Sports
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Kicking the competition
The KU women's soccer club finished second in the National Championship Tournament and raised its own funds along the way. PAGE 8A
12A
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
Volleyball analysis
NCAA volleyball: what to expect
Jayhawks seeded against Long Beach St., teams evenly matched in first-round play
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
As the Kansas volleyball team's first NCAA Tournament appearance nears, questions arise.
After following the team all season, these are the answers I have come up with.
What seed does the team have? How good is its opponent Long Beach State? Can the Iayhawks advance?
How do they seed the NCAA Tournament bracket?
While the volleyball bracket contains 64 teams, it doesn't work the same way as the basketball tournament. It is like soccer where only the top 16 teams are seeded. Those teams are seeded one through 16, and all host a four-team bracket for the first two rounds.
If a team is seeded one through four it's similar to a one seed in basketball. If they are a 12 through 16 it's like a four seed.
Kansas will travel to Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. tomorrow. Pepperdine is the number four seed and will play Manhattan University. Kansas will play Long Beach State. The two winners will play each other in the second round and will try to advance to the regional next week in Long Beach, Calif.
next week it will be in basketball, its rank would be similar to an eight or nine seed. Pepperdine is seeded four, which makes it similar to a one seed. So in the four-tem team bracket it looks like this: Kansas (8 or 9) vs. Long Beach St. (8 or 9) and Pepperdine (1) vs. Manhattan (16).
How good is Long Beach State?
They are good, no doubt about it. But they are not as good as they have been in the past. The 49ers are 44-14 under current coach Brian Gimmillaro in the NCAA Tournament, winning championships in 1989, 1993 and 1998. But this team went just 19-10 this season. It has also lost two straight first-round tournament games in 2001 and 2002.
Long Beach St. did defeat Georgia Tech, which led the nation in kills and assists, but also lost to California in the last match of the season after defeating the Bears 3-0 earlier in the season.
Liz Hudson, 3.89 kills per game, and Erika Chidester, 4.61 kills per game, are the only two players averaging over 2.25 per game.
The Jayhawks have four players averaging over 3.10 kills per game, as they use a more balanced attack.
Can the Jayhawks advance?
The 49ers are not pushovers by any means, but it's not the team it was in the 90s.
Yes. But will they? Despite Long Beach St. not being as strong as in the past, the team is experienced, and that never hurts.
The 49ers will also be playing in their home state, which will help. But the Jayhawks went 5-5 on the road in one of the toughest conferences in the country, the Big 12 Conference.
g 12 Conference.
The key to this match is game one. It's always critical, but more so in this match. The 49ers are 0-9 this season when losing the first game, and played in only three five-game matches, going 2-1. The Jayhawks on the other hand played 12 five-game matches, going 6-6. If Kansas can win the first game or stretch the match as far as it can go, it should be to the team's advantage.
advantage. This match should be close, like a classic 8-9 matchup usually is. If Kansas can block like it's been doing late in the season and jump ahead early, it will advance.
advantage
Can they make it out of their bracket?
Let's just say Kansas should hope for a Manhattan upset. But if that doesn't happen, it won't bother the Jayhawks. They don't care who they play after being invited to their first ever tournament match.
If the Jayhawks and Pepperdine both win, the Waves will be playing on their home court with a rowdy crowd. After going 25-2 this year, It would be hard to argue they don't deserve a four seed.
So yes, Kansas can make it out of its bracket, but it will be tough. Pepperdine doesn't want to lose in front of its home crowd.
crowd. For now, the Jayhawks are focused on Long Beach St., and you can bet they don't even care that they are just minutes from the ocean.
- Edited by Scott Christie
Senior outside hitter Abbie Jacobson bumped a loose ball during a match against Texas A&M. The Jayhawks play Long Beach St. in Malibu, Calif., in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
NC State becoming known for strong wide receivers
By Ryan Greene
greene@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
USC is known as Tailback U. Penn State is known as Linebacker U.
In the history of the program that stretches back to the 1890s, NC State has consistently pumped great athletes into the professional ranks. In recent years, the majority of those have been standout wide receivers. Two in particular, Torry Holt and Koren Robinson, have gone on to Pro Bowl NFL careers.
Pretty soon, North Carolina State may join the list as Wide Receiver U.
