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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 1978)
sports _ john harris Volleyball played for keeps The Oregon volleyball team fared well in Saturday’s Jamboree, winning six out of eight games. But did you know that the Ducks registered an efficiency rating of 87 percent for serving and 65 percent for passing, both rela tively negative marks? Or that the Ducks graded out posi tively on serving aces points and offensive credits, and that they received superlative performances from their backcourt setter and center defensive specialist? Well, they did, and if you understand what all that means, you know more about volleyball than most of us. If it's all jib berish, take heed, because it's the lexicon of a special coach of an interesting and up and coming sport. Chris Voelz was labeled "the guru of positive mental attitude” during an eight year coaching career at Maine South High School in Parkridge. III. A fitting moniker con sidering that during the past two years her team compiled a 46-6 record competing in suburban Chicago, a hotbed of volleyball. Since graduating in 1970 from Illinois State, where she competed for four years in basketball and volleyball, Voelz has witnessed the emergence of all women's sports, and in particular volleyball. “Everything has gotten big for women, and it’s just been natural for volleyball, because it can’t be compared to a men's sport,” she says. Voelz's start has risen with women s athletics. She has published a book on motivation of athletes and has spoken nationally about volleyball. An Oregon official was so im pressed by one of Voelz’s presentations that the University asked her if she would be interested in coaching here. Voelz answered yes. because she felt volleyball is growing in the Northwest, and because she hopes to con vince some of the multitudes of Southern California high school players that Oregon's clean air and beautiful land is a favorable alternative to L.A.s smog. The Ducks are young and inexperienced and have just two women on scholarship, though they are allowed 12, but Voelz exudes confidence. “If we can recruit three skilled players we ll have an outstanding team,” she says. “Right now we re in the mid dle of a transition because I'm changing some of theirfher players) techniques, but we have a real pride in our perfor mance and a very optimistic expectation for the future. Included in the transition is Voelz's knowledge of statistics and how they can interpret a team's performance. On her “Shining Sum," a stat sheet listing team totals in 13 categories, Volez has to include a plus or minus sign so that her players understand what it all means. Volleyball is much more than just batting a ball over the net until the other team fails to return it. The Ducks have set plays and even a quarterback, the hitter setter, who calls signals in the middle of a volley. Each player is assigned to a position to which they are best suited. The front line consists of the on hand, off hand and middle hitter. The on hand hitter positions herself on the left side of the net (if she's right handed) and must be a strong yet fast player; Shawna Baxter fills that role for Oregon. The off hand hitter is located front right and is so called because the ball crosses her body before she strikes it. Ideally, a team would have a left handed player in this position, but the Ducks are all right handed; Christie McFar lane plays this position. Between these two is the middle hitter, the tallest player on the team: in the Duck’s case, 6-0 Mary O'Brien or 5-10 Annetta Ensworth. In the backcourt are the smaller, quicker players. The power angle is a slight exception. She lines up on the left back side and should be more powerful than fast “She must be able to absorb shots up to 70 miles an hour without getting knocked off her feet," Voelz explains. Anita En sworth fills this unenviable role for the Ducks. In the middle of the backcourt is the hitter-setter. She must be able to read the action and be fast enough to react to it. This requires an active yet poised player and for the Ducks this junior Sue Stadler. The setter, who lines up in the back right is the quarter back of the team. Once the ball has been served, she rushes to the front line and calls the plays. This important role is filled by freshman Micheie Nekota, who Voelz calls, the team’s sparkplug." Because people around here are unfamiliar with