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/ SPORTS / THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
VOLLEYBALL
Riley plays like a seasoned veteran
BY SARA KRUGER
skruger@kansan.com
Freshman Brianne Riley lived up to her title — defensive specialist — in the Jayhawks volleyball game Tuesday evening against UMKC. Her coverage and constant vocal support helped lead to the Jayhawks' 25-20 win in the first set, 25-10 win in the second set, and 25-16 in the third set, leading to an overall victory for the team.
Senior outside hitter Karina Garlington said that Riley has added a mentality the layhawks have not had since she's been here.
"She is constantly talking," Garlington said. "I always hear her voice behind me and it gives me a lot of confidence because I know she's there and playing hard."
Riley is also known to have a curious ritual before the game, pumping the team up with random screaming.
focused."
"Usually a lot of it is jibber-jabber, but it gets people going and fired up as opposed to it being silent on the court." Riley said, "A lot of times I am just yelling out things that I see and I feel it gets a lot of the team more engaged and
Riley has played like a veteran early in the season, recording 20 digs in the season opener. It is evident that she has played since she was in fifth grade — volleyball, to her, comes naturally.
Riley had a total of three assists and seven digs in the game against UMKC this Tuesday.
"I thought it was a good game, a lot of intensity." Riley said. "We started a little slow — we always talk about setting the tone and how that is our job — but we came out in the second game with a lot more energy."
Coach Bechard said Riley "is extremely competitive and focused. She passed well tonight. She didn't have that many opportunities but she is leading the team in digs. She serves very well; we are very excited about a freshman coming in to help us like that."
Freshman defensive specialist Brianne Riley makes an off-balance bump Tuesday at Horeksi Family Athletics Center. Riley recorded seven digs in the match against UMKC.
Riley is a diverse player — often laughing in between sets, but serious during play.
"I think she is a spark that if it is quiet on the court you can always hear her. It's never dead, She never lets the energy sink low," teammate Allison Mayfield said. "She's always picking everybody up [...]. Both verbally we can hear her on
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
the court and she is a great player in the back row."
Riley is not limited to assistance during play, however. Her positive effect shows off the court
Whether it is approaching and apologizing to a fan who was hit with a shanked ball or picking up the extra balls after warm-ups, Riley is a very positive player.
She is hoping to get involved in SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Community).
"All the athletes come together and participate in more than
sports," she said. "It is about being more than an athlete and being active in the community"
— Edited by Tim Dwyer
MLB
Fading Cardinals fall to Astros 5-2
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros completed a sweep of St. Louis with a 5-2 victory Wednesday, handing the slumping Cardinals their fifth straight defeat.
The fading Cardinals, who have lost 13 of 16, began the day seven games behind first place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Reds were scheduled to host Milwaukee later.
Nelson Figueroa (4-2) pitched out of two bases-loaded jams and lasted five innings for the win. Brandon Lyon worked a perfect ninth for his 11 save in 12 chances, sealing Houston's 14th victory in 20 games.
Shut out 3-0 the previous two nights, St. Louis snapped an 18-inning scoreless streak on Matt Holiday's 24th homer in the first for a 2-0 lead.
Jeff Suppan (1-7) was activated from the disabled list before the game and allowed only one hit until the Astros rallied in the fifth.
Brett Wallace drew a leadoff walk and went to third on Jason
Castro's double. Pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic hit a grounder to first baseman Albert Pujols, who threw out Wallace at the plate. Michael Bourn hit a sacrifice fly and Jeff Keppinger walked before Pence's go-ahead homer.
Bourn singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He scored on Carlos Lee's sacrifice fly.
Higueroa escaped a jam in the third, when Suppan led off with a walk and Skip Schumaker singled. Aaron Miles and Pujols flied out and Figueroa hit Hollday with a pitch to load the bases before Jon Jay grounded into a force play.
