Edited by Stacey Couch
athletics calendar
Robinson Center courts
Tennis vs. Kansas State; 2 p.m.
TODAY
Softball vs. Missouri, 6 p.m.
Volleyball vs. UMKC, TBA Horesji Center
FRIDAY
**Track at Sooner Invitational, all day. Norman, Okla.**
Baseball vs. Baylor, 7 p.m.
Hoglund Ballpark
Softball vs. Teh cha Ballpark
SATURDAY
Softball vs. Texas A&M, 2 p.m.
Baseball vs. Baylor, 6 p.m.
Track at Sooner Invitational, all day, Norman, Okla.
Hoglund Bailpark
Track at Sooner Invitational, all
Camden, N.J.
Volleyball vs. TBA, TBA, Chicago
Rowing at Knecht Cup, all day.
SUNDAY
Tennis vs. Colorado, 11 a.m.
Robinson Center courts
Softball vs. Texas A&M, noon,
Baseball vs. Baylor, 1 p.m.
alund Ballpark
Rowing at Knecht Cup, all day,
Camden. NJ.
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April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month
Provide resources and offer assistance with whatever /she decides to do
Encourage her/him to make their own decisions and support their choices
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Sexual Violence Education & Support Services Room 400, Kansas Union · (785) 864-3552 · Kabell@ku.edu
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