sports_
Netters switch from
pre- to contenders
By Steve Turcotte
Of the Emerald
Last season, Oregon volleyball was on
the verge of being a contender but wound
up being a pretender.
This year, the Ducks hope to shed their
pretender image and pose a threat to win
the NorPac Conference volleyball crown.
A year ago. Duck coach Chris Voelz
boasted a strong contingent and figured
on challenging for a top-four spot in the
NorPac Conference. That would have
qualified Oregon for the league playoffs.
But injuries whittled away at the roster,
and the Ducks fell to a 3-9 record in
league play, finishing seventh.
Voelz' troops this season, already 13-9,
will be legitimate challengers for a top
four spot and a berth in the league's post
season tournament, barring unforeseen
injuries.
"We hope to show Eugene the best
team ever at Oregon," said Voelz with op
timism. "That's what wc are shooting for."
And with the roster they have this
season, the Ducks may reach Voelz’ goal.
Oregon sports a number of quality
players, including a potential All
American, and several others with All
Conference abilities.
Sue Harbour, a sophomore who red
shirted two years ago, appears to be in All
America shape following preseason tour
nament performances.
Statistically, she is about as dominant as
they come. She has 267 kills this season
and is well on her way to the school
record of 415 set by Tamra Chambers in
1980.
"It's nice to have a player you can count
on game after game and go to her," said
Voelz of Harbour. "If we can get her the
ball, she can really do a lot with it.
"She is really an All-American. Sue can
dominate a game."
The person responsible for getting the
bait to Harbour this season is setter Lisa
Gemoya, a transfer from San Joaquin
Delta College in Berkeley, Calif. Gemoya
has done an excellent job thus far setting
Harbour up for the kill.
Gemoya, possibly the smallest player in
the conference at 5-3, enjoys her role with
the Ducks.
"I think Sue and I complement each
other," Gemoya said. "Everyone says we
make a good combination and I really
think we do."
But life on the Oregon volleyball team
does not revolve around Harbour and
Gemoya alone. The rest of the cast is just
as talented.
Cathy Hill, an all-region player two years
ago and a redshirt last season following
double knee surgery, is back on a limited
basis this season. She has practiced this
season, although not with the regularity
she or Voelz would like.
"I'm not practicing every day because of
the pain," said Hill. "It depends on how I
feel. I would like to be out there but my
knees really can't handle it."
Cynthia Shepherd, a junior transfer
from Southern Oregon State College, was
literally a find for Voelz.
"We saw Cynthia walking on campus
one day with a volleyball in her arm and
asked her if she'd like to play," explained
Voelz. "Well, she tried out and earned a
scholarship. She has been a pleasant addi
tion to the team."
Despite some pleasant surprises, in
juries already are taking their toll on the
Ducks.
Shaunna Koenig, Oregon's sparkplug
defender, has been idled with a hamstring
injury. She is expected to return to action
in two or three weeks.
"Without Shaunna in the lineup, our
defense really suffers," said Voelz. "We
are definitely not as quick without her in
there and it hurts us."
"Our goal is to finish in the top four and make the playoffssaid Voelz.
"We hope to show Eugene the best team ever at Oregon," said Coach Chris
Voelz.
Another victim of the injury bug is
sophomore outside hitter Connie Riel.
Riel injured a foot in pre-season and will
have it operated on Oct. 6. The 6-0 outside
hitter is gone for the season.
Even before the season began, four
players from last year's squad packed up
their bags and bid Eugene adios.
Stephanie Tambe and jill Koscinski,
both freshmen in 1982, lasted only a
season before l.eaving for Southern
California. According to Voelz, the two
left for different reasons.
"I guess Jill just decided she wanted to
be a Southern California girl," Voelz said.
"She was here to play volleyball and really
not to go to school.
"I think Stephanie will be happier
someplace else," Voelz continued. "I
think she just needed to go someplace
else and pick up a different philosophy."
A 5-5 all-arounder with superb jumping
ability, Tambe was a double threat, equal
ly adept at setting up the kill or putting
the ball away herself.