St. Louis loaded the bases again in the fifth on singles by Miles and Jay and an intentional walk to Holliday with two outs. Ex-Astro Pedro Feliz fled out to end the threat.
Figueroa allowed two runs and six hits. Five relievers combined to hold the Cardinals to one hit over the final four innings.
Schumaker doubled to start the game but was thrown out on the bases when Miles hit a comebacker to Figueroa. Pujols fouled out before Holliday's homer.
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It's time to release some academic stress. This is Turner Gill, Head Football Coach of your tradition rich university here at KU! I loved seeing and hearing your passion for Kansas athletics throughout this past spring.
The 2010 football season is set to kick off this Saturday evening with your Jayhawks hosting North Dakota State at Kivisto Field in Memorial Stadium at 6:00 pm. Our season continues with six more home games featuring outstanding competition between Big 12 opponents and non-conference teams.
So come on students and jump on board for some exciting KU Football! WE WANT YOU! WE NEED YOU! Cheer loud, but do it with class. Please have respect for our opponents and their fans; as well as the fans around you and your team!
On behalf of the football players and staff, we know you can be the biggest reason to establish a loud, continuous college atmosphere throughout the game in Memorial Stadium.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
New Big 10 divisions split Michigan and Ohio State, but keep 'The Game'
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Big Ten announced its divisional breakdown for football Wednesday night, and Ohio State and Michigan will be in different six-team divisions when the league expands to 12 members in 2011.
Any Michigan man will tell you, there is nothing quite like beating Ohio State. Every Buckeye agrees, a win over that team from up North is priority No. 1.
Well, now Michigan and Ohio State could get two chances in a season to beat their fiercest rival.
What would Woody and Bo have thought of that? A rematch!
Neither division has been named, but they break down like this: Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern in one; Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana in the other.
Commissioner Jim Delany said creating football divisions with competitive balance was the top priority and No.2 was maintaining a cross-division rivalry game for each team.
Michigan and Ohio State will be a cross-divisional rivalry and continue to play each other each year in the Big Ten regular-season finale, as they have since 1943. That means they could wind up meeting again for the conference championship a week or two later. Not in the Big House or the Horseshoe but on a neutral field. Maybe even a domed stadium.
Big Ten teams will play eight conference games the next two seasons, but that could increase in the future.
"Basically, we decided to go with the final season date because that was a way to maintain the tradition," Delany said. "The conference has a wonderful history of not only rivalry games but also trophy games."
"The athletic directors have the intention of exploring a ninth conference game in 2015;" Delany said.
"We felt like we could do equal competition and tradition with this move." Delany said.
For now there are no plans for divisions in other sports. Delany said he sees no benefit to basketball divisions, but if conference leaders decide they want them, they would have to be drawn differently.
The expansion put the conference in a delicate balancing act, trying to add to its coffers without diminishing its rich traditions, none bigger than Michigan vs. Ohio State.
Nebraska will join the Big Ten as its 12th team next year, allowing the conference to split into two divisions and add a lucrative championship game. The first Big Ten football championship game will be played in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, the indoor home of the NFL's Colts.
"I'm very pleased that we came out of this with protected rivalries that will go on permanently with Ohio State and Michigan State," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon told The Associated
Press. "We'll play Ohio State in the last game of the regular season, following a tradition that has lasted for decades. And if we both earn the right, we can play the Buckeyes again in the Big Ten championship game."
Speculation that Michigan-Ohio State game could be pushed out of its end-of-season spot sent some fans into an outrage.
"We heard the fans, there's no doubt about their voices mattered," Delany said.
For years, the matchup known simply as "The Game" in Big Ten country has been the conference's signature rivalry, one of the most storied and tradition-rich in all of sports. The Buckeyes and Wolverines have played 106 times since 1897.
Twenty-two times "The Game" has determined whether Ohio State or Michigan won the Big Ten championship.
While "The Game" will never be the same since the title won't be at stake in the regular season, the league is still banking on it to be a big deal.