Holt, now in his fifth season with the St. Louis Rams, was one of five players in Wolfpack history to have his jersey
retired. While at North Carolina State, Holt became the school's all-time leader in receptions (191), and the ACC's all-time leader in receiving yards (3,379). As a senior in 1998,
Holt caught 88 passes for 1,604 yards. As a former member of the Wolfpack he is most remembered for personally outscoring conference rival Florida State in his final two games against the Seminoles. In those two games, Holt caught 21 balls for 303 yards and six scores.
In four and a half NFL seasons, Holt has nearly 400 receptions for 6,475 yards and 33 touchdowns. As the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, he was an integral part of the Rams' Super Bowl run, and in 2003 he is enjoying an MVP-type season. Through 12 games, he already has career-highs in receptions (92) and touchdowns (10) and is on pace to set a new personal best in receiving vardage.
yardage.
Koren Robinson was Holt's successor as the dominant wideout for the Wolfpack. Now in his third season with the Seattle Seahawks, Robinson is becoming one of the NFLs elite young receivers.
SEE NC STATE ON PAGE 7A
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 A
CLARK GREEN
5-in-10, 21.5 pounds
Senior: Temp. Flu.
Key stats — Statistically speaking, Clark Green has been a model of consistency in the trial Mangino
JAM MELENDOR
5-foot 11,215 pounds
biphasic, All skin types.
W/ Dr.
era of Kansas football. Doing things without much flash, flair or fanfare, Green has consistently produced for the Jayhawks' high-powered offense. This season he has been Kansas top rusher and its third leading receiver. Green's rushing numbers were up, with 881 yards this season compared to 813 in 2002, and
BIS GREEN ON PALE BA
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dona freshma
sophombe
day and night. In 2002, McLendon must haw 1,101 yards and 188ouch-downs, but injuries have marred his 2003 season and he has just 536 yards in eight games. McLendon has missed four games with injuries this session, and the ninth pitch have gone 2-2 without him. McLendon has only two
Creative T-shirts could help inspire unified basketball spirits
I know I talk about Michigan way too much, so I promise this is the last time. But last week Maize and Blue mania actually sparked my imagination.
While in Ann Arbor last week, I attended a Michigan Wolverines basketball game. It was Wednesday night, the eve of Thanksgiving, and few students were still in town.
The student section in Crisler Arena, which runs along the length of the court on the lower level, was still pretty full.
But it was even more noticeable because the students all had something in common. All of the students in attendance were donning the same maize T-shirt with a large "M" emblem and the phrase "Maize Rage" below it
This was at Michigan, where basketball isn't quite what it used to be, but could you imagine the thousands of Jayhawk faithful packed into the Allen Fieldhouse student sections like sardines all in the same shirt, or even just the same color?
It's simple, but how freaking cool is that? It just seemed a lot more packed with everyone wearing the same damn thing.
in blue.
same color A prime example is the Michigan State T-shirt that reads "Welcome to the Izzone," a play off of coach Tom Izzo's name.
sports commentary
Some recent inspiration told me I need to be speaking my mind. I want something like this at Kansas. That's where
Ryan Greene
rgreene@hansan.com
vou. the readers, will come into play.
Tenvision some kind of neat, catchy T-shirt for all of the Kansas fans to wear to the games, maybe some kind of play on "Self" or "Phog," like "Self-centered," but that's lame, so you think of one.
e-mail it, draw it or whatever. Send your ideas to me at rgreene@
kanans.com, or bring them by the newsroom in room 111 at Stauffer-Flint Hall.
You come up with the idea and if it's worth trying we can try to find a way to make it happen.
Kansas students have been whining for the past few years about wanting a better student section, perhaps one that runs along the side of the court like the one at Duke.
But amongst those whiners have been fans calling for the students to create an atmosphere like they enjoy at Michigan State and Florida basketball games.
State and Florida business The seating arrangement in the Fieldhouse probably will not change any time in the foreseeable future, but this T-shirt idea is something both of those schools have.
By the student section converging and collaborating in the same color, and even the same shirt, it becomes the sixth man on the floor for the Jayhawks. There's just something about it that adds to the atmosphere.
I know there are people out there who have considered this idea as well.
Now, everyone who feels this way has a chance to put their creativity to the test. I'll do my best to think of something, and I hope you all do, too. And since the students are never going to get the entire side of the court, here your next best chance to truly make yourself feel like an even bigger part of the game.
Greene is a Vernon Hills, Ill., senior in journalism
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM
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