the game or just plain not interested the crowds watching the Ducks are not as large as the ones Voelz's high school team attracted in Illinois, and Voelz feels this is one of the things she must change in order to build the program she envisions. "I’m used to bigger crowds,” she admits, “but it's a com munity thing and just has to catch hold. We’d like people to come see a good game and cheer for us." And tonight’s your chance. The Ducks entertain Port land State, a team which has compiled a 125-1 record in the Northwest over the past few years, at 8 p.m. in Mac Court So go to the game, and you never know, maybe you II be able to tell the on hand from the off hand. Field hockey squad wins, loses and ties on road trip The Oregon field hockey team opened the season last weekend with a three-day, four-game road trip to Northern California during which they won two games. On Friday the Ducks battled to a 1-1 tie with Cal State-Sacramento on the strength of a goal by junior Nancy Pedrotti. Yanks win BOSTON — Bucky Dent rallied the New York Yankees with a three-run homer in the seventh in ning and Reggie Jackson applied the finishing touch with a home run in the eighth as the 1977 World Series champions hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox and won the American League East title in a playoff Mon day. The Yankees, East champions for the third straight year, will begin the best-of-five AL champ ionship playoff series at Kansas City against the Royals Tuesday night. Warren Miller Production ENTREES SUN VALLEY PARK CITY, CHAMONIX SUMMIT COLORADO GREECE. CARIBOOS. SUGARBUSH FREE STYLE. SKI FLYING ENDURO DELICIOUS COMEDY A WARREN MILLER NARRATION Warran Miller appearing in person South Eugene High School Auditorium Wednesday October 4, 8:00 p.m. Admission $3.00 advanced $3.50 at door “We were just not used to play ing together yet, and we domi nated them but just couldn’t put the ball in the goal,” coach Nancy Plantz says of her young team that includes just two seniors. Saturday morning the Ducks travelled to Berkeley to meet California and were upended 2-0. Sheryl Johnson, who Plantz terms “the best college forward in the United States,” scored both goals for Cal. Following their morning con test, the Ducks motored two hours south to meet UC-Davis in the af ternoon and emerged with a 3-2 win. Oregon never trailed and got goals from Ronnie Dellamotta. Nancy Berry and Sue Minkoma. The Ducks continued their grueling schedule Sunday, meet ing Chico State, whom they beat 3-1. Belinda Stillwell, a junior link, scored twice, while Minkoma added one goal. ‘‘We really played well,’' Plantz says of the trip as a whole. “I’m not sure if Berkeley or Chico was our best game, but since we won against Chico, I’d have to say that was our best.’’ The Ducks’ next encounter comes Friday when they meet Western Washington in a tourna ment at Pacific Lutheran. EMU FOOD SERVICE DELICATESSEN OPEN 11-7 Mon-Fri 5-7:00 Sundays j MEATS •Raft Salami •Pastrami (turkey) •Salami (turkey) •Ham Stick (turkey! •Ham (turkey) CHEESES •Swiss •Tillamook •Cheddar •Provaione BREADS •Light & Dark Rye *Cracked Wheat •Wheat Berry •Onion Rolls SALADS •Bean • Potato •Macaroni «Cole Slaw BAGELS •Roast Beef •Peppered Beef •Ham •Turkey sports haps Tennis The entry deadline tor the University Men s invitational tennis tournament is today at 5:30 p.m Entries should be returned to Buzz Sum mers at the Oregon athletic department Competition on si* levels for both men and women will take place Friday. Saturday and Sunday The categories range Irom 35-year-old and over to 18 and under and from players with high school varsity expenence to beginners. No entries will be accepted without fees profits of which go to the University s men s tennis team Volleyball The University s women's voieyOaH teem entertains Portland State :omgh* at 8 in Mac Court Table Tennis The table tennis dub will hold a meeting and practice tonight in Gertinger Annex 350 For more information cal the dub sports office or John Kretchmet at 687-1579 SPECIALS AT Great Northwest Art Supply Company • Staedtler Tech Pens—.00 thru 6 — $5.95 (Sugg. Ret. 7.50) • Newsprint Rolls—36 in. x 50 yds. $3.50 (Reg. 4.50) • One group oil paints at special prices Prices good Oct. 2 thru Oct. 14 Subject to stock on hand. These specials in addition to our year-round discount prices. Open Mon-Thurs: 9 to 9 Fri & Sat till 6 Sun. noon to 5 720 E. 13th—2 blocks from campus (lift Page 13
