VOLLEYBALL
Continued from Page 12B
"LaKoina is in groat shape and has been playing
well. Thai will bo a real big help for us," he said.
Competing for playing time at the hitler posi
tions will be junior Nicole Hedberg, sophomore
Angce Henderson and freshman Emily Coleman.
Freshman Amy McNoel was also expected to
compete for time at the position, hut a knee in
jury may force her to have surgery.
Freshman Knrissa White and walk-on freshmen
Kim Mullen and Kelly Sunada round out the
team.
The Ducks will havo their home opener Friday
against California nr»d will face Stanford on Satur
day at McArthur Court.
*•***> 6» M* PMMi
Head volleyball coach Garry Gregory embark* on hi*
tavanth aaaaona* head coach ot the Ducka.
DUCKS
Continued from Page 10B
weren't playing well; if they
play average again this year,
they will watch Instead of
play."
The Ducks lost standout tight
end Jeff Thomason to gradua
tion but have many contenders
for the job lining up. Six-foot-4,
240-pound senior Vince Ferry,
best known for his game-win
ning catch against UCLA two
years ago. is the starter fol
lowed by sophomore Willy
Tate and senior O.B. Babbs.
Orogon's offensive line
should be improved this year
with the maturation of young
players and the addition of
three junior college transfers.
Senior tackles Matt Martin
(6-6, 265) and David Collins
worth (6-4, 285) both started
games last year but arc being
pushed hard by 285-pound ju
nior colloge transfer Justin
Starck and 6-7. 300
poundsophomoro Steve Har
din.
Loft guard Jon Tatlnrsall (6-4,
260) started all olovon games
last year and Is an offensive co
ca plain, but 64, 265
poundjunior college transfer
Mike DIFonzo has also played
well In tho fall. Dan Mitchell
will start at right guard
Center is the most mysterious
position for the Ducks as junior
Tom Curran, freshman Eric
Koid and 310-pound sopho
more Heath Howlington have
all been vying for tho spot.
"Our depth on the offensive
line is fur superior to last year,"
Brooks said "Starck und
DIFonzo are good new players
Hardin, Howlington. Mitchell.
Tatorsall and Martin are all ex
porionced. We have tho ingredi
ents of a good offensive line.”
Oregon's offense averaged
less than two touchdowns per
game lost season, a mark that
must be improved if thu Ducks
ire to win this year, but Brooks
believes injuries were the main
reason for the lack of scoring.
"We sm.tod Iasi season with
many of the people we huve
now and wo were a good offen
sive team," Brooks said. “We
started well last year und it all
went south fast. We think
we've improved but a good
team must prove It.”
Oregon's defense suffered a
major blow before fall practice
oven began when safoty Eric
Castle was diagnosed with
acute mononucleosis He is ex
pected to miss at least the first
four games. Tho loss is a major
one for tho Ducks and for Cas
tle, who is a potential All
American and NFL draft pick.
"When I found out I was an
gry and frustrated. I couldn't
believe it," Castle said. "The
doctors say I'll miss about the
first four games, but I'll just
take it week-by-week.”
Oregon does have the depth
to stay competitive without
Castle because they will movo
sophomore Chad Cota from
strong safety to free safety and
insert senior Paul Rodriguez at
strong safety, the position he
started at for the first five
games of 1991.
"We are losing more than tal
ont," Brooks said. "Eric is a
leader, captain and a key part
of our secondary. He Is an out
standing playor but we must go
on without him.”
The Ducks' cornorbacks are
talented, but vory young and
inexperienced. Sophomore
Herman O'Borry and freshman
Alex Molden are the top candi
dates for the starting Job and se
nior Devon Hosoy returns after
rodshirting 1991
The strongest and deepest
part of Oregon's defense may
be at linebacker, where three
players who started at least flvo
games last year return.
Junior Ernest Jones returns at
right outside linobucker, where
ho started five games lust year
before suffering a knee injury
Inside linebacker Joe Harwell,
who load the Ducks with 100
tackles last your, returns to add
experience to the corps. Har
well started 10 games last year
and 34 in his caroor. Junior
John Taumoepeau will start at
the other inside linebacker spot
with red shirt freshmen Jeremy
Asher and Rich Ruhl ready in
case of injury.
Defensive end Jeff Cummins
returns after redshirting 1991
with a foot injury, and the co
captain will bo looked upon for
strong play and leadership
"We will be more aggressive
this year," Cummins said "The
game plan is for more stunting
and morn froodom inside lo
create — more freedom all to
gether."
Junior Kotneo Bandlson will
start at loft end with Silila
Mulopeu! sot at nose guard
Depth at these positions will be
provided by Junior Dory Wil
liams. sophomores D.J Cabrera
and Mark Slymen and rodshlrt
freshmen Troy Dailey and
Mitch Slegner. Injuries forced
the Ducks to start eight differ
ent players on the defensive
line last year but this season
there is greater depth at the po
sition.
Due lo the graduation of Ore
gon's third all-time leading
scorer Grog McCollum, the
kicking game will be handled
solely by junior Tommy
Thompson who punted and
kicked off for the Ducks last
year. Thompson, an honorable
mention all-conference choice
lust year, averaged 37.‘J yards
per punt lust year, but more im
pressive was that his 7t punts
were returned for only 70
yards.
Ho will be challenged for the
placukicking job by Paul Bur
ton. a true freshman from Sun
set High School in Beaverton,
who kicked a 57-yard field goal
us a senior. Although Thomp
son has never placnkicked for
Oregon, Brooks fuels he will do
u fine jot).
"Both kicking )oi>s are Tom
my's to lose," Brooks said. "He
has been plucekicking well all
spring He has a stronger leg
than Grog McCollum, but I
don't know about accuracy "
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