Koenig, a Southern Californian herself
and good friends with both, echoed
Voelz' thoughts on the two defectors.
"I don't think Stephanie was real happy
here and just wanted to go home," said
Koenig. "And with Jill, her having to red
shirt got her down and it seemed as
though everything that could go wrong
for her did."
In addition, Rhonda Dalthorp and Liz
Eakin, two others from last year, are not
with the squad this season, Dalthorp for
academic and personal reasons, Eakin to
concentrate on academics at Oregon. And
Cherie Elliott, a two-year veteran of Voelz'
program, decided she'd had enough
Duck volleyball.
The situation with people leaving and
injuries has prompted Voelz to revamp
her philosophy on recruiting. In the past,
Voelz has had a tendency to recruit a
minimum amount of players because she
thought "the smaller the squad, the hap
pier the squad.
"I have been caught too many time the
last couple years on shortages of players
and I don't want it to happen again,"
Voelz said. "This is the third year we have
been a bit shorthanded.
This weekend kicks off league play for
the Ducks. Washington State invades
McArthur Court on Friday night while
Washington visits Saturday night. Both
matches start at 7:30 p.m.
Second-ranked Pacific looms as the
league's top team, with top-20 squads
California, San Jose State and Oregon
State (20th) right on the Tigers' heels. Add
the Ducks, who were just one vote short
of top-20 status earlier in the season, and
it becomes clear that making a post
season appearance is a chore for NorPac
teams.
"Our goal is to finish in the top four and
make the playoffs," said Voelz. "We think
we can do it."
If they do, it will be the first time in
many years an Oregon volleyball team has
done so.
As the season winds down
Rain, extra innings prolong NL West race
Major league baseball fans were left hanging
about whether the Los Angeles Dodger's
would clinch the National League West when
the Dodgers game against the San Diego
Padres was called because of rain with the
score tied 4-4 in the top of the 14th inning.
The Atlanta Braves, who started the day for
games behind the Dodgers in the battle for the
NL West flag, split a doubleheader with
Houston Wednesday night, opening the door
for the Dodgers to clinch the title with a win
over the Padres.
Pascual Perez fired a four-hitter and Glenn
Hubbard drove in the winning run with a fifth
inning sacrifice fly as the Atlanta Braves edged
the Houston Astros 3-1 in the first game, but
the Astros came back to win the second game
5-1 with four runs in the eighth inning.
In other Wednesday games:
Mets 4, Pirates 2
Darryl Strawberry drove in three runs, two
with a first-inning home run, and Ron Darling
won his first major-league game as the New
York Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.
Reds 5, Giants 4
Mario Soto tossed a five-hitter and survived a
four-run San Francisco eighth inning to record
his career high 17th victory as the Cincinnati
Reds beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4.
Tigers 9, Orioles 5
Larry Herndon hit a two-run homer to key an
eight-run second inning as the Detroit Tigers
beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-5.
Boston 3, Yanks 2
Bob Ojeda, with relief help from Bob
Stanley, won his sixth straight game in
September as the Boston Red Sox edged the
New York Yankees 3-2.
Twins 3, Texas 0
Minnesota left-hander Pete Filson celebrated
his 25th birthday by teaming with Ron Davis on
a eight-hitter as the Twins downed the Texas
Rangers 3-0.
Expos 3, Cards 0
Bryn Smith tossed a four-hitter for his se
cond shutout victory in three games while pit
ching the Montreal Expos to a 3D triumph over
the St. Louis Cardinals.
Brewers 6, Indians 4
Robin Yount and Ben Oglivie each hit two
run homers in the bottom of the ninth inning
to rally the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-4 victory
over the Cleveland Indians.
Paper to run
sports trivia
quiz contest
Beginning next Thursday, the
Emerald will run a weekly sports
quiz featuring trivia questions
about Oregon teams and athletes
of the past.
The quiz will consist of five
questions, covering Oregon inter
collegiate sports programs
(including baseball).
Winner of the quiz contest will
be eligible for a gift certificate
from an area merchant.
Check next week's Emerald for
details on how to enter quizzes,
where to submit answers, and
where to get gift certificates.