SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Tuesday, November 2,1993 9 Big 8 tournament goal for volleyball Only top four teams invited to postseason play; Kansas now No.4 By Gerry Fey Kansan sportswriter Before the season started, the perennial teams to beat in Big Eight volleyball, Nebraska and Colorado, were again picked as the conference's elite. The standings hold true to this prediction as of Oct. 31. But consider this: Oklahoma was second and undefeated on Oct. 17, while Nebraska had two conference defeats for the first time in the school's history. Kansas coach Frankie Albizt said she thought Colorado would be the only team to give Nebraska trouble. Nebraska has lost to Oklahoma and Colorado, but it was the Sooners 3-1 victory on Oct. 9 that scrambled the standings. Oklahoma impressed Albizt when the teams played earlier in the season. all Big Eight teams because only the top four go to the postseason tournament Nov. 26-27 in Omaha, Neb. Currently, Kansas is fourth in the Big Eight with a 4-4 record and 15-9 overall. The conference standings are important to With Kansas' 3-1 victory against Iowa State on Saturday, the Jayhawks solidified their fourth-seat spot in the standings in front of the Cyclones. After the match, Iowa State coach Jackie Nunez said the match had definite ramifications. "I think both my team and Kansas recognized the importance of this match," Nunez said. "It will be an interesting race the rest of the way. Kansas has beat Kansas State and Missouri, so we know the task ahead of us." The rest of the Jayhawks schedule includes the three teams ahead of them, Colorado in Boulder, Colo., and Nebraska and Oklahoma in Allen Field House. Albitz said Kansas might have to defeat one of those three teams to participate in the tournament. Kansas has to think about the possibility of a tie with Iowa State. It was necessary to defeat the Cyclones on Saturday, but it would have been better not to lose a game as Kansas did. If there are ties in the conference records of any two teams, the next step is to look at the teams' head-to-head match record. If there is a 1-1 split, the higher spot is given to the team that has the best winning percentage in all Big Eight games, not matches. Albitz said her team must win games in its last matches of the season. "We're either winning or losing in three," Albitz said. "We have to win some games. We only went three at Iowa State and we played four games here against them." "They're not doing really well, but she has some good players," Albitz said of Kansas State coach Patti Hagemeyer. "They're just young. It's not a match we can overlook." This parody in the Big Eight will get more common in the future. Albitz said. She says the conference has long been underrated in volleyball. The last match for Kansas is against Kansas State. Albizt said the Jayhawks must be wary even though the Wildcats are 0-7 in the conference. "The closer the teams get to each other, the more this will happen," she said. "I think it's good for the conference and it's good for the teams." Big Eight Standings Through Oct. 31
TeamConferenceOverall
WLPct.WLPct.
Colorado71.875185.783
Nebraska62.750173.850
Oklahoma52.7141310.565
Kansas44.500159.625
IowaState52.286615.286
Missouri25.286913.409
KansasState07.000718.280
Next matches Colorado at Oklahoma, tomorrow Nebraska vs. Houston at Austin, Texas, Friday Kansas at Colorado, Saturday lowa State at Kansas State, tomorrow Missouri at Iowa State, Saturday *Oklahoma State does not have a varsity volleyball team. KANSAN Doug Hesse/KANSAN Kansas' Cyndee Kanabel attempts to spike a ball against Iowa State. Kansas kept its post-season hopes alive by defeating the Cyclones on Saturday night. Team places fifth in final tournament By Kent Hohlfeld Kansan sportswriter The Kansas men's golf team was a little disappointed with a fall season that ended last weekend with a fifthplace finish in the 20-team Stanford Shootout in Stanford, Calif. Coach Ross Randall said that he thought the MEN'S GOLF the team had shown some improvement from what he called a sluggish start to the season. In the Jayhawks' first tournament they finished last at the 12-tem Jack Nicklaus Invitational, Sept. 19-20. "That was one of the low points during the season." Randall said. The high point of the season was the team's trip to Japan Sept. 21-30 to compete in the Topy Cup in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Randall said. The trip gave his players a chance to compete against international competitors as well as see a different