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SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8,1995
SECTION B
TOP 10 SHOWDOWN
'Hawks anticipate 'Husker run
Edmee Rodriguez / KANSAN
Kansas freshman defensive back Freddie Hammonds wraps up Missouri running back Brock Olivo. The Jayhawk defense will face a tough test Saturday against Nebraska, which has the nation's best rushing attack.
Stopping option not an option but a must for Kansas defense
By Robert Sinclair Kansan sportswriter
During its last three games, the Kansas football team has given up an average of 272 yards rushing and 27 points a game.
But Kansas will be considered lucky if it can hold Nebraska to that this weekend.
Neither team wants it. "If doesn't matter which film you pull out and look at. They all look the same," Kansas football coach Glen Mason said. "They're the best run team not only in college football, but in the history of college football."
1 through nine games this season, the Cornhuskers are first in the nation with an average of 426.4 rushing yards a game and are second in total offense with 593 yards and scoring offense with 55.3 points a game.
The key to the Nebraska ground game is its ability to run the option. The option attack enables an offense to do several different things from the same basic play.
For example, after taking the snap, Nebraska senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Tommie Frazier can hand the ball off to the fullback running up the middle. But if he keeps the ball, Frazier can move down the line and either turn the play upfield or pitch it to the halfback who is running parallel to him.
Finally, Frazier could fake both running plays, step back and throw to a receiver downfield.
"The one thing to neutralize any aggressive defense is to run some kind of an option," Oklahoma State football coach Bob Simmons said. "They've got a great system and great people running it."
Nebraska's option is more successful than most not only because of personnel, but also because of Osborne's commitment to it.
Kansas has committed this week to stopping the option.
"To beat Nebraska, everyone knows the first thing you have to do is you have to stop the run," Kansas junior defensive tackle Kevin Kopp said. "They're going to watch these games and try to figure out what our weaknesses are. But then again, we're going to watch film and figure out what our strengths are going to be against their option."
going to be against their option.
It's particularly tough for the Jayhawks because they don't run the option and the defense doesn't get a chance to practice against it, Kansas defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said. Even if the Jayhawks do run it in practice, they don't run it to the same degree as a team which lives and dies by the option.
But Kansas senior outside linebacker Keith Rodgers understands his role.
"I can't take the quarterback when I have the pitch
because if he pitches it that's my responsibility," he said. "If I take the pitch and I was supposed to take quarterback and the quarterback runs down the field, that's my responsibility, too."
Hankwitz said that the four steps involved in stopping the option were: being disciplined, beating blockers, pursuing the ball and gang tackling.
This can be easier said than done.
Missouri — as well as Kansas State the week before — had success running the option against Kansas. Much of the credit for the Tiger's attack has to go to freshman quarterback Corby Jones. Against the Jayhawks, Jones had 61 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries.
"We knew we had to stop the option against Missouri," Kopp said. "If we could have done that, we could have been in control of the game. We came out, didn't do that very well and they jumped up on us."
Usually the outside linebackers and defensive line are responsible for the quarterback and the pitch. The inside linebackers — senior Dick Holt and sophomore Jason Thoren — are responsible for the fullback dive. After that they don't have any responsibility except getting to the quarterback, Holt said.
The linebacker also talked about the prospects of playing Nebraska's Big Red Machine.
"I wouldn't say I'm worried. We'll either come to play or we won't," Holt said. "We can play with them. It'll take a team effort, though, because they're as good as ever."
Assistant tennis coach leaving
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas women's assistant coach Kilmeny Waterman has had her share of tennis highlights.
She played collegiate tennis at Trinity University in San Antonio, where the women's tennis team was ranked as high as fifth in the country. She spent three years on the professional tour and earned a world ranking. For the past three and a half years, she has been a member of the Kansas staff, helping the team to win three consecutive Big Eight Conference championships.
Now Waterman faces her biggest challenge yet.
challenge. Beginning Nov. 15, she will be the head coach for the first women's tennis program at Wyoming.
"I'm very excited to be part of the beginning of what I hope will be a successful program," Waterman said. "I like the fact that I'm starting a program in an area that is well-suited for me."
Wyoming, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, has never
had a women's or men's tennis team.
The Cowbirds started a women's
tennis team as a result of Title LX,
which promotes gender equity in
collegiate sports. The school also
added women's soccer this year.
The job became available in August. Waterman was one of more than 50 candidates who applied.
"Kilmeny was an excellent candidate," Viola said. "She brings an outstanding background both as a former player and as a coach. She also came highly recommended."
"She is ready for the head coaching job," Merzbacher said. "We won't have just anybody. I don't think the numbers or quality will be there like there would be in May, but I hope to have somebody in place by the spring season."
That recommendation came from Kansas women's tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher.
Wyoming will begin play in the fall
of 1969. Waterman will devote her time mostly to recruiting until then.
After years of success, Waterman must deal with the reality that most new programs usually struggle with
what I have to tell the players I recruit is that they have the opportunity to be part of a first-year program, and that they can be part of something new and hopefully successful," she said.
"We don't have high expectations initially," he said. "But we also know that Kilmeny is the type of coach who can lead and can build the team into one that will enjoy success."
Waterman's last official tournament with the Jayhawks is this week at the Central Regional Rolex Championships in Salt Lake City. While she is very excited about beginning her new job, she has mixed feelings.
Viala said he realized his expectations might have to be altered.
