4B
SPORTS / TUESDAY. APRIL 27. 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
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BASEBALL GAMEDAY
Shockers are among the best in Missouri Valley
IN-STATE MATCHUP
KANSAS AT WICHITA STATE 7 p.m., Eck Stadium
KANSAS OPENING PITCH
AT A GLANCE
The weekend series started so well for Kansas (25-16-1, 6-8-1) with a 10-2 victory but ended with disappointing 11-8 and 21-10 defeats against Texas Tech. Now the Jayhawks head to Eck Stadium in Wichita to face a Shockers team that is 17-4 at home.
Thompson
PLAYER TO WATCH
Junior third baseman Tony Thompson
Thompson struggled to fully regain his timing at the plate - until the series against Texas Tech. Thompson went 5-for-9 over the weekend with six RBI, four walks and six runs scored. He also blasted his third home run of the season, a towering shot to straightaway center field. If Thompson can continue that pace, the middle of Kansas' lineup should put up a ton of runs.
QUESTION MARK
Will Kansas' pitching staff rebound from a disappointing weekend?
Will Kansas' pitching staff rebound from a disappointing weekend?
The mistakes made against Texas Tech are fixable, but by no means a guarantee. The Shockers' offense isn't truly comparable to the Red Raiders but is still potent
enough to provide another test for the Jayhawk pitchers. If Kansas' pitchers can consistently throw first pitch strikes and limit walks, they have a great chance of success.
BY THE NUMBERS
47 — hits allowed in three games against Texas Tech
10. 00 — Kansas' team ERA in three games against Texas Tech
2. 60 Kansas' team ERA for the five games prior to the Texas Tech series
GAME OUTLOOK
The in-state rivals normally play it close, but Kansas easily took both match ups last season, winning 8-0 at Hoglund Ballpark and 8-3 at the Eck. If the Jayhawks can get a strong performance from their pitching staff, the offense should supply enough run support to take home the victory.
WICHITA STATE OPENING PITCH
AT A GLANCE
Wichita State has had an up-and-down season, but the Shockers are still 10 games above the .500 mark. Last season the Jayhawks swept the Shockers, but Wichita State did make the NCAA Tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Cody Lassley
As the Shockers' leader in home runs and runs batted in, Lassley has been the key to the team's success this season.
If Lassley can carry
the Shockers in this game, they have a chance of winning. The
match up with
Kansas' Thomas Taylor should be interested if the game is at a critical point.
Can the Shockers limit mistakes?
Lassley
QUESTION MARK
The Shockers and Jayhawks always play competitive games, and usually it comes down to who limits mistakes. Wichita State has had a problem with errors early in the ballgame. If that continues, then the Shockers will certainly lose.
4 — Errors in the loss to San Jose State
Ben Ward
BYTHE NUMBERS
3-7 — Record against D-1 opponents from major conferences
8 — Runners left on base against Kansas State last week
Tobin Mateychick
Mateychick comes into this game with a record of 2-0 in eight appearances this season. In his last start against Kansas State he pitched four and 1/3 innings and received a no decision in the game. His last win was against Tabor College on March 31.
STARTING PITCHER
Andrew Hammond
TENNIS (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
In her third year of high school Dorn was given the opportunity
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to pursue her goal. She had to choose between going to college in
Hungary or moving to the United States where she could continue playing tennis.
"In Hungary, if you get into the university there is just studying," she said. "You cannot continue playing tennis because it is so stressful and you have to study all the time. I heard that a lot of tennis players came to the U.S., so I thought, 'why not try?"
Distance from her family wasn't a problem for Dorn because at a young age she had learned to travel away from home while competing with the Hungarian National Team.
"tused to be far away from my parents for a long time for camps and stuff, so it is not the same, but when I was young I started to be separated from them so it is easier." Dorn said. "We talk a lot during the semester all the time and I call them every day when I can and we talk on the webcam."
While competing on the Hungarian National Team, Dorn met Edina Horvath, a 2009 graduate from Budapest, Hungary. Horvath would become an influential piece in Dorn's decision to come to Kansas. Horvath talked to head coach Hall-Holt about Dorn's style of play and emphasized how she could be a great asset to the Kansas tennis team.
"She really helped me come to Kansas," Dorn said. "We became best friends."
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to helping her academically, the tennis team was there for her. Dorn said that after experiencing those challenges, it was easy for her to connect with younger players Khanevskaya
When Dorn first arrived in the United States, she spoke little English, making her transition to the University difficult. She credited the Applied English Center at the University for helping break the language barrier. But her teammates were the most helpful at smoothing the transition. From simply explaining drills in practice
CAREER AT KU
and Kate Morozova, who are both from Russia.
"I do think coach Hall-Holt is my second mom and my teammates are my sisters." Dorn said. "It is just the way we take care of each other and help out. It is amazing how we can work together."
Before Dorn came to the University, she had been used to playing alone in tournaments, on the Hungarian National Team. The Kansas tennis team showed her the true meaning of a team on the court and gave her a home off the court.
"I love to play tennis and everything, but what we have as a team, I think it is wonderful."
"That's my girl," Wilber said. "I am going to miss her so much. She is the rock on our team. She fights the hardest and never gives up. I am really going to miss her."
Sophomore Erin Wilbert talked about the impression that Dorn has left on the team.
"She is a leader, she is like our sister," Khanevskaya said. "She is a big part of our team."
Dorn said that when she became a senior, she knew a lot would
KUNI DORN senior tennis player
Freshman Vika Khanewskaya agreed that the team would be at a loss without Dorn.
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was able to lead by allowing her eammates to criticize and help her in return.
be expected of her and was hesitant to accept her role as a leader. But she found the balance she needed to both compliment and criticize her teammates. She said she
"I am not even thinking that I am a leader because I always ask, 'what do you guys think about it?' or 'how do you guys see this?' It is not just about me." Dorn said.
The team will travel to Austin, Texas on Thursday to compete in the Big 12 Tournament. This spring, Dorn's season record sits at 7-13 for singles and 5-9 in doubles with partner freshman Sara Lazarevic.
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In previous seasons, Dorn missed out on playing time because of an elbow injury she sustained her sophomore year.
"I think I could have done better, but since my sophomore year, I have been suffering with my elbow and it is really hard to play with an injury," Dorn said. "I always know that I am going to do everything for this team. So I can say that I am satisfied with what we have achieved."
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"I love to play tennis and everything, but what we have as a team I think it is wonderful," Dorn said. "We all get along and you know with girls, that it is really hard to have. Whenever we have problems we handle them and I think we all love each other."
Dorn will be graduating with a degree in journalism and hopes that she can find a job close to Lawrence. She said she would love to be an assistant coach or graduate teaching assistant, so she could continue with tennis.
"I really want to stay close to the girls so it isn't just like I stop playing tennis and don't see them anymore." Dorn said. "I want to finish school and be close to my friends. I am really grateful for the team and coaches and everything we have."
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Dorn is grateful for her team,
who she said made her life better.
"Honestly, I feel like when I go home now, I am visiting," Dorn said. "I know it is weird, it is just that this is my home. When I am home, I say I am going home to Kansas. It became my home and I really like everything here."
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Despite these troubles, Dorn easily recalled her favorite memory as a jayhawk: beating Kansas State two years ago in Manhattan. The lajhawks won 4-3.
MOVING FORWARD
Dorn decided to forego surgery because it would have put her out of tennis for a year, and without that year, she felt that she would have had a lot of trouble coming back for a successful senior season.
After graduation, Dorn hopes to stay in the United States, though it will be difficult remaining apart from her parents who miss her.
"That was just amazing how we cheered for each other," Dorn said. "Everyone was so happy. That match is always in my memory."
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BASEBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
poorly today were the same guys who pitched great in Nebraska on Saturday and Sunday, and in Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night," Price said.
The issues that hindered the Jayhawks' staff against the Red Raiders — not throwing first pitch strikes and allowing leadoff batters to reach — are the ones coach Price wants to see corrected against the Shockers.
"We've got to do a better job of getting ahead in the count," he said. "We can't continue to set the table for their hitters like we did over the weekend."
Taylor, expressing the kind of short term memory a pitcher needs, said he's eager to take the mound tonight.
"Before the weekend I'd been throwing the best I've thrown all year," he said. "So I want to build off of that and get over this weekend."
- Edited by Sarah Bluvas
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
New Clemson coach Brad Brownell made the announcement Monday. Grant is a native of North Charleston and comes to Clemson after three years as an assistant at Wichita State.
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson has hired Earl Grant as an assistant basketball coach.
Clemson gets new assistant coach
Brownell says Grant will help with recruiting in South Carolina, North Carolina and Clemson.
Grant spent six years working for Gregg Marshall, first at Winthrop and then at Wichita State.
He played two years at the Division II level at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga.
Associated Press