country... The team finished third in the tournament behind Nihon University in Japan and Kent State in the 15-team field. The top Kansas golfer was senior Matt Gogel, who won the individual competition. Gogel, who has been the top Kansas golfer in each of the fall tournaments he has played, finished ninth at Stanford. Gogel agreed that the Japan trip was the high point in what had been a somewhat inconsistent season for the team. He sat out the Kansas Invitational because of an NCAA rule that prevents each player from missing more than eight classes in a semester. Gogel said that he also considered his trip to the John Hancock Invitational in El Paso, Texas, among his personal highlights to the season. The John Hancock Invitational is a tournament for the top 24 golfers in the nation. Gogel came in 23rd in the tournament. Gogel's teammate senior Tom Sims was the second-best Jayhawk golfer at the Stanford Shootout. He tied for 14th in the tournament. He said that he looked forward to the four-month break from golf. The team will be able to relax until February when its season resumes. "It'll be nice not to have to travel for a while," Sims said. "Now we've got a couple months to work on our grades." He said that he thought that the team had gained some consistency during the season and that he hoped to see that carry over to the next season. Randall said that although coaches could not supervise player's practices during the off season, they could supervise any off-season weight-training programs the team might institute. "We've got some confidence going into the spring," Sims said. The most immediate challenge for Randall during the next four months will be recruiting. The early signing period for high school seniors starts Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 15th. "I haven't decided on what we might have them do." Randall said. He said that he would spend much of his time arranging campus visits for prospective recruits. Randall said that many high school golfers did not sign in the early period but that he had high hopes of getting his prospects signed during the early period. "We have a couple guys we're interested in." Randall said. "I think we have a good chance of getting them." Paul Kotz/KANSAN Sophomore diver Chris Martin holds his body in a tight tuck in order to complete the two and one-half somersaults in his dive. Martin was practicing yesterday in the Robinson Natatorium. Taking the plunge No.3 QB directs Cowboy defeat Sophomore starter suspended by coach in discipline action Bv Matt Dovle Kansas sportswriter Oklahoma State senior quarterback Andy Loveland did not find out until 3 p.m. Friday that he was going to start against Kansas the next day. That decision was made when Cowboy coach Pat Jones suspended sophomore starter Gary Porter reportedly for missing classes and a team breakfast. Loveland was only 10 of 22 passing for 100 yards in Saturday's game, but Jones said he was pleased with Loveland's performance. "For knowing on short notice, I thought the guy played admirably," Jones said. "He was the No. 3 quarterback who had very few repetitions with the No. 1 unit." Loveland is the third starting quarterback for the Cowboys this season. Freshman starter Tone' Jones suffered a separated shoulder against Missouri Oct. 16 and will miss the remainder of the season. Loveland said he considered leaving Oklahoma State when he was the No. 3 quarterback at the beginning of the season. He said it would have been the easy thing to do. However, Saturday was an opportunity that came up for him because he stayed. "Obviously, sometimes things are going to fall into your lap, and that was one of those things today," Loveland said after Oklahoma State's 13-6 defeat to Kansas. Jones said Loveland would remain the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. He added that he did not think Porter would be back this season. Kansas' June Henley is not the only freshman running back in the Big Eight Conference having a good season. Three other freshman running backs have contributed in a big way for their teams this season. Oklahoma's James Allen leads the Sooners in rushing with 529 yards. Allen was regarded as the top high school running back in the country last year by USA Today. Henley's total is tops Freshman tailback June Henley leads the Big Eight in rushing voles. (✓ indicates freshman) Fabulous Freshmen 1. JUNE HENLEY **KU** 788 2. Lamont Warren **CU** 696 3. J.J. Smith **KSU** 570 4. Rashae Salaam **CU** 654 5. Calvin Jones **NU** 558 6. L.T. LEVINE **KU** 542 7. James Allen **OU** 529 8. Tommie Frazier **NU** 507 9. Lawrence Phillips **NU** 457 10. Rod Schiller **KSU** 416 Making his mark Henley's eight touchdowns have tie the KU freshman record. Dan Schauer/KANSAN Nebraska's Lawrence Phillips'has 457 yards and contributed 58 yards in the 21-17 victory against Colorado on Saturday. Phillips played most of the second half against Colorado because junior starter Calvin Jones suffered from stomach and leg cramps. Oklahoma State's David Thompson ran for 155 yards against Kansas and has 353 yards to lead the Cowboys. Thompson's performance was the second-best ever by a Cowboy freshman running back. Thurman Thomas had 206 yards against Kansas State in 1974. Henley has 798 yards, which is best in the conference and first nationally among true freshmen running backs. Stull Speculation Stull said the report had not been a distraction to the Tiger team. The Nov. 1 issue of Sports Illustrated reported that Missouri athletic director Dan Devine would name former Tiger player Vince Tobin as his successor as athletic director. The magazine also said that former Tiger player Johnny Roland would replace Bob Stull as coach after this season. "All coaches face that stuff," Stull said. "All I want is for the players to play hard and not worry about that stuff." PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL Unknown to take Jordan's place in Bulls' lineup DEEERFIELD, Ill. — Journeyman guard Pete Myers will take Michael Jordan's spot in the starting lineup for the Chicago Bulls, coach Phil Jackson said yesterday. Myers, a sixth-round draft pick of Chicago in 1986, is considered a defensive specialist. He shot only 42 percent from the floor in his three-year NBA career. The 6-foot-6 Myers, who played for Chicago, San Antonio, Philadelphia and New York before spending the last two years in Italy, was not even expected to make the team when training camp opened. The Bulls also announced that Scott Williams'in injury shouldn't keep him out of the season as originally thought. "I just have to stay focused on the things I can do on the floor, not trying to do the fancy things Michael could do," he said. SPORTS in brief The 6-10 center, who averaged 5.9 points and 6.4 rebounds off the bench last season, tore his patellar tendon while stretching Friday. Tests showed the injury was less serious than first thought. Trainer Chip Schaefer said Williams should be healthy enough to play in two to four weeks. The Bulls open the season and the defense of their third consecutive NBA title on Friday night at Charlotte. PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL Bonds wins consecutive title NEW YORK — San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds yesterday became the first player to be voted The Associated Press Baseball Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. Bonds received 73 votes in nationwide balloting by sportswriters and broadcasters. Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas was Yet the Giants fell a game short of Atlanta when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-1 on the final day of the season. Bonds hit .336 with a league-leading 123 RBI and 46 home runs, tying Juan Gonzalez of Texas for the major-league lead. PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL Schott back on job for Reds with 17 votes, followed by Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra, who was third with six votes. "They just happened to play one game better than we did." Bonds said. With Atlanta moving to the NL East next season, San Francisco is the favorite to win the NL West. CINCINNATI — Marge Schott, the Cincinnati Reds' crude and crusty owner, showed her employees another side yesterday on her first Sohtt was treated like a returning hero, not a chastised owner, when she drove up to her office at Riverfront Stadium for the first time in eight months. She hadn't been allowed inside during her suspension for using slurs. day back on the job. She cried. Employees hung banners and balloons in the hallways, played "Hail to the Chief" when Schott's car pulled up and cheered as she walked her St. Bernard, Schottzie 02, into the team offices. Schott wiped away tears during a singing telegram bought by the staff, and compared the reception to a World Series celebration. "I don't know how they did all this," she said. "This was certainly something special." Her first step into the office ended one of the toughest times in Reds' history and put Schott back in charge. Compiled by the Associated Press