"The relationships that have been built with the players are what I'm taking with me," she said. "This year's team is the closest one I've ever been a part of, so it's tough. But I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's going to be very good."
Kansas women's tennis assistant coach Kilmeny Waterman is leaving the Jayhawks to become the new head coach for Wyoming's firstyear women's tennis program.
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Volleyball ready for Wildcats
Both teams feeling pressure to win tonight in Manhattan
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
The crowd was loud, the players' emotions ran high
the Lash could shine onshine
Oct. 14 was a promising night for the Kansas volleyball team. The 14,300 fans at Allen Field House set an NCAA all-time attendance record for a volleyball match.
"It Was the Jayhawks"
But it was the Kansas State volleyball team that stole
the spotlight and spoiled Kansas' evening. The Wildcats defeated the Jayhawks in three games.
cars derailed the olympian race.
For the Jayhawks, with the memories of the loss still fresh in their minds, preparing to play K-State at 7:30 tonight in Manhattan wasn't a difficult task.
"I think anytime we play Kansas State, the team gets up for it," Kansas volleyball coach Karen Schonewise said.
The Jayhawks, who had a two-match winning streak, lost to Colorado on Saturday and hope to start another winning streak tonight.
But with a strong K-State middle line, Kansas most likely will have a difficult match.
Big Eight Volleyball Standings
Overall Conference
Nebraska 10-0 21-1
Iowa State 6-3 17-9
Oklahoma 6-3 18-7
Colorado 4-4 13-9
Kansas State 3-6 17-8
Missouri 1-7 6-21
Kansas 1-8 8-16
This Week's Conference Games Today
Today
Colorado at Missouri
Kansas at Kansas State
Friday
Nebraska at Oklahoma
Saturday
Iowa State at Colorado
Sunday
Kansas State at Missouri
middle," Schonewise said. "They really hurt us last time."
Schonewise said that the Jayhawks' serving and setting needed to be much stronger than it was the last time they plaved K-State.
the they played in Kansas senior middle blocker Jenny Larson and senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Tracie Walt, coming off strong performances at Colorado, will be looked upon to lead the Jayhawks. Walt registered six kills and eight digs, while Larson finished the match with a season high of 18 digs.
Also contributing for the Jayhawks in the Colorado match was sophomore outside hitter Leslie Purkeypyle. Purkeypyle is from Wamego, a 20-minute drive from Manhattan, so the match will be a bit of a homecoming.
"Kansas State didn't recruit me, so I guess you can say there's a special incentive for us to win," Purkeypile said.
Purkeypile also said that a majority of her high school classmates attended K-State, which would make a Jayhawk victory even sweeter.
For K-State, which still is vying for a spot in the Big Eight Conference tournament, tonight's match must be won. The Wildcats have three remaining conference matches, including tonight's match with Kansas. They are one game behind Colorado for the fourth and final spot in the Big Eight tournament.
"We're just trying to do everything we can do to stay afloat in the Big Eight race and get some post-season bids." Kansas State volleyball coach Jim Moore said.
K-State is paced by a strong middle block — junior middle blocker Kate DeClerk and freshman middle blocker Valerie Wieck.
In the Wildcats' most recent Big Eight match, against Nebraska, DeClerk totaled six kills and three block assists, and Wieck added two digs.
Moore said that individual performances took a back seat to team play.
"I'm not worried about the individual player stepping up," Moore said. "What we need against Kansas is for the team to step up and execute as a team."
Frank Ternero (left), Kansas City, Kan., senior, and Jason Pointlinet St. Joseph, Me., Junior, practice lacquetteball at Robinson Center.
Kansas club racquetball smacks a winner in Iowa City
By Jeffrey Auslander
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas club racquetball team's "let's have fun" attitude has benefited its performance so far this year.
Kansas earned an overall team victory at the Hawkeye Classic in Iowa City, Iowa, two weekends ago. And the team is ready to continue its success as it gears up for the Intercollegiate Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., in April.
"After we in won in Iowa, we celebrate pretty hard." Nan Mullen, St. Louis junior, said. "I guess you have to celebrate when you sweep a tournament."
Mullen finished first in the women's Division
After Iowa, the team went back to practicing three times a week. The practices are essential for a team that isn't full of racquetball veterans. However, Jason Pointelin, St. Joseph, Mo., junior, said that the practices were laid back because of the little experience that some of the team members had.
"Of the 25 people on the team, we have a couple of men and women who are very serious," Pointelin said. "Mostly we are all just out there having fun, but we do try to work on things and improve."
"Once Intercollegiates gets closer, everyone gets excited and more serious," he said.
Pointelin said that the team's camaraderie carried over during competition against some of the other teams in the Midwest region.
"We play in tournaments with K-State and Missouri a lot," he said. "We are still competitive, but after all the matches are over, we all go out to the bars."
But Pointelin said that the team would show a more serious game face as the season moved on.
Last year the team went to Intercollegiate and finished the season ranked
No. 10 in the nation. Pointelin said that last year's experience was an inspiration to go again this year.
"In college, it was one of the best experiences for me," he said. "I met people from all over the nation and made a lot of friends.
.
"There were people sitting in Biology 104, and I was playing racquetball. It was an indescribable feeling."
Mullen said that if the team wanted to make it to Nashville, it would have to endure a long season.
"We will have to keep drilling hard at practice," she said. "As the season moves on, we will also need to see better